One sunny afternoon, Girlawhirl walked over to the Small Craft Harbor along US 90 and a small boat with a SHRIMPING sign caught her eye. A group had gathered near the boat, and the captain invited them all aboard. With a few free hours ahead of her, Girlawhirl decided to join the shrimping trip.

The boat set out into the calm protected waters, never venturing too far from the shore. The captain explained how the shrimp nets work as he set them out behind the boat. After a few minutes describing the area's shrimping industry, the captain was ready to haul in the catch. The local seagulls knew what to expect as they circled the boat. There were plenty of shrimp in the nets, along with squid, anchovies, and crab. Many of the creatures were returned to the sea, with the seagulls doing their best to intervene, but the shrimp were placed in a cooler so they could be studied when the ship returned to the harbor.

Girlawhirl's shrimping trip, and others like them are not just educational for the tourists. The local shrimping industry studies the shrimp that are caught on the trips to determine how many males and females there are, how healthy the shrimp are, and their migratory patterns.

Girlawhirl is used to seeing shrimp on her plate, so learning how they are caught makes her appreciate her meal even more.

Girlawhirl learned about the Shrimp Boat Tour at gcww.com

For more Biloxi information go to gulfcoast.org

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