§6431-B. Tag system
1. Tag system established. The commissioner shall establish by rule a lobster trap tag system under which lobster and crab fishing license holders and nonresident lobster and crab landing permit holders must purchase tags for the purpose of identifying and tracking traps. The rules must contain provisions for replacing lost tags. The commissioner may impose a per tag fee to cover the cost of trap tags, the costs of administering and enforcing a lobster trap tag system, the costs of management of the lobster fishery and the costs associated with lobster management policy councils and referenda pursuant to section 6447. Trap tag fees must be deposited in the Lobster Management Fund established under section 6431‑C. Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2‑A.
[PL 2017, c. 197, §9 (NEW).]
2. Penalties. A person may not fish or have on board a vessel a lobster trap unless the lobster trap is tagged in accordance with rules adopted pursuant to subsection 1. A person who violates this subsection commits:
A. A civil violation for which a fine of $250 must be adjudged if the person fishes 25 or fewer traps that are not tagged in accordance with rules adopted pursuant to subsection 1; and [PL 2017, c. 197, §9 (NEW).]
B. A Class D crime if the person fishes more than 25 traps that are not tagged in accordance with rules adopted pursuant to subsection 1. [PL 2017, c. 197, §9 (NEW).]
[PL 2021, c. 168, §5 (AMD).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 1995, c. 468, §5 (NEW). PL 2003, c. 20, §WW3 (AMD). PL 2007, c. 201, §13 (AMD). PL 2017, c. 197, §9 (RPR). PL 2021, c. 168, §5 (AMD).
Structure Maine Revised Statutes
Chapter 619: LOBSTER AND CRAB FISHING LICENSES
Subchapter 2: LIMITS ON FISHING AND PROHIBITED ACTS
12 §6431-C. Lobster Management Fund
12 §6431-D. Boat trap limit (REPEALED)
12 §6433-A. Biodegradable escape panels
12 §6434. Molesting lobster gear
12 §6436. Egg-bearing lobsters; v-notched lobsters
12 §6437. Scrubbing lobsters (REPEALED)
12 §6438. Scrubbed lobsters (REPEALED)
12 §6438-A. Artificial removal of eggs; prohibition
12 §6439. Areas of limited lobster fishing (REPEALED)
12 §6439-A. Limited lobster fishing in the vicinity of Kittery (REPEALED)
12 §6439-B. Limited lobster fishing in certain portions of Saco Bay (REPEALED)
12 §6442. Lobster identification tags; fee authorized
12 §6444. Dipping lobster traps or similar gear
12 §6445. Logbooks for lobster harvesters
12 §6445-A. Selling of lobsters or crabs by unlicensed crew members
12 §6446. Lobster management zones
12 §6447. Lobster management policy councils