The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) Commissioner opposes a pre-filed bill exempting fishing license requirements during a jubilee.
"The main concern centers around how to legally define a jubilee that is clear to the public and does not place an evidentiary burden on Conservation Enforcement Officers, district attorneys, judges and participants," Blankenship said.
A jubilee occurs when bottom-dwelling sea life comes to the surface due to a lack of oxygen in the water. People often hear about jubilees and get to them as fast as possible to catch fish and crabs easily.
State Rep. Matt Simpson (R-Daphne) pre-filed HB 55 after hearing from concerned citizens who said the time-honored tradition of running to the water during a jubilee was ruined this summer when a game warden issued multiple citations.
Simpson said he disagrees with the language argument from the ADCNR but said there is more to it than definitions.
"It's a money issue, is my understanding, because they don't want people fishing without a license and they expect people to pay for the licenses," Simpson claimed.
Blankenship said that while licensing is important, defining a jubilee is the main concern.
"All license exemptions are a concern because those are the only funds we receive to manage the fisheries," Blankenship responded to the claim. "We don't receive any other funds from the legislature for this critical work."
State Sen. Chris Elliott (R-Josephine) said he has addressed possible issues with Simpson. He agreed with the ADCNR's claim that identifying when a jubilee is underway could be difficult.
"I don't think that defining a jubilee based on salinity or oxygen levels in the water is worth the squeeze to get the juice," Elliott added. "Is the juice worth the squeeze to keep somebody from having to have a fishing license? I don't think that makes sense."
Blankenship said he would continue working with Simpson ahead of the 2025 legislative session, but Simpson told 1819 News he hasn't worked with him at all so far.
"I'll be happy to meet with them and talk with them and see if we can come to some type of agreement," Simpson said. "I sent them the bill probably three, four months ago and hadn't really heard back from them."
"I've tried to set up meetings and haven't been successful, so if they're willing to talk, I'm always willing to listen and see what we can do to get the bill to something everybody can agree with," he said.
The 2025 Alabama regular legislative session convenes on Jan. 14, 2025.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email erica.thomas@1819news.com.
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