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gives landowners technical assistance to help with sport fish management in the smaller bodies of water. WFF biologists will typically make more than 300 on-site pond checks annually to help pond owners enhance or maintain fish populations. Because Alabama is one of the leading states in biodiversity, the state has numerous rivers and streams that hold aquatic species that depend on flowing water to survive. The rivers and streams program monitors those areas where species are threatened because of a loss of water flow. Aquatic education is aimed at Alabama’s youth to stress the importance of protecting and improving the ecosystems for native aquatic species. To take advantage of the abundant fishing opportunities in the state, the young and novice anglers are also given fishing and casting lessons when possible. The Fisheries Section manages 23 public fishing lakes in 20 counties across the state where access to natural waterways is limited. The lakes range from 13 to 184 acres and provide quality fishing for a nominal fee. The fish habitat enhancement program uses both artificial and natural material to provide habitat and cover in lakes and reservoirs to enhance the fish populations, which gives anglers a better chance of success. In recent years, Marine Resources’ license funds have been used to cover the 25-percent match requirement for a variety of programs, including fishery-independent sampling programs for inshore species, boating access, fish stock enhancement, artificial reef construction, outreach and education, fish disease monitoring
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and research of offshore reef fish species and artificial reefs. The fishery-independent sampling programs don’t rely on intercepts or interviews with anglers but use other methods to determine the abundance and health of species like speckled trout, redfish, and flounder. ONGOING PROJECTS Of course, boating access is a big issue along the Alabama Gulf Coast, and MRD is constantly searching for areas that might come available for boat ramps. The program also upgrades and refurbishes current ramps, which is going on right now at the Fort Morgan ramp. Using fingerlings raised at the Claude Peteet Mariculture Center in Gulf Shores, MRD has released tens of thousands of redfish into the estuaries in coastal Alabama. MRD is working to spawn other inshore species, like pompano and flounder, to enhance the stocking efforts. Alabama has the premier artificial reef program in the nation with about 1,030 square miles of artificial reef zones. The license money and federal match go to adding approved artificial reefs to the zones as well as monitoring the activity and impact the reefs have on the numerous species like red snapper, triggerfish, and amberjack. As you can see, a fishing license is so much more than a fee for the privilege of fishing. Think of it more as a contribution to DCNR’s efforts to ensure Alabama has great fishing opportunities for generations to come.
Show Your Support for Alabama’s Coastal Fishing & Marine Resources. All proceeds from your TAX DEDUCTIBLE purchase are used for marine conservation in Coastal Alabama. For more info on the events or CCA Alabama www.ccaalabama.org 251-478-3474
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