Historically, North Carolina has had the northernmost commercially viable population of white shrimp. However, in 2017, commercial fishermen off Virginia Beach began to observe quantities of shrimp in their coastal gill net sets. The increase in shrimp in Virginia’s state waters, likely from North Carolina spawners, was verified by independent surveys conducted by the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS), as shown in the figure below.
Given the increase in shrimp abundance in their jurisdictional waters, the Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC) decided to explore the development of a new shrimp fishery in the ocean. The goal of the state’s emerging commercial shrimp fishery, as established by the management agency, is “to limit participation with slow growth to ensure success while preventing possible negative economic or ecological circumstances.”
Since the fishery’s inception in 2017, annual shrimp landings have grown from less than 2,000 pounds to more than 400,000 pounds in 2020. VMRC staff participate in shrimping trips to observe trends in finfish bycatch. In addition, shrimpers are required to report estimated pounds of shrimp harvested and total bycatch after each trip.
Virginia’s Shrimp Trawl Areas
The VMRC first issued an Experimental Fishing Permit (EFP) in 2017 for a modified crab dredge to explore the efficacy of harvesting shrimp in the ocean. Initial harvest results were considered successful, prompting the issuance of additional EFPs between 2018 and 2020. This eventually led to the regulation and licensing of the Virginia Beach Shrimp Trawl Harvest Area in 2021. The season in this area runs from October 1 until January 31.
A separate experimental trawling area in ocean waters off the Eastern Shore was established in 2019. After monitoring annual activity in this area, the VMRC voted in July 2025 to formally establish an Eastern Shore Shrimp Trawl Harvest Area. The season for this new area runs from September 15 until December 31.
Virginia’s shrimp fishery is a limited-entry fishery, with only 12 licenses issued annually from a pool of applicants. For the 2025 season, that number will increase to 17.
Trawling gear in both harvest areas is limited to a beam or fixed frame with an opening no larger than 5 feet in height (a new change for 2025) and 16 feet in width. Tow times are limited to a maximum of 30 minutes. By rule, each trawl must be constructed with net mesh between 1.5 and 2 inches and must contain a bycatch reduction device certified by the National Marine Fisheries Service of the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries.
Trawling in Virginia is currently limited to Atlantic Ocean waters, as illustrated below, and is prohibited in all bays, lagoons, creeks, and inlets. Additionally, trawlers must remain at least 300 yards from any navigable inlet, public boat ramp, fishing pier, or beach.
This story was originally published in our weekly newsletter. Click here to subscribe.