BRUNSWICK — The Coastal Resources Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources will host a public hearing Thursday in Riceboro on proposed amendments to the saltwater fishing regulations.
The meeting will be at 6 p.m. in the Riceboro Youth Center, 5649 Coastal Highway. This hearing will provide DNR staff the opportunity to explain the proposed rule making and gives the public an opportunity to comment.  
House Bill 869 amended Georgia law to allow the DNR greater flexibility to manage saltwater fishing in a timely manner similar to the way that freshwater fishing and hunting are managed. The proposed amendments will establish the legal basis for the DNR Board to manage some aspects of saltwater fishing as mandated by the Georgia General Assembly.  Approval of the proposed amendments will allow DNR to manage saltwater finfish, recreational shrimping (food and bait) and commercial bait shrimping through regulation.
The proposed amendments will not change any recreational saltwater fishing regulations and only one commercial saltwater fishing regulation. This change is an increase in the quantity of live bait shrimp that may be transported via vehicle between commercial bait shrimp dealers from 50 quarts to 200 quarts.
Written public comments are also welcome and should be legible, concise and limited to the proposed rule change. To ensure their consideration, written comments must be received by close of business on Friday, Aug. 31.  Please address written to Doug Haymans, Coastal Resources Division, One Conservation Way, Brunswick, GA  31520, or email to doug.haymans@gadnr.org
Following the comment period, the Board of Natural Resources will consider the proposed rule at 9 a.m. Sept. 26 at its Board Room located at 2 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, SE, Suite 1252, in Atlanta.
For more information on the scheduled public hearing or to view the proposed amendments, go to CoastalGaDNR.org  and click on the “News and Notices” tab.