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Committee approves HB596 imposing $2,000 fine for hauling live catfish out of state
Summary
The committee approved HB596 to fine $2,000 per live catfish taken out of state for sale; sponsor said the measure targets trafficking of large trophy catfish mainly from North Alabama.
The State Government Committee approved HB596, which creates a $2,000 fine for each live catfish transported out of state for sale.
A presenter described the problem as concentrated in North Alabama, where "trophy catfish" are reportedly being caught and hauled out of state for sale. The presenter said out-of-state buyers and out-of-state fishers take live catfish across state lines, and that the measure was intended to deter that practice by imposing a $2,000 per-fish fine. "Anyone caught hauling live catfish out of state, there's a $2,000 per fine fish," the presenter said. The presenter compared the proposed fine to an existing $3,000-per-hog penalty for hauling live wild hogs out of state and said he chose a lower fine for catfish.
A committee member clarified the scope: the fine applies to transporting live catfish out of state for sale. The presenter confirmed that cleaning and removing fish after they are caught in-state is not covered by the provision; the prohibition applies to moving live fish out of state.
The committee voted on the bill; the transcript records the chair calling for the ayes and the motion passing with no recorded opposition in the excerpt. The presenter said, "Bill passes," before the committee adjourned.
The recorded explanation focused on the proposed per-fish fine and the geographic concern (North Alabama); no enforcement mechanism, permitting or statutory citations were included in the excerpted remarks.
