AUSTIN, Texas — Texas Parks and Wildlife Department coastal fisheries biologists will host five workshops in late June and early July to help anglers navigate new shark regulations that go into effect Sept. 1, 2009.

The new regulations increase the minimum total length for most shark species from 24 inches total length to 64 inches total length, except for Atlantic sharpnose, blacktip and bonnethead sharks, which will remain at 24 inches total length.

For the allowable shark species, the bag limit will remain one shark per person per day, with a two shark possession limit. In addition, a prohibited list (zero bag limit) will be established for the following 21 species: Atlantic angel, Basking, Bigeye sand tiger, Bigeye sixgill, Bigeye thresher, Bignose, Caribbean reef, Caribbean sharpnose, Dusky, Galapagos, Longfin mako, Narrowtooth, Night, Sandbar, Sand tiger, Sevengill, Silky, Sixgill, Smalltail, Whale, and White.

The workshops will focus on shark identification and changes in the regulations.  Similar shark species and distinguishing characteristics will be presented to allow anglers to identify the prohibited species, and differentiate between the 24-inch and 64-inch minimum size species.

The workshops will be held from 6-8 p.m. at the following locations:

Tuesday, June 23  Corpus Christi, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, Harte Research Institute Conference Room # 127, 6300 Ocean Drive

Wednesday, June 24  Port Isabel, Port Isabel Community Center, 213 N. Yturria Street

Tuesday, June 30  Port Arthur, Port Arthur Public Library, 4615 9th Avenue

Wednesday, July 1  Dickinson, TPWD Dickinson Marine Lab, 1502 FM 517E

Thursday, July 2  Port Lavaca, Calhoun County Fairgrounds Auditorium, 186 County Road 101

For more information contact your TPWD regional outreach specialist: Upper Coast: Tonya Wiley, 281-534-0131, Tonya [dot] wiley [at] tpwd [dot] state [dot] tx [dot] us; Lower Coast: Art Morris, 361-825-3356, Art [dot] morris [at] tpwd [dot] state [dot] tx [dot] us