HB334 Summary

• Department of Conservation and Natural Resources may issue up to 40 paddlefish licenses for a December 1 to April 30 season on the Tennessee River, Alabama River, and Tombigbee River.

• Resident licenses cost $1,500 per season; nonresident licenses cost the same as charged to Alabama residents in their home state, with priority given to those who participated in the department's paddlefish management program.

• Licensees may use gill nets with minimum 6-inch mesh, up to 100 yards in length and no more than 10 nets at a time, with nets checked every 24 hours and limited to certain distances from banks.

• Licensees receive 100 tags and may harvest up to 100 female paddlefish with roe, which must be removed only on boats within 50 yards of docks and placed in separate tagged containers.

• Violations are misdemeanors punishable by fines up to $500; taking more than the authorized number of fish may result in a 5-year prohibition from obtaining a paddlefish license.