12 §6421. Lobster and crab fishing licenses
Title 12: CONSERVATION
Part 9: MARINE RESOURCES
Subpart 2: LICENSING
Chapter 619: LOBSTER AND CRAB FISHING LICENSES
Subchapter 1: LICENSES
§6421. Lobster and crab fishing licenses
(CONTAINS TEXT WITH VARYING EFFECTIVE DATES)
1. License required. A person may not engage in the activities authorized under this section without a current:
A. Class I lobster and crab fishing license; [2003, c. 452, Pt. F, §8 (NEW); 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2 (AFF).]
B. Class II lobster and crab fishing license; [2003, c. 452, Pt. F, §8 (NEW); 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2 (AFF).]
C. Class III lobster and crab fishing license; [2003, c. 452, Pt. F, §8 (NEW); 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2 (AFF).]
D. Apprentice lobster and crab fishing license; [2003, c. 452, Pt. F, §8 (NEW); 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2 (AFF).]
E. Student lobster and crab fishing license; [2003, c. 452, Pt. F, §8 (NEW); 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2 (AFF).]
F. Noncommercial lobster and crab fishing license; [2007, c. 201, §4 (AMD).]
F-1. Nonresident lobster and crab landing permit; or [2007, c. 201, §5 (NEW).]
G. Other license issued under this Part authorizing the activities. [2003, c. 452, Pt. F, §8 (NEW); 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2 (AFF).]
[ 2007, c. 201, §§4, 5 (AMD) .]
2. Licensed activity. The holder of a Class I, Class II, Class III, apprentice or student lobster and crab fishing license may fish for, take, possess, ship or transport within the State lobsters or crabs and sell lobsters or crabs the license holder has taken. The license does not authorize the license holder to remove lobster meat from the shell or to take, possess, transport or ship lobster parts or meat. The holder of a Class II or Class III license is liable for the licensed activities under this subsection of all unlicensed crew members assisting that licensee.
[ 1995, c. 568, §1 (AMD) .]
2-A. Licensed activity; noncommercial license. The holder of a noncommercial lobster and crab fishing license may fish for, take, possess, ship or transport within the State lobsters or crabs the license holder has taken. The license does not authorize the license holder to sell lobsters or to remove lobster meat from the shell or to take, possess, transport or ship lobster parts or meat.
[ 1995, c. 568, §1 (NEW) .]
2-B. Licensed activity; nonresident lobster and crab landing permit. The holder of a nonresident lobster and crab landing permit may possess, transport and sell within the State lobsters or crabs the license holder has taken from outside Maine's territorial waters. The permit does not authorize the permit holder to remove lobster meat from the shell or to take, possess, transport or ship lobster parts or meat.
[ 2007, c. 201, §6 (NEW) .]
3. License limitation.
[ 1989, c. 455, §2 (RP) .]
3-A. License limitation. A license authorizes activities by individuals as follows.
A. A Class I license authorizes the licensed activities under subsection 2 by the individual who is named in the license. Any individual assisting or helping a Class I license holder in these activities must also be licensed. [1995, c. 568, §1 (AMD).]
B. A Class II license authorizes the license holder to engage in the licensed activities under subsection 2. A Class II license holder may engage one unlicensed crew member to assist in the licensed activities under the direct supervision of the Class II license holder. [1995, c. 568, §1 (AMD).]
C. A Class III license authorizes the license holder to engage in the licensed activities under subsection 2. A Class III license holder may engage 2 unlicensed crew members to assist in the licensed activities under the direct supervision of the Class III license holder. [1995, c. 568, §1 (AMD).]
D. An apprentice lobster and crab fishing license authorizes the apprentice so licensed to engage in the licensed activities under subsection 2 on that apprentice's sponsor's vessel when the apprentice's sponsor is on board the vessel. A person who holds an apprentice lobster and crab fishing license may not tend any traps unless the traps are fished by the sponsor of the apprentice so licensed. An applicant for an apprentice lobster and crab fishing license may designate up to 3 sponsors. For the purpose of this paragraph, "apprentice's sponsor" means a person who holds a Class I, Class II or Class III lobster and crab fishing license issued under this section. [1999, c. 490, §1 (AMD).]
