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Governor Kay Ivey on Wednesday shared her strong support for House Bill 437 to establish a shark alert system under the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources for beaches and shorelines in Baldwin and Mobile counties.

The bill, inspired by Birmingham teen Lulu Gribben, would enable Mobile and Baldwin County Emergency Management Agencies to warn individuals of a shark attack by providing for alerts to be sent to mobile cellular devices in localized areas and to first responders on duty.

The governor issued the following comment:

“Officials in Baldwin and Mobile counties do fantastic work to keep Alabamians and our many visitors safe when they are down enjoying our beautiful beaches. Establishing a shark alert system will be an added tool to keep those enjoying our Gulf of America waters safe. I thank Representative David Faulkner for bringing this legislation forward, and I commend Lulu Gribben and her family for inspiring positive change in our own state. Lulu is truly an inspiration and awesome example of courage. Let’s be Lulu strong and get this bill to my desk so I can sign it into law!” – Governor Kay Ivey

The alert system shall be activated when the Department receives a confirmed report of an unprovoked shark attacking an individual within close proximity to a shoreline or coastline. The bill passed out of House Committee this morning.