Seafood; oyster aquaculture, licensees authorized to serve oysters at facility

HB 277 allows licensed oyster aquaculture facilities in Alabama to harvest, shuck, and serve oysters directly at their site for free customer tasting samples to evaluate taste and texture. It removes the current requirement for a separate Alabama Department of Public Health permit for this specific activity, though it does not change existing rules about oyster harvesting limits. The bill specifically applies to facilities already holding aquaculture licenses and takes effect on October 1, 2026. This change aims to support local oyster producers by enabling direct consumer engagement without additional regulatory hurdles for tasting purposes.