In the past year there has been pressure applied by the State of Alabama for restaurants and stores to provide locally sourced seafood. The most consumed seafood in the area are the famous shrimp. Now the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources has just made it more difficult for outlets to obtain those shrimp from local providers.

In a press release this week by Outdoor Alabama they announced that all inside waters will close for commercial and recreational shrimp harvesting starting on 6 a.m., Thursday, May 1, 2025. The temporary closure will enforced until 6 a.m., on Sunday, June 1, 2025.

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Inside waters are defined as all waters north of a line extending from the Florida-Alabama line westward along the shore to Alabama Point; from there along the Baldwin County beaches of the Gulf of Mexico to the intersection with the Territorial Sea Line on Fort Morgan Peninsula, known as Mobile Point (30°-13.46’N, 088°-01.72’W); from there following the Territorial Sea Line across the mouth of Mobile Bay to Dauphin Island (30°-14.77’N, 088°-04.48’W); from there along the Dauphin Island beaches of the Gulf of Mexico to the intersection with the Territorial Sea Line on the west point of Dauphin Island (30°-13.72’N, 088°-19.81’W); from there following the Territorial Sea Line southwest to the intersection with the Alabama-Mississippi state line (30°-12.82’N, 088°-23.54’W).

Alabama has specific regulations for commercial shrimping, including restrictions on where trawls can be dragged and areas closed to protect oyster reefs and other sensitive areas. Some areas, like Wolf Bay, Oyster Bay, and exclusive bait areas, are permanently closed to shrimping. 

Commercial shrimpers in the Gulf of America / Mexico can generally operate in state and federal waters, with some areas restricted due to regulations and conservation efforts. Specific areas and seasons can vary by state but Federal waters are managed by NOAA Fisheries.

Most large restaurants and stores purchase their shrimp from wholesalers who source the shrimp from the Gulf Coast. This temporary closure may impact those who buy from small inshore shrimpers.