E. A student license authorizes the license holder to engage in the licensed activities under subsection 2. A student license may be issued only to a person who, at the time of application, is 8 years of age or older and under 23 years of age. A person issued a student license may not submerge more than:
(1) Ten lobster traps in the coastal waters of the State if the person is 8 years of age or older and under 11 years of age;
(2) Fifty lobster traps in the coastal waters of the State if the person is 11 years of age or older and under 14 years of age; or
(3) One hundred and fifty lobster traps in the coastal waters of the State if the person is 14 years of age or older and under 23 years of age.
A person issued a student license is enrolled in the apprentice program under section 6422. When applying for a license the person must designate a sponsor. For the purposes of this paragraph, "sponsor" means a person who holds a Class I, Class II or Class III lobster and crab fishing license issued under this section. [2003, c. 468, §1 (RPR).]
F. A noncommercial lobster and crab fishing license authorizes the license holder to engage in the licensed activities under subsection 2-A. A person issued a noncommercial lobster and crab fishing license may not submerge at any one time more than 5 lobster traps in the coastal waters of the State. At the time a noncommercial lobster and crab fishing license is issued or renewed, the applicant or license holder shall declare the vessel that will be used to conduct lobster and crab fishing activities under that license. The license holder's trap tags are allocated to that vessel, pursuant to the license. The department is not authorized to issue more than 10 noncommercial trap tags to the declared vessel, regardless of the number of noncommercial license holders fishing from that vessel. [2003, c. 466, §1 (AMD); 2003, c. 466, §5 (AFF).]
[ 2003, c. 466, §1 (AMD); 2003, c. 466, §5 (AFF); 2003, c. 468, §1 (AMD) .]
4. (TEXT EFFECTIVE UNTIL 6/30/12) (TEXT REPEALED 6/30/12) Exception. A license is not required for a person:
A. To take or catch crabs with bare hands or hook and line; or [2009, c. 78, §1 (NEW).]
B. Who is issued a commercial fishing license under section 6501 to take, possess and sell crabs that have been taken as bycatch while using an otter trawl within the exclusive economic zone as shown on the most recently published Federal Government nautical chart. Crabs taken by otter trawl within the territorial waters must be liberated alive immediately. [2009, c. 78, §1 (NEW).]
This subsection is repealed June 30, 2012.
[ 2009, c. 78, §1 (RPR) .]
5. Eligibility. A noncommercial or student lobster and crab fishing license may only be issued to an individual who is a resident. A Class I, Class II or Class III license may be issued to a person 17 years of age or older only if the person:
A. Possessed a Class I, Class II or Class III lobster and crab fishing license in the previous calendar year; [2009, c. 188, §2 (AMD); 2009, c. 188, §3 (AFF).]
B. [1997, c. 250, §10 (AFF); 1997, c. 250, §2 (RP).]
C. Meets the requirements of the apprentice program under section 6422 or section 6475; or [RR 2001, c. 2, Pt. A, §14 (COR).]
D. Did not possess a Class I, Class II or Class III lobster and crab fishing license in the previous calendar year because the commissioner had suspended the person's license privileges for a length of time that included the previous calendar year. [RR 2001, c. 2, Pt. A, §15 (COR).]
E. [1997, c. 250, §10 (AFF); 1997, c. 250, §4 (RP).]
F. [1999, c. 658, §1 (RP).]
G. [1997, c. 250, §10 (AFF); 1997, c. 250, §6 (RP).]
H. [1999, c. 397, §3 (NEW); MRSA T. 12, §6421, sub-§5, ¶H (RP).]
Notwithstanding the age requirements of this subsection, a person who holds a Class I, Class II or Class III license on December 31, 2007 may continue to be issued a Class I, Class II or Class III license provided that person continues to meet the requirements of paragraph A.
[ 2009, c. 188, §2 (AMD); 2009, c. 188, §3 (AFF) .]
5-A. Student license eligibility. A student license may be issued only to a person who, at the time of application, is a full-time student 8 years of age or older and under 23 years of age. For the purposes of this subsection, "full-time student" means:
A. A person attending a public day school in accordance with the attendance requirement of Title 20-A, section 5001-A, subsection 1; [2005, c. 239, §1 (NEW).]
B. A person meeting the requirements of an alternative to attendance at public day school in accordance with Title 20-A, section 5001-A, subsection 3; or [2005, c. 239, §1 (NEW).]
C. A person enrolled in and meeting the requirements of a full-time course of study at a college or university accredited by a state-recognized accrediting agency or body. [2007, c. 219, §1 (AMD).]
