The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources announced that all inside waters will close to commercial and recreational shrimp harvesting at 6 a.m. Thursday, May 1.

The closure, required under Section 9-12-46 of the Code of Alabama and Marine Resources Division Rule 220-3-.01, will remain in effect until 6 a.m. Sunday, June 1.

The closure applies to all inside waters not already permanently closed by law or regulation. Inside waters, as defined by Rule 220-3-.04, include all waters north of a line extending west from the Florida-Alabama state line along the shore to Alabama Point, continuing along the Baldwin County beaches to the Territorial Sea Line at Fort Morgan Peninsula, known as Mobile Point (30°-13.46'N, 088°-01.72'W). From there, the line follows the Territorial Sea Line across the mouth of Mobile Bay to Dauphin Island (30°-14.77'N, 088°-04.48'W), then west along Dauphin Island's Gulf beaches to the Territorial Sea Line on the island's west end (30°-13.72'N, 088°-19.81'W), and continues southwest to the Alabama-Mississippi state line (30°-12.82'N, 088°-23.54'W).

Licensed live bait dealers are reminded that harvesting live bait shrimp 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, then southeasterly to Middle Bay Light and northeasterly to Great Point Clear, is prohibited during the closure. However, permit holders operating within the Special Permit Area in the Mobile Ship Channel are exempt.

Recreational shrimp vessels with a Special Live Bait Permit are limited to taking one gallon of shrimp per boat per day during the closure.

Special Live Bait Area Permits are available exclusively at the Marine Resources office on Dauphin Island. For more information, contact Marine Resources at (251) 861-2882.

The Marine Resources Division is one of four branches of ADCNR, which promotes the stewardship, management and enjoyment of Alabama's natural resources. Additional information is available at www.outdooralabama.com.