Coastal Fisheries Town Hall:

Marcus Drymon
Mississippi State University

Dr. Marcus Drymon is an Assistant Extension Professor at Mississippi State University, and a Fisheries Specialist at Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant. He is a fisheries ecologist whose research has focused on the ecological role of upper trophic level fishes in coastal ecosystems. He is particularly interested in the dynamics of coastal shark assemblages, which he examines through studies of their relative abundance, distribution, movements, and feeding habits. Most of his research has been conducted in the northern Gulf of Mexico, an ecosystem with an exciting diversity of sharks, skates and rays. Through collaborations with recreational anglers and commercial fishermen, his primary research motivation is to provide the most current and applicable science to the managers of our coastal marine resources. This engagement is facilitated through participation on the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council’s Outreach and Education Advisory Panel, and well as NOAA Fisheries Highly Migratory Species Advisory Panel. Dr. Drymon earned Bachelor of Science degrees in Marine Science and Biology from Coastal Carolina University in 2000, a Master’s Degree in Marine Biology from the College of Charleston in 2003, and a Ph.D. in Marine Sciences from the University of South Alabama in 2010.  

Scott Bannon
Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources

Scott Bannon is the Director for the Alabama Marine Resources Division (MRD) of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.  The mission of the Marine Resources Division is to manage the State’s marine fishery resources through research, enforcement, and education for the maximum benefit of the resources and the citizens of Alabama. The Division consists of enforcement, fisheries, and administrative sections. Bannon has been with the Marine Resources Division for 22 years and has been the Director since 2017. He began his career as a municipal police officer before working with the state and has held the positions of officer, Sergeant, Lieutenant, Captain and Chief of Enforcement.  In 2006, he was selected as the Alabama Wildlife Federation Officer for actions taken during Hurricane Katrina.  Bannon currently serves as the Sector Mobile Reserve Command Master Chief with the US Coast Guard and has over 28 years of active and reserve service. He also serves on the Executive Committee for the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission, Law Enforcement Coordinating Committee for the US Attorney’s Office, FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force Mobile, Environmental Crimes Task Force, Port Security Task Force Mobile, and Mobile Bay NEP Government Networks Committee.

Julie Lively
Louisiana State University, Louisiana Sea Grant

Dr. Julie A. Lively is the Louisiana Sea Grant College Program’s Fisheries Extension Specialist and an associate professor with Louisiana State University AgCenter.  Her work centers around commercial fisheries in the Gulf of Mexico. Her applied research focuses on blue crab and shrimp including soft shell crab production, bait and disease work with blue crabs, derelict crab traps and ghost fishing, and post-harvest processes in the shrimp industry.  In addition to extension and outreach on these topics, she has also worked on characterizing the freshwater commercial fishery and the Louisiana Fisheries Forward Program to improve economic success in commercial fisheries.  She is the editor of the monthly fisheries newsletter, Lagniappe. Previously she worked with the horseshoe crab, whelk, and eel fisheries in the Mid Atlantic.  She currently serves as the chair for both the National Sea Grant Fisheries Extension Network and the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission Sea Grant Extension Advisory Group, and she is a member of the Louisiana Crab Task Force.  She received her B.S. in biology from Truman State University and Ph.D. in marine biology from the University of Delaware.

Ronnie Daniels 
Fisher-Man Guide Service

Ronnie Daniels was appointed by Governor Phil Bryant in 2018 as a member of the Mississippi Commission on Marine Resources representing the charter boat sector, a term that lasts for four years. He is a charter guide that runs over 200 trips per year in the Biloxi Marsh and Eastern portions of Louisiana. Daniels hosts and participates in multiple seminars each year for the University of Southern Mississippi, Biloxi Boat Show, Mobile Boat Show, CCA Louisiana, and Ocean Marine Group (five dealerships in Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas). He also hosts the Fishing 101, a free event in conjunction with the Biloxi and Mobile boat shows that utilizes local industry professionals to give children hands-on experience with the fishing industry. Over 1,000 children and their families have participated in this event since its inception in 2017. Daniels has also appeared on the Fisherman’s Guide television show, which runs for six months out of the year and airs on Cox Sports Television, WXXV Fox 25 and the Pursuit Network.