A person may not be considered to have ceased to be a student during any interim between school years if the interim does not exceed 5 months and if it is shown that the person has a bona fide intention of continuing to pursue a full-time course of study during the semester or other enrollment period immediately following the interim period. For purposes of this subsection, "full-time course of study" means at least 60% of the usual course load for the program in which the person is enrolled.
The commissioner may revoke a student license of an individual who has ceased to be a full-time student.
[ 2007, c. 219, §1 (AMD) .]
5-B. Noncommercial lobster and crab fishing license eligibility. Beginning with license year 2003, a noncommercial lobster and crab fishing license may be issued only to a person who, at the time of application, is 8 years of age or older and has:
A. Successfully completed a lobster and crab fishing written examination, as provided in section 6423; or [2001, c. 581, §1 (NEW).]
B. Held a Class I, Class II or Class III lobster and crab fishing license and has landed lobster under that license. [2001, c. 581, §1 (NEW).]
Once a person successfully completes the examination, that person need not repeat the examination to renew the license.
[ 2003, c. 468, §3 (AMD) .]
5-C. Apprentice lobster and crab fishing license eligibility. An apprentice lobster and crab fishing license may be issued only to a person who, at the time of application, is 8 years of age or older.
[ 2003, c. 468, §4 (NEW) .]
5-D. Nonresident lobster and crab landing permit eligibility. A nonresident lobster and crab landing permit may be issued only to an individual who:
A. Does not meet the resident provisions under section 6301, subsection 1; [2007, c. 201, §7 (NEW).]
B. Possesses a valid federal lobster permit or a valid lobster fishing license from a state other than this State; [2007, c. 201, §7 (NEW).]
C. Except as authorized under subsection 5-E, does not operate a lobster and crab fishing vessel with an established base of operations in this State; and [2007, c. 201, §7 (NEW).]
D. Documents to the commissioner that that person has not been issued trap tags from a state other than Maine or federally issued trap tags that allow the individual to exceed a trap limit established under section 6431-A. [2007, c. 201, §7 (NEW).]
[ 2007, c. 201, §7 (NEW) .]
5-E. Exception; nonresident lobster and crab landing permit with an established base of operations in State. An individual may be excepted from subsection 5-D, paragraph C as long as the individual submits documentation to the commissioner by December 31, 2007 that the individual operated a lobster and crab fishing vessel with an established base of operations in the State as a nonresident in calendar years 2006 and 2007. Documentation must include at a minimum proof of lobster landings at a Maine dealer, proof of utilization of a mooring or dock in a Maine harbor for a sufficient time to meet the requirements to be an established base of operations in this State pursuant to Title 12, section 6001, subsection 13-I, proof that the individual possessed a valid federal lobster permit or a valid lobster fishing license from a state other than this State and proof that the individual did not meet the resident provisions under section 6301, subsection 1.
[ 2007, c. 201, §8 (NEW) .]
6. Buoy colors. Each license applicant must describe, on the application, a single color design of the applicant's buoys.
[ 1991, c. 528, Pt. RRR, (AFF); 1991, c. 528, Pt. T, §1 (AMD); 1991, c. 591, Pt. T, §1 (AMD) .]
7. Fee.
[ 1989, c. 455, §2 (RP) .]
7-A. Fee. Except as provided in subsection 8, the fee for the license is:
A. Sixty-five dollars for a resident Class I license for applicants under 18 years of age; [2009, c. 213, Pt. G, §2 (AMD).]
A-1. Three hundred eighty-seven dollars for a nonresident Class I license for applicants under 18 years of age; [2009, c. 213, Pt. G, §2 (AMD).]
B. One hundred thirty-five dollars and seventy-five cents for a resident Class I license for applicants 18 years of age or older; [2009, c. 213, Pt. G, §2 (AMD).]
B-1. Seven hundred ninety dollars and seventy-five cents for a nonresident Class I license for applicants 18 years of age or older; [2009, c. 213, Pt. G, §2 (AMD).]
C. Two hundred seventy-two dollars and fifty cents for a resident Class II license; [2009, c. 213, Pt. G, §2 (AMD).]
C-1. Fifteen hundred eighty-seven dollars and fifty cents for a nonresident Class II license; [2009, c. 213, Pt. G, §2 (AMD).]
