HB407 Alabama 2013 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

David SessionsSenator

Republican

Co-Sponsors

Rod ScottHoward SanderfordWes Long

Session

Regular Session 2013

Title

Fishing, commercial saltwater fishing license, license further provided for, Sec. 9-12-113 am'd.

Summary

HB407 updates Alabama's saltwater commercial fishing licensing, including fees, who must be licensed, transfer rules, tagging and vessel requirements, and penalties.

What This Bill Does

HB407 updates Alabama's saltwater commercial fishing license system. It sets new license fees for residents and nonresidents and clarifies which activities require a license. It introduces transfer rules for nets and seines, adds income verification for certain transfers, and imposes tagging, vessel display, and other operational requirements. It also creates a penalty and licensing revocation system based on a points system.

Who It Affects

• Saltwater commercial fishers in Alabama (both residents and nonresidents) who fish for finfish and may sell catches; they will face new or updated license fees and requirements.
• Net/seine permit holders, purse seine license holders, seafood dealers/transporters, and others involved in the sale, transfer, or off-loading of saltwater fish; they face transfer restrictions, income verification requirements, tagging and vessel rules, and stronger penalties.

Key Provisions

• Creates licensing requirements for commercial saltwater fishing, including what activities require a license to sell, take, possess, or transport finfish from Alabama waters.
• Sets license fee schedules for residents and nonresidents, including separate fees for hook-and-line fishing, nets/seines, Roe Mullet and Spanish Mackerel, and purse seine licenses, with reciprocity provisions for nonresidents from states with reciprocal agreements.
• Exempts commercial gill net license holders and licensed commercial shrimp boats from needing a separate saltwater commercial fishing license for certain activities.
• Imposes transferability rules for permits: some net/seine permits cannot be transferred for a period and require a department-created transfer system; others may have restricted transferability with no financial gain.
• Requires income verification and tax information for certain transfer eligibility, including past license purchases and percentage of income from seafood, with conditions for year 1997 transfer and ongoing renewals.
• Allocates one license per individual, requires decals on vessels, and restricts use to Alabama-registered vessels with specific vessel and net-use rules.
• Requires tagging of nets and seines, defines designated vessels, and sets size limits with allowances for replacement vessels and possible waivers.
• Defines saltwater game fish and imposes tagging or regulation to control importation or sale; clarifies penalties for violations and establishes a 10-point system that can lead to automatic license revocation.
• Imposes mandatory minimum fines for first offenses and escalated penalties for subsequent offenses, with strict liability for many violations.
• Licenses and permits expire on September 30 of each year, and the act takes effect after governor approval.

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