On Monday, the Marine Resources Division (MRD) of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) announced that all inside waters of Alabama will close for commercial and recreational shrimp harvesting. This is an annual occurrence to allow the young shrimp time to grow. All inside waters, not permanently closed by law or regulation, will reopen to shrimp harvesting on Thursday, June 1, 2023, at 6:00 a.m.
Shrimp are often used as bait for other marine species, such as fish.
This applies to licensed live bait dealers as well. The taking of live bait north of a line beginning at the northern shore of East Fowl River running along the northern edge of the Fowl River Channel to marker number two in the Fowl River Channel, then southeasterly to Middle Bay Light and then northeasterly to Great Point Clear is prohibited during this closure. Special permit holders in the Special Permit Area in the Mobile Ship Channel are still allowed to harvest shrimp. Recreational shrimp vessels possessing a Special Live Bait Permit, however, are limited to only taking one gallon of shrimp per boat per day.
Special Live Bait Area Permits may be purchased only at the MRD office on Dauphin Island. For more information, call (251) 861-2882.
Shrimp, crabs, lobsters, and crayfish, are a species of invertebrates known as decapods. There are about 2,000 species of shrimp in the world. Numerous fish and wildlife species feed on shrimp. There are 15 to 22 species of shrimp in Alabama waters. Three of these are harvested by humans. The brown shrimp (Penaeus aztecus), the white shrimp (P. setiferus), and the pink shrimp (P. duorarum).
The brown shrimp is by far the most abundant. The pink shrimp is the least abundant of the three. Alabamians harvest approximately 20.5 million pounds of shrimp with an estimated dockside value of $45 million.
Alabama is a sportsmen’s paradise with harvestable quantities of shrimp, oysters, crayfish, croaker, flounder, red snapper, drum, whiting, sea bass, deer, squirrel, rabbit, turkey, crappie, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, nutria, hogs, coyotes, crows, alligators, cranes, ducks, geese, raccoons, and much more.
Alabama residents and guests from outside the state can purchase saltwater, freshwater, and hunting licenses. All proceeds from the sale of the licenses go toward wildlife conservation.
The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources promotes wise stewardship, management, and enjoyment of Alabama’s natural resources through four divisions: Marine Resources, State Lands, State Parks, and Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
