Gulf Shores' and Orange Beach's fishing charter industry are concerned the new proposed limits on the Red Snapper harvest will not only damage their business, but also be a drag on Gulf Coast tourism.
The Red Snapper is a favorite catch among sport fishermen. Many travel hundreds of miles on multiple occasions every year to go in search of Red Snapper. They're large. They're relatively easy to hook and give an exciting but not overly taxing fight. And they make a delicious meal.
Beach Club West and Gulf Highlands projects to move ahead in habitat protected by for Alabama Beach Mouse
The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service has announced it will allow developers to begin work on two separate projects in the Gulf Shores area. The agreement will permit developers of the Beach Club West and Gulf Highlands projects to begin work in areas designated as critical habitat for the Alabama Beach Mouse. The permits will allow developers to add over1,000 condo units, parking decks, commercial retail and office space, beach houses, swimming pools and tennis courts.
Alabama's Gulf Coast beaches have regained their No. 1 ranking as the top coastal draw on the northern Gulf, according to the Alabama Gulf Coast Convention and Visitors Bureau.
A recent report shows Gulf Shores and Orange Beach combined for a total tax revenue collection of $227 million through October of 2006. That amount puts Gulf Shores and Orange Beach atop the list of popular destinations on the Northern Gulf Coast.
Nowhere to go but up.
The Alabama Gulf Coast Convention and Visitors Bureau only has plans to go higher from here.
Max Mayfield has been the voice of the National Hurricane center for 34 years. He recently retired.
Max went out with a bang, predicting major doom and gloom for the Alabama Gulf Coast in coming years.
Well, sure. Would it be news if Max retired saying he was leaving at a good time because all the good storms were over? That's not news.
It's January. That means it's officially snowbird season on the Gulf Shores beaches. Snowbirds, of course, are those retirees from cooler northern climates who vacation on the Gulf Shores beaches during the cold winter months of January and February and March.
Winter 2007 has all the appearances of a banner year for snowbirds. All along the Alabama gulf coast hotels and condos are filling up. Many are fully rented for the entire winter season.
Although estimates vary, Alabama tourism officials believe the number of snowbirds vacationing here will total about 16,000 this year.
Gulf Shores' sand dunes will be receiving recycled Christmas trees as a restorative measure in the next few days and weeks.
Baldwin County residents plan to drop off their Christmas trees at several drop off locations around the area. The trees will be "planted" in the Gulf of Mexico where wave action will cause sand to accumulate on them, restoring the beaches along Gulf Shores.
A similar plan is at work on Dauphin Island. Keep Mobile Beautiful will be working with the Town of Dauphin Island to collect and recycle Mobile area residents' Christmas trees to restore the beaches of Dauphin Island.