12 §6501. Commercial fishing license - Maine Statutes

Title 12: CONSERVATION

Part 9: MARINE RESOURCES

Subpart 2: LICENSING

Chapter 621: FINFISH LICENSES

Subchapter 1: LICENSES

§6501. Commercial fishing license

1. License required. A person may not engage in the activities authorized under this section without a current:

A. Commercial fishing license for a resident operator; [2003, c. 452, Pt. F, §10 (NEW); 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2 (AFF).]

B. Commercial fishing license for a resident operator and all crew members; [2003, c. 452, Pt. F, §10 (NEW); 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2 (AFF).]

C. Commercial fishing license for a nonresident operator and all crew members; or [2003, c. 452, Pt. F, §10 (NEW); 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2 (AFF).]

D. Other license under this Part authorizing the activities. [2003, c. 452, Pt. F, §10 (NEW); 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2 (AFF).]

[ 2003, c. 452, Pt. F, §10 (AMD); 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2 (AFF) .]

2. Licensed activity. The holder of a commercial fishing license may fish for or take fish or possess, ship, transport or sell fish that the holder has taken. The license authorizes crew members aboard the licensee's boat when it is engaged in commercial fishing to undertake these activities, if the license provides for crew members.

[ 2001, c. 421, Pt. B, §25 (AMD); 2001, c. 421, Pt. C, §1 (AFF) .]

3. Exemptions. The licensing requirement under subsection 1 does not apply to activities described in this subsection.

A. A person may fish for, take, possess or transport any species of fish if they have been taken by speargun, harpoon, minnow trap, hand dip net or hook and line and are only for personal use. [2001, c. 421, Pt. B, §25 (AMD); 2001, c. 421, Pt. C, §1 (AFF).]

B. A person may fish for, take, possess or transport halibut if they have been taken by tub trawl and are only for personal use. [2001, c. 421, Pt. B, §25 (AMD); 2001, c. 421, Pt. C, §1 (AFF).]

C. A person may fish for, take, possess, ship, transport or sell smelts if they have been taken by hook and line through the ice. [2001, c. 421, Pt. B, §25 (AMD); 2001, c. 421, Pt. C, §1 (AFF).]

[ 2001, c. 421, Pt. B, §25 (AMD); 2001, c. 421, Pt. C, §1 (AFF) .]

4. Eligibility. A commercial fishing license may be issued only to an individual.

[ 2001, c. 421, Pt. B, §25 (AMD); 2001, c. 421, Pt. C, §1 (AFF) .]

5. Fees. Fees for commercial fishing licenses are:

A. Forty-eight dollars for resident operator; [2009, c. 213, Pt. G, §5 (AMD).]

B. One hundred twenty-eight dollars for resident operator and all crew members; and [2009, c. 213, Pt. G, §5 (AMD).]

C. Four hundred eighty-one dollars for nonresident operator and all crew members. [2009, c. 213, Pt. G, §5 (AMD).]

[ 2009, c. 213, Pt. G, §5 (AMD) .]

6. Definition. For the purposes of this chapter, "fish" means all marine finfish and squid or other marine organisms, except lobsters, crabs, sea urchins, shellfish, scallops, marine worms, elvers, eels, shrimp or seaweed.

[ 2001, c. 272, §7 (AMD) .]

7. License freeze.

[ MRSA T. 12, §6501, sub-§7 (RP) .]

8. 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, §25 (NEW); 2001, c. 421, Pt. C, §1 (AFF) .]

SECTION HISTORY

1977, c. 661, §5 (NEW). 1979, c. 25, (AMD). 1981, c. 480, §§3,15,16 (AMD). 1983, c. 301, §7 (AMD). 1983, c. 824, §K3 (AMD). 1985, c. 243, (AMD). 1985, c. 379, §2 (AMD). 1985, c. 659, (AMD). 1991, c. 528, §RRR (AFF). 1991, c. 528, §T2 (AMD). 1991, c. 591, §T2 (AMD). 1995, c. 536, §A6 (AMD). 1997, c. 19, §5 (AMD). 1999, c. 491, §4 (AMD). 2001, c. 272, §7 (AMD). 2001, c. 421, §B25 (AMD). 2001, c. 421, §C1 (AFF). 2003, c. 20, §WW6 (AMD). 2003, c. 452, §F10 (AMD). 2003, c. 452, §X2 (AFF). 2009, c. 213, Pt. G, §5 (AMD). MRSA T.12, §6501, sub-§7 (AMD).