HB259 Alabama 2015 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Lynn Greer

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2015

Title

Paddlefish, commercial harvesting season required, license fees, prize limits, procedures required

Summary

HB259 would create a commercial paddlefish harvesting season in the Tennessee River and its tributaries, establish license limits and fees, and set harvesting rules and penalties.

What This Bill Does

The bill requires the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to establish a commercial paddlefish season from November 20 through April 7 each year for the Tennessee River and its tributaries. It allows up to 60 resident licenses and 5 nonresident licenses at any time, with current license holders allowed to continue, and sets license fees (residents pay $1,000; nonresidents pay the same amount as their home state charges). It also specifies gear and size restrictions, allows roe removal at capture, and imposes criminal penalties for violations.

Who It Affects

• Resident paddlefish fishers in Alabama: could obtain up to 60 licenses at a time, must pay a $1,000 license fee, and can fish during the season under the specified gear, size, and roe rules.
• Nonresident paddlefish fishers: could obtain up to 5 licenses at a time, must come from a state with a reciprocity agreement, and would pay the nonresident state's license fee; they must also follow the season, gear, size, and roe rules.

Key Provisions

• Establishes a commercial paddlefish harvesting season in the Tennessee River and all its tributaries from November 20 through April 7 each year.
• Authorizes the Department to issue up to 60 resident commercial licenses and 5 nonresident commercial licenses at any given time; existing license holders may continue harvesting.
• Resident license fee is $1,000; nonresident license fee is the amount charged by the nonresident state for its license; nonresidents require reciprocity with Alabama.
• Roe may be removed at the time the paddlefish is caught.
• Harvesting may occur at any time, day or night, during the season; gear restrictions include up to 10 nets of up to 300 feet, with depth limits and mesh size requirements specified.
• Size limit for paddlefish is 34 inches from the eye to the fork of the caudal fin.
• Violations carry Class C misdemeanor penalties.
• The bill notes an exemption from local-government expenditure requirements due to the crime-creating/altering provisions and the related constitutional amendment.

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

Subjects

Game and Fish