(a) Before any person engages in the taking or catching of oysters from the waters or bottoms of the State of Alabama, the person shall first purchase an annual oyster catcher license. The license shall expire annually on September 30 and shall be twenty-five dollars ($25) . However, persons may take for personal, noncommercial purposes, from waters opened to commercial oystering, not more than 100 oysters per day without purchasing an oyster catcher license.
(b) Before any oyster aquaculture site or facility permitted by the state Department of Public Health engages in the taking of oysters from the waters or bottoms of this state, the oyster aquaculture permittee shall first purchase an annual oyster aquaculture license. The license shall allow employees of the aquaculture facility to engage in harvesting and sorting of oysters or to conduct other approved activities for the licensed facility without possessing an individual oyster catcher license. Authorized employees shall meet the requirements for harvest in accordance with all other rules of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the state Department of Public Health. The license shall expire annually on September 30 and shall be two hundred fifty dollars ($250).
(c) A violation of this section shall be a Class C misdemeanor.
(d) The proceeds from the sale of the license shall be deposited to the credit of the Marine Resources Fund and the license shall expire on September 30 of each year.
Structure Code of Alabama
Title 9 - Conservation and Natural Resources.
Chapter 12 - Marine Resources.
Division 2 - Licenses Generally.
Section 9-12-80 - License Fees for Nonresidents.
Section 9-12-85 - Affidavits of Applicants for Licenses for Boats or Vessels.
Section 9-12-87 - License for Dredge.
Section 9-12-93 - License for Boat Used for Taking or Carrying Shrimp.
Section 9-12-94 - Persons Taking Oysters or Shrimp to Have Licenses in Possession.
Section 9-12-95 - Commercial Party Boat License; Fee; Requirements; Expiration; Penalty.