Basic Commercial Fishing Regulations - Gulf States Marine ...

the commercial harvest of either shark
management unit (SCS or LCS), it shall be
unlawful to take, harvest, or possess, or attempt
to take, harvest, or possess, for commercial
purposes, sharks of such closed management
unit from the waters of the state of Alabama.
Closed Season and Zero Possession Limit on
Certain Species for Commercial Purposes
No person shall take, possess, or attempt to take
or possess from the waters of the state of
Alabama, for commercial purposes, any of the
following species: Atlantic Angle Shark, Bigeye
Thresher Shark, Dusky Shark , Longfin Mako
Shark, Sand Tiger Shark, Basking Shark, Whale
Shark, White Shark, Smalltail Shark, Bigeye
Sand Tiger Shark, Bigeye Six Gill Shark,
Bignose Shark, Caribbean Reef Shark,
Caribbean Sharpnose Shark, Galapogos Shark,
Narrow Tooth Shark,Night Shark, Seven Gill
Shark, Six Gill Shark, Smalltooth Sawfish,
Largetooth Sawfish, Atlantic Manta Ray,
Spotted Eagle Ray, Goliath Grouper ( Jewfish ),
Nassau Grouper
By-catch Provisions on Sharks for
Commercial Purposes
Regardless of the open or closed status of
Federal and Alabama waters regarding the
directed harvest of sharks, gill net fishermen
targeting other fish shall be allowed to keep, for
commercial purposes, an incidental bycatch of
dressed weight of sharks (carcasses and fins) –
except those species listed above – totaling no
more than ten percent (10%) by weight of other
fish taken.
SALTWATER NETS
All licenses expire September 30 of each year.
Purse Seine Licenses
Resident - $1,501.00
Nonresident - $3,001.00
Permits
Permits expire September 30 of each year.
Recreational nets shall not exceed 300’ in
length; commercial nets shall not exceed 2,400’
in length (main top line).
Resident
Recreational - $51.00 + must have 2010
license to purchase 2011 license.
Commercial - $301.00 + additional $501.00
for roe mullet and Spanish mackerel permit.
must have 2010 permit to purchase 2011
permit
Nonresident
Recreational – pays the same fee as that
charged an Alabama resident to conduct the
same activity in applicant’s state of
residence provided nonresidents pay no less
than twice the cost for license that Alabama
residents pay. Must have license from
previous year to purchase current year
license.
Commercial. Not available after June 1,
2008.
Permits for commercial net and seine permits
shall only be issued to persons who purchased
such licenses in two of five years from 1989
through 1993 and who have proof of 50% of
their gross income from fishing or persons who
purchased such a license in all five years and
have filed annual income tax returns in all years.
All nets and seines must be licensed except
seines used for taking bait. Bait seines shall not
exceed twenty-five feet (25’) in length or four
feet (4’) in depth. A license made out to an
individual is not transferable; licensee must be
present when net is in use. A seafood dealer’s
license is also required if fish are sold to other
than an Alabama seafood dealer. A saltwater
fishing license is required for cast nets when
used recreationally by Alabama residents.
Restrictions
It shall be unlawful to use purse seines for the
taking or attempting to take fishes of other than
those of the families Clupeidae (menhaden and
herrings) and Engraulidae (anchovies). The
starting date for the commercial menhaden
season in the territorial waters of Alabama shall
be the third Monday in April, and the closing
date shall be November 1 of each year (both
dates inclusive). The taking of menhaden by
purse seine shall be permitted only in those
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