Ala. Admin. Code 420, ch. 420-3-18, app A
Time limits for harvest and refrigeration of shellfish to be sold to the final consumer as shellstock or for half-shell service.
Shellfish harvested for approved post-harvest processing to control Vibrio bacteria, or for sale to a permitted shellfish processing facility for the purpose of shucking, and with tags attached to the harvest container (bag,
sack, or box) stating such restricted use, shall be exempted from the time controls stated in Column 3.
Column 1 MONTH | Column 2 DAILY MAXIMUM WATER TEMPERATURE | Column 3 MAXIMUM TIME ALLOWED ON HARVEST REEF FOR ONE TRIP | Column 4 MAXIMUM TIME ALLOWED FROM LANDING TO DELIVERY TO PERMITTED PROCESSOR | Column 5 MAXIMUM TIME ALLOWED FROM LANDING TO DELIVERY TO PERMITTED PROCESSOR | |
JANUARY | 56°F | Set by ADCNR-MRD** | 1.5 hours | 6 hours to 55° | |
FEBRUARY | 61°F | Set by ADCNR-MRD** | 1.5 hours | 6 hours to 55° | |
MARCH | 67°F | Set by ADCNR-MRD** | 1.5 hours | 6 hours to 55° | |
APRIL | 73°F | 6.5 hours | 1.5 hours | 6 hours to 55° | |
MAY | 80°F | 2.5 hours | 1.5 hours | 6 hours to 55° | |
JUNE | 85°F | 1 hour | Immediate mechanical refrigeration | 6 hours to 55° | 10 hours to 50°F |
JULY | 87°F | 1 hour | Immediate mechanical refrigeration | 6 hours to 55° | 10 hours to 50°F |
AUGUST | 87°F | 1 hour | Immediate mechanical refrigeration | 6 hours to 55° | 10 hours to 50°F |
SEPTEMBER | 86°F | 2 hours | Immediate mechanical refrigeration | 6 hours to 55° | 10 hours to 50°F |
OCTOBER | 77°F | 2.5 hours | 1.5 hours | 6 hours to 55° | |
NOVEMBER | 66°F | Set by ADCNR-MRD** | 1.5 hours | 6 hours to 55° | |
DECEMBER | 61°F | Set by ADCNR-MRD** | 1.5 hours | 6 hours to 55° | |
"Maximum time allowed on harvest reef for one trip" based on National Shellfish Sanitation Program Guide for the Control of Molluscan Shellfish, 2017 Revision, Section II, Chapter II, Parts .04 and .05, and allows 1 hour 30 minutes for transport time from harvest area landing to approved refrigeration. This delivery time is noted in "Maximum time allowed from landing to delivery to permitted processor".
"Daily maximum water temperature" source is Middle Bay Light weather station, maintained by Dauphin Island Sea Lab and is the monthly average (mean) for the years 2015-2019.
*Time limits apply to permitted shellfish processing facilities (dealers) receiving shellstock and shall be included in the permitted shellfish processing facilities' HACCP Plan.
* * ADCNR - MRD is the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Marine Resources Division. As noted in 420-3-18-.08(5)(d), ADCNR-MRD may set time limits in any month that are less than the maximum allowed by the Alabama Department of Public Health.
Available option - Harvest and delivery time to permitted processor in September can be divided, not to exceed 2 hours
Ala. Admin. Code 420, ch. 420-3-18, app A
Appendices B and C were repealed as per certification filed July 23, 2012; effective August 27, 2012.
Authors: Lewis A. Byrd, Ph.D., Christine Collins, Jeff McCool, Greg Dunn, Byron Webb
Statutory Authority:Code of Ala. 1975, §§ 9-12-126, 22-2-2(6), 22-20-5.