Stock Status - Viable - This annual stock consists of three species: brown shrimp, pink shrimp and white shrimp. 

Average Commercial Landings and Value 1998-2007 – 6,788,818 lbs./$14,015,717

2007 Commercial Landings and Value – 9,548,371 lbs./$17,930,804

Average Recreational Landings 1998-2007 - unknown, 2007 - unknown

Average Recreational Commercial Gear License (RCGL) Landings 2002-2007- 52,018 lbs., 2007 – 33,778 lbs.

Status of Fisheries Management Plan (FMP) - A state FMP was approved in April 2006 by the N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission.  The plan includes a 90 foot headrope limit in most internal waters, allows skimmer trawls as a Recreational Commercial Gear License (RCGL) gear and makes recommendations on the minimum shrimp size at which some water bodies are opened to trawling.  The plan also closed some areas in the state to protect habitats and juvenile finfish and established a 48-quart limit on shrimp captured by individuals possessing a RCGL.

Research and Data Needs - Standardized effort and bycatch estimation data. Trawling issue studies, including continuation of the development and testing of alternative gears for the trawl fishery, bycatch characterization, and habitat impacts.

Current Regulations – With a RCGL license and one person aboard a vessel, it is unlawful to possess more than 48 quarts, heads on, or 30 quarts, heads off, of shrimp.  With an RCGL and more than one person aboard a vessel, all of whom possess an RCGL, it is unlawful to possess more than 96 quarts, heads on, or 60 quarts, heads off, of shrimp. When using a cast net there is a 100 shrimp per preson per day limit in closed areas and no limit in open shrimping areas.

Harvest Season - It is unlawful to take shrimp with nets until the fisheries director, by proclamation, opens the season in various waters.  Proclamations may specify any hours of day or night or both and any other conditions appropriate to manage the fishery.  Some waterbodies are open year round.  Check with the Division of Marine Fisheries for which waterbodies are open.
 
Size and Age at Maturity - 3-5 inches/4-6 months

Historical and Current Maximum Age -18 months/18 months (rare)

Juvenile Abundance Index 1998-2007 and 2007 * (validated; brown shrimp only)
Southern District – 62.4/30.1
             Central District - South side of Neuse River/Pamlico Sound - 57.7/27.5
                                         Core Sound – 153.9/10.6
             Pamlico District - Hyde County – 124.1/47.3
                                          Pamlico County – 58.5/39.2

Habits and Habitats - Shrimp are spawned offshore in the winter.  Post-larval shrimp move from the ocean into the estuaries on wind and tide driven currents in early spring.  Shrimp move into creek and river bottoms, and grassbeds where they grow rapidly, feeding on plant and animal material such as algae, worms, small fish, crabs and other shrimp.   As the shrimp increase in size, they migrate from the upper reaches of small creeks to deeper saltier rivers and sounds.  By late summer and fall, they return to the ocean to spawn.   

*Average number of shrimp per one-minute tow.

For more information contact: 
(Southern District) Rich Carpenter at rich.carpenter@ncmail.net  (800-248-4536 or 910-796-7215)  (Central District) Tina Moore at tina.moore@ncmail.net  (800-682-2632 or 252-726-7021)
(Pamlico District) Sean McKenna at sean.mckenna@ncmail.net  (800-338-7804 or 252-946-6481)