Melanie LeCroy/Gulf Coast Media

Red snapper season is in full swing, but did you know it is illegal to discard fish carcasses in our waterways?

The city of Orange Beach reminds the public each year that dumping fish carcasses in local waterways is against the city ordinance that defines littering. It is also in violation of Section 220-3-.04(8) of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Administrative Code, Marine Resources Division.

That section states: "It shall be unlawful for any person to discard dead fish, fish parts or carcasses or other dead seafood within 500 feet of any shoreline; provided further, it shall be unlawful for any person aboard a shrimping vessel to discard any dead seafood or bycatch into the waters of the Gulf of Mexico (including Pelican Bay) within 3 miles of the gulf beaches. Discarding dead fish or other dead seafood into any creek, bayou, river or stream shall be unlawful."

A reminder pushed out by the city of Orange Beach suggests boaters should dispose of unwanted bait and gutted fish well offshore. If fish are gutted on land, double bag the fish waste and properly dispose of the bag in a covered trash can. Another option is to freeze the bagged fish carcasses until your regular garbage pickup day.