BRUNSWICK — Officials at the Coastal Resources Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources recently announced plans for the 2011 commercial food shrimp castnet lottery. To be eligible for this lottery, applicants must complete a lottery application and an affidavit of eligibility for public benefit. Applications are available at the Coastal Regional Headquarters in Brunswick, the CRD website, CoastalGaDNR.org, or by calling 912-264-7218. Applications must be postmarked or hand-delivered to CRD no later than May 27. The drawing will be Thursday, June 2.

Successful lottery license recipients will be notified via certified mail. The fee for a commercial food shrimp castnet license is $250 for residents ($2,500 for non-residents) plus the vessel license.

A controlled-access system has been in effect since 1998, capping license sales at 200. The actual number of licenses available through the 2011 lottery will not be known until the license renewal deadline has passed. Current food shrimp castnet license holders are reminded that they must renew their license by Tuesday, May 31, or the license will revert to the state.

For more information on the castnet lottery, call Julie Califf at 912-264-7218.