Maine implements a saltwater license
Maine implements a saltwater license
This amendment is the majority report, replaces the bill and does the following:
1. It creates a saltwater recreational fishing registry administered by the Department of Marine Resources to register persons engaged in saltwater recreational fishing;
2. It creates a striped bass endorsement and a commercial operator’s license and requires that individuals fishing for striped bass obtain an endorsement and captains of vessels licensed to carry passengers for hire for saltwater recreational fishing obtain a commercial operator's license;
3. It sets striped bass endorsement fees for residents at $5 and nonresidents at $15 and creates a $10 resident lifetime striped bass endorsement for a person 70 years of age or older. It sets the fee for a commercial operator's license at $50;
4. It directs that revenue raised from the striped bass endorsement and commercial operator’s license be deposited in the Marine Recreation Fishing Conservation and Management Fund;
5. It provides that clerks or other agents appointed by the Commissioner of Marine Resources to register people on the saltwater recreational fishing registry, issue striped bass endorsements or issue commercial operator's licenses shall charge a fee of $2 for each person registered, issued a striped bass endorsement or issued a commercial operator’s license. It also provides that the commissioner shall charge a fee of $1 for each registration taken, endorsement issued or commercial operator’s license provided by department employees;
6. It makes a violation of the registration, endorsement or license requirements a civil violation for which a fine of not less that $100 may be adjudged;
7. It provides that a person on the registry or who holds a striped bass endorsement or a license issued under this amendment is subject to the applicable suspension provisions under marine resources laws;
8. It provides that members of a federally recognized Indian tribe in Maine recreationally fishing in salt water must register annually free of charge;
9. It provides an exemption to the registration and striped bass endorsement requirements for a person under 16 years of age, a person with a disability, a passenger on board a vessel captained by an individual who holds a commercial operator’s license, a person renting a smelt fishing camp from a commercial operator that holds a commercial operator’s license, a disabled veteran and a resident fishing on July 4th, Labor Day weekend or Memorial Day weekend;
10. It provides that a person holding a valid New Hampshire saltwater recreational fishing license may fish in salt water in the area from Maine's southern border to Cape Neddick;
11. It directs the commissioner to work with fishing and hunting groups and other interested parties to notify and educate the public about the saltwater recreational fishing registry;
12. It requires the commissioner to report registry information to the United States Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in a form and manner as required by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration;
13. It sets an effective date of January 1, 2011; and
14. It adds an appropriations and allocations section.
http://www.legislature.maine.gov/leg...=1432&snum=124
