After serving as director of the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries for over nine years, Dr. Louis Daniel has resigned.

The announcement was made in an email sent by John Evans, the Chief Deputy Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality.

Louis Daniel. North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries photo"Louis Daniel has stepped down as Director of the Division of Marine Fisheries, effective immediately," he wrote. "Col. Jim Kelley will serve as acting Director of the Division. Kelley has been with the N.C. Marine Patrol for nearly 25 years and has served as its leader since January 2014. Please join me in thanking Louis for his leadership and service."

According to news reports, his resignation came as a surprise to industry leaders and no one is entirely sure of his reasons for leaving.

The Outer Banks Voice has reported that, according to an anonymous source at the state capitol, Daniel was offered another position in state government at the same salary he earned when he assumed his position as director and that he will not be working in any area related to regulation of fisheries.