What’s a jubilee? Low oxygen washes fish, shrimp, crabs, eels ashore

Published 7:05 am Friday, July 28, 2017

BILOXI, Miss. (AP) — Large numbers of fish, shrimp, crabs and eels have been coming ashore in Mississippi, in what’s called a jubilee.

The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources says there were jubilee conditions Wednesday for fish, shrimp, crabs and eels near the Gulfport and Long Beach harbors. It says that by early Thursday, shrimp, crabs and eels — but no finfish — were washing ashore from the Broadwater in Biloxi to west of Pass Christian Harbor.

Finfish bureau director Matt Hill says jubilees occur when the oxygen levels drop in very warm, calm shallow water.

Email newsletter signup

A news release says water samples don’t show any signs of toxic algae, so the seafood is probably safe to eat as long as it’s alive when you pick it up, and you handle, store and cook it properly.

Spokeswoman Melissa Scallan said in an email that you need a recreational license to take finfish, and a shrimp license to get shrimp, even if you’re picking them up off the beach. The recreational license costs $12.29 and the shrimp license is $15.

Although a license to use crab traps costs $5, Scallan says there’s no charge to pick up crabs from the beach.