HB302 Alabama 2018 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

David SessionsSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2018

Title

Oysters, regulation of tagging by Marine Resources Division, Conservation and Natural Resources Dept., including private lease sites and aquaculture sites, oyster aquaculture license provided for, Secs. 9-12-67, 9-12-82 am'd.

Summary

HB 302 regulates oyster tagging and licensing in Alabama, allowing bulk tagging for private leases and aquaculture sites and creating an annual oyster aquaculture license.

What This Bill Does

It requires oysters from public bottoms to be bagged or placed in containers and tagged according to national shellfish rules, with tags remaining on sacks until emptied at the destination. Oysters from private lease bottoms or oyster aquaculture sites may be tagged in bulk, and bulk tags may be purchased. It creates an annual oyster aquaculture license, issued by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, for any oyster aquaculture site or facility taking oysters from Alabama waters; the license allows facility employees to harvest and sort oysters and costs $250, expiring each year on September 30. The bill maintains penalties for violations (Class C misdemeanor) and sets tag costs ($0.25 per tag for sacks/containers and $1 per bulk tag), with receipts going to the Marine Resources Fund for oyster management activities; it also notes local-funds expenditure provisions under Amendment 621 are met by exceptions.

Who It Affects

• Commercial oyster harvesters and shellfish dealers who take oysters from public bottoms or private leases/aquaculture sites and must tag, bag, and/or bulk-tag oysters and comply with tagging rules; violations can result in penalties.
• Oyster aquaculture site operators and leaseholders who take oysters from Alabama waters and must obtain an annual oyster aquaculture license ($250) and ensure tagging for their harvest, with employees allowed to harvest and sort under the license.

Key Provisions

• Oysters taken from public or private oyster bottoms for commercial purposes must be bagged or placed in containers, tagged according to the National Shellfish Sanitation Program, and the tag must remain attached to the sack/container until emptied at the destination.
• Oysters taken from private lease bottoms or oyster aquaculture sites may be tagged in individual sacks/containers or in bulk, in accordance with NSSP guidelines and Commission rules; bulk tagging is authorized.
• An annual oyster aquaculture license is required for any oyster aquaculture site or facility taking oysters from state waters; the license costs $250, expires September 30 each year, and allows facility employees to harvest and sort oysters without individual oyster catcher licenses.
• Tagging rules require tag purchases (25 cents per tag for sacks/containers, $1 per tag for bulk tags) with funds deposited to the Marine Resources Fund for oyster management activities; imported sacks/containers must also be tagged as required by health rules.
• Selling, purchasing, or possessing oysters in violation of tagging rules is a Class C misdemeanor.
• The bill notes it would require new local expenditures but is exempt from the local-funds requirement due to the exceptions in Amendment 621; it becomes effective according to the constitutional and statutory timing.

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