Anglers will receive an additional weekend of red snapper harvest during the 2017 mini-season in the federal waters of the South Atlantic.

Commissioner of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Mark Williams has announced the appointment of Doug Haymans to serve as the director of the Coastal Resources Division (CRD) of DNR succeeding A.G. “Spud” Woodward who is retiring effective January 1, 2018.  The Board of Natural Resources will take action to approve Mr. Haymans appointment at its December meeting.   

The U.S. Secretary of Commerce has approved a request by NOAA Fisheries to allow limited harvest of red snapper in the federal waters of the South Atlantic. Anglers can harvest red snapper during the following two weekends: November 3-5 and November 10-12. Each angler is allowed one red snapper per day with no size restriction. 

Updated Post-Irma Beach Water Testing Update as of 10/25/2017

Georgia’s territorial waters will re-open to commercial and recreational shellfish harvest effective 6:00 A.M., Saturday, September 30, 2017. GA DNR Commissioner Mark Williams closed shellfish harvest in state waters September 9th in anticipation of the expected impact from Hurricane Irma and in the interest of protecting public health.

Beach water testing has continued following a brief hiatus during Hurricane Irma.

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources has announced the availability of  Cycle 21 Coastal Incentive Grant funds through the Coastal Resources Division/Georgia Coastal Management Program.

Competitive grants are available for up to $80,000 per year for one or two year projects.  A 1:1 non-federal match is required. Eligible applicants include county and municipal governments, regional and state agencies (other than DNR), and state affiliated educational and research institutions in the 11 coastal counties.

**** Update as of 10/16/2017: Call center for Hurricane Irma emergency authorizations and moratorium will tentatively close on November 15th, 2017.****

August 31, 2017 –The Coastal Resources Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will host a public hearing on proposed amendments to the Rules of  Georgia Department of  Natural Resources/Coastal Resources Division, Chapter 391-2-4, Saltwater Fishing Regulations and Wildlife Resources Division, Chapter 391-4-3, Fishing Regulations.

 

The Coastal Resources Division (CRD) of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (GADNR) recently deployed 22 concrete culverts at the High Point Inshore Artificial Reef site in McIntosh County as a joint venture with the Coastal Conservation Association (CCA) - Georgia and the Building Conservation Trust (BCT), CCA’s National Habitat Program.

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources announced today that a new men's record for the heaviest pinfish, Lagodon rhomboides, has been set by angler Ty Cobb of Pooler, GA.

The Coastal Resources Division (CRD) of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources has created a new offshore reef site in partnership with the Savannah Sport Fishing Club. Artificial Reef BSF is located four nautical miles southeast of Little Tybee Island in an area 30 feet deep at high tide.

Coastal Resources Division Director, Spud Woodward, has announced that the recently completed 2016 Coastal Georgia Ecosystem Report Card is now available on line at: CoastalGaDNR.org/ReportCard.

2017 Coastal Georgia Beach Users Survey - With support from a CRD Coastal Incentive Grant, Georgia Southern University is conducting a survey of beach users about their knowledge and perception of water quality notifications along Georgia's beaches.

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources has announced a new women’s state record for Tripletail, Lobotes surinamensis, landed in Georgia by Jordan Davis of Brunswick.

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources announced today that a new men's record for the heaviest little tunny, Euthynnus alletteratus, has been set by angler Dusty Blackburn of Fleming, GA. 

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources has announced a new women’s record for African pompano, Alectis ciliaris, landed in Georgia by Jennifer Roberts of Springfield, Georgia.

Commissioner Mark Williams has announced that Georgia waters will open for commercial and recreational harvest of food shrimp at 8:00 am on Thursday, June 1, 2017.  Effective that date, commercial food shrimp trawlers can operate in Georgia’s territorial waters open to power-drawn trawls. Commercial and recreational cast netters, as well as persons using a beach seine, can harvest food shrimp from waters open to the use of these gears.

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources announced today that a new men’s record for the heaviest shortfin mako shark, Isurus oxyrinchus, has been awarded to Tyler Gary of Richmond Hill. 

GA DNR Commissioner Mark Williams has announced that Georgia's territorial waters will close to commercial and recreational oyster harvest effective 6:00 a.m., Thursday, June 1, 2017 through midnight on Saturday, September 30, 2017. A similar closure occurred in 2016 to meet the requirements of Georgia's Vibrio parahaemolyticus (Vp) control plan.