Anson Promoted to Marine Resources Division Director

During his time on the Gulf Council, Anson has participated in changing the management for Alabama's iconic reef fish species, the American red snapper, from federal mandates to state management, which has been a huge success for the state's private recreational anglers. Since 2020, Alabama has managed the red snapper fishery off the state's coast, which has the largest artificial reef program in the world with more than 1,200 square miles designated for deployment of MRD-approved artificial reefs.

Under the current Alabama red snapper management plan, MRD monitors the recreational catch and adjusts the seasons accordingly. As of October 26, the harvest was estimated at 575,220 pounds with a 2025 harvest limit of 664,552 pounds. Anson said the recreational red snapper season started on May 23, the Friday before Memorial Day, with fishing seven days a week through June 30. On July 4, the season went to four-day weekends until September 2, when the season reverted to seven days a week.

"We will probably remain seven days a week through the end of the season," Anson said. "Our harvest trendline is just like 2023 and 2024, with the current harvest estimate being a good bit below the allowance. We will more than likely make it (seven days a week) through the end of the year.

"It's gotten a little harder to catch the fish you want. You may still catch a lot of fish, but they may not be as big as they have been. Some folks prefer to be able to go out and easily catch 8- to 12-pound snapper, and that has been a little more difficult to do in the last couple of years."

Anson said when the fishery is harvested below the overfishing level and to the maximum level, it is considered at optimum yield.

"Returning to a longer season under state management, we have seen the average size decrease, especially on the public reefs closer to shore, but red snapper are still very abundant in our artificial reef zones," he said. "You may just have to fish a little bit differently to catch the bigger fish."

"Our (red snapper) stock is fantastic, and we believe it is self-sustaining at the level of harvest we have."

Another success story is the rebound in the flounder population along Alabama's coast. However, for the month of November, the flounder fishing season is closed to both commercial and recreational fishermen to preserve the pre-spawning stock that is in position to move offshore to spawn.

MRD believes that management measure, as well as raising the minimum size from 12 to 14 inches, contributed to the flounder rebound. But that's not all, according to Anson. He said Alabama's treasured Mobile-Tensaw Delta is another factor in the life cycle of many inshore and offshore fish species.

"We've also had better environmental conditions," Anson said. "Better conditions for flounder for spawning and early survival success are to have cold winters, not severe cold, but a normal winter for cold with typical rainfall patterns. The Dauphin Island Sea Lab and University of South Alabama have reviewed our environmental data and trends for the last 30 or so years. MRD's surveys and commercial fisheries program data enabled them to correlate increases and decreases in catch and harvest of southern flounder with patterns of river discharge and temperatures during the winter months, when larval flounder settle and grow in the northern Gulf estuaries.

"Other states have implemented similar regulations, and you can see that they have had improving flounder abundance."

MRD also oversees the state's commercial shrimp fishery. In an effort to increase the size of the market as well as prices for shrimp, a group of local shrimp processors is seeking to receive sustainability certification.

To assist with that effort, MRD will host two listening sessions this month to gather feedback on goals and objectives for the fishery to include a new draft shrimp fishery management plan currently in development by MRD. Participants in the Alabama shrimping industry and the general public are encouraged to attend the listening sessions. The same summary will be provided several times during each session to accommodate the schedules for those interested in participating.

MRD staff will present summary information about possible goals and objectives at each session, and attendees are invited to comment on the proposals as well as make suggestions about additional goals and objectives to be included in the plan. The first session will be from noon until 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, November 12, at the Bayou La Batre Community Center at 12745 Padgett Switch Road in Bayou La Batre. The second session is set for noon until 4:30 p.m. at the Gulf Shores Activity Center at 260 Clubhouse Drive in Gulf Shores.

Anson said the other four Gulf states currently have certification for their respective states' shrimp fisheries. To attain the certification, the states are required to have and adhere to a shrimp fisheries management plan (FMP) and a strategic plan for the overall saltwater fisheries.

"The shrimp FMP specifies goals and objectives, and the strategies associated with each will be taken by the agency," Anson said. "The goals and objectives within those two documents will be submitted for review by an external certification organization."

After reviewing Alabama's plans, the group will determine if they qualify for certification. Anson also said the certification gives customers who want to buy those shrimp more clarity and transparency in the buying process.

"The listening sessions are required as part of the certification process, and they are going to be an opportunity for the public to provide us ideas as to how to manage Alabama's shrimp populations," Anson said. "We will review the comments we receive to see if they are appropriate to include in a plan."

Anson said he is taking the reins at MRD when the fisheries are in good shape overall.

"Scott did a very good job as Director," Anson said. "We have accomplished quite a few positive things during his tenure. When we decide to do something with a goal in mind, I think we have come close to meeting those goals for sure. I plan to continue what Scott has done to make sure our fisheries are healthy."

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