D. Four hundred seven dollars and twenty-five cents for a resident Class III license; [2009, c. 213, Pt. G, §2 (AMD).]
D-1. Two thousand three hundred sixty-nine dollars and twenty-five cents for a nonresident Class III license; [2009, c. 213, Pt. G, §2 (AMD).]
E. Sixty-five dollars for a resident apprentice lobster and crab fishing license for applicants under 18 years of age; [2009, c. 213, Pt. G, §2 (AMD).]
E-1. Three hundred eighty-seven dollars for a nonresident apprentice lobster and crab fishing license for applicants under 18 years of age; [2009, c. 213, Pt. G, §2 (AMD).]
F. One hundred thirty-two dollars for a resident apprentice lobster and crab fishing license for applicants 18 years of age or older; [2009, c. 213, Pt. G, §2 (AMD).]
F-1. Seven hundred eighty-five dollars for a nonresident apprentice lobster and crab fishing license for applicants 18 years of age or older; [2009, c. 213, Pt. G, §2 (AMD).]
G. Sixty-five dollars for a student lobster and crab fishing license; [2009, c. 213, Pt. G, §2 (AMD).]
H. Sixty-five dollars for a noncommercial lobster and crab fishing license; and [2009, c. 213, Pt. G, §2 (AMD).]
I. Five hundred ninety dollars and twenty-five cents for a nonresident lobster and crab landing permit. [2009, c. 213, Pt. G, §2 (AMD).]
[ 2009, c. 213, Pt. G, §2 (AMD) .]
8. Exception. The fee for a license for an applicant 70 years of age or older is:
A. For a Class I or an apprentice lobster and crab fishing license, $66; [2009, c. 213, Pt. G, §3 (AMD).]
B. For a Class II lobster and crab fishing license, $136; and [2009, c. 213, Pt. G, §3 (AMD).]
C. For a Class III lobster and crab fishing license, $203. [2009, c. 213, Pt. G, §3 (AMD).]
[ 2009, c. 213, Pt. G, §3 (AMD) .]
9. Violation. A person who violates this section commits a civil violation for which a forfeiture of not less than $100 nor more than $500 may be adjudged.
[ 2001, c. 421, Pt. B, §21 (NEW); 2001, c. 421, Pt. C, §1 (AFF) .]
SECTION HISTORY
1977, c. 661, §5 (NEW). 1977, c. 713, §4 (AMD). 1979, c. 205, (AMD). 1981, c. 480, §§1,15,16 (AMD). 1983, c. 824, §K3 (AMD). 1985, c. 243, (AMD). 1985, c. 379, §1 (AMD). 1989, c. 455, §2 (AMD). 1991, c. 528, §RRR (AFF). 1991, c. 528, §T1 (AMD). 1991, c. 591, §T1 (AMD). 1991, c. 617, §§1,2 (AMD). 1993, c. 499, §§2,3 (AMD). 1995, c. 468, §3 (AMD). 1995, c. 568, §1 (AMD). 1997, c. 250, §§1-6 (AMD). 1997, c. 250, §10 (AFF). 1997, c. 574, §1 (AMD). RR 1999, c. 1, §16 (COR). 1999, c. 330, §§1,2 (AMD). 1999, c. 397, §§1-3 (AMD). 1999, c. 490, §1 (AMD). 1999, c. 643, §3 (AMD). 1999, c. 658, §1 (AMD). 1999, c. 790, §B1 (AMD). RR 2001, c. 2, §§A14,15 (COR). 2001, c. 421, §§B19-21 (AMD). 2001, c. 421, §C1 (AFF). 2001, c. 581, §1 (AMD). 2003, c. 20, §WW2 (AMD). 2003, c. 452, §F8 (AMD). 2003, c. 452, §X2 (AFF). 2003, c. 466, §1 (AMD). 2003, c. 466, §5 (AFF). 2003, c. 468, §§1-4 (AMD). 2005, c. 239, §1 (AMD). 2005, c. 354, §§1,2 (AMD). 2007, c. 138, §1 (AMD). 2007, c. 201, §§4-11 (AMD). 2007, c. 219, §1 (AMD). 2007, c. 615, §9 (AMD). 2009, c. 78, §1 (AMD). 2009, c. 188, §2 (AMD). 2009, c. 188, §3 (AFF). 2009, c. 213, Pt. G, §§2,3 (AMD).