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(AP) -- The state Department of Natural Resources is extending the recreational and commercial food shrimp season in Georgia's coastal waters by two weeks.

The extension ends Jan. 15 and does not include most creeks and rivers, which will close to shrimping Wednesday.  Georgia's territorial waters stretch three miles offshore.  Spud Woodward of DNR said the agency decided to extend the
season based on data from biologists monitoring the shrimp population. Officials said the partial closure will protect shrimp
in local waters through the winter.  By state law, the recreational and commercial food shrimp season closes Dec. 31 each year unless DNR extends it, as it has done for 30 years.

Shrimping is Georgia's largest seafood industry.

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