HB333 Alabama 2011 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Randy Davis

Republican

Co-Sponsors

Victor GastonJoe FaustSteve McMillanJamie IsonPaul W. Lee

Session

Regular Session 2011

Title

Live saltwater bait license, regulation of shrimping areas for bait and the number of shrimp baskets licensee may have in his or her possession, license fees increased, expiration of licenses, regulation of bull minnow traps, Secs. 9-12-54.1, 9-12-54.2, 9-12-54.3, 9-12-54.4 am'd.

Summary

HB333 updates Alabama's live saltwater bait licensing to raise fees, expand license requirements and recordkeeping, tighten equipment and vessel rules, and regulate bait-related gear and shrimp basket limits.

What This Bill Does

If passed, the bill requires live saltwater bait dealers to obtain a license, sets tiered fees based on business size, and mandates detailed purchase records for shrimp. It establishes license expiration (Sept 30) with renewal periods, adds new-business license options, and requires pre-issuance inspections of equipment to keep bait alive. It also imposes vessel and gear identification requirements, restricts certain gear and shrimp basket limits, and regulates bull minnow traps and sales of dead shrimp.

Who It Affects

• Live saltwater bait dealers, live bait catcher boats, and transport truck operators who must obtain licenses, pay fees, maintain sale records, and comply with equipment inspections and display/identification requirements.
• Nonresidents and entities establishing new bait businesses, who face parity or higher license fees, residency-related rules, and specific timing for obtaining licenses, as well as restrictions on using out-of-state vehicles on resident licenses.

Key Provisions

• Mandatory live saltwater bait dealer licenses for taking, catching, transporting, or selling live bait; defined 'live bait' and tiered license fees (options include 1 boat/truck or 2 boats/trucks, with fees around $50, $100, or $200 depending on level).
• Licenses expire Sept 30 each year; renewal or purchase permitted Oct 1–Dec 31; nonresidents pay equal or higher fees; vehicles from other states cannot be on a resident license; new place of business licenses may be purchased Jan 1–Sept 30 with certain limitations.
• Licensees must provide boat and truck identifiers (registration and license tag numbers); designated live bait catcher boats cannot be used as commercial shrimping vessels in that year; substitutions require inspection; boats/trucks must display 'live bait' and carry license copies.
• Bull minnow traps on licensed bait vessels or used by dealers must be marked with Alabama boat registration numbers.
• Rules for taking/possessing bait shrimp: licensed catchers may operate from 4:00 am to 10:00 pm in areas not permanently closed to shrimping; in protected areas, nets/seines cannot exceed 16 feet; dead shrimp packaged with head attached in lots of 1 pound; possession limits limit shrimp baskets to specific numbers (e.g., on boat up to two baskets, on truck up to two baskets, and up to four baskets at the place of business).
• Records and compliance: detailed transaction records for shrimp purchases must be kept, including seller, date/time, amount, price, and size; records must be kept for at least 30 days and available for inspection; fraudulent records can be a Class A misdemeanor; failure to keep records can result in penalties.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Conservation and Natural Resources Department