§6431-G. Vessel operation
1. Limitation. Except as provided in subsection 2, the holder of a Class I, Class II or Class III lobster and crab fishing license may not operate a vessel for the purposes of fishing for or taking lobster other than the vessel named on the holder's lobster and crab fishing license. For the purposes of this section, "operate a vessel" means steering the vessel, operating the vessel's engine throttle or gear shift or operating the mechanism used to haul lobster traps from the water. "Operating a vessel" does not include the baiting of traps or the handling of traps once they are on board the vessel.
[PL 2009, c. 394, §8 (NEW).]
2. Exemptions. The commissioner may authorize an individual who possesses a Class I, Class II or Class III lobster and crab fishing license to fish for or take lobsters from a vessel other than the vessel named on the holder's lobster and crab fishing license if:
A. A Class I, Class II or Class III license holder is temporarily prevented by illness or disability from fishing for or taking lobsters from the license holder's vessel and requests in writing to the commissioner that the commissioner authorize the individual to operate that vessel to fish for or take lobsters and tend the license holder's traps pursuant to section 6434; [PL 2009, c. 394, §8 (NEW).]
B. The vessel named on the individual's license has become temporarily inoperable because of an accident or a mechanical failure and the individual requests in writing and is granted permission from the commissioner to use another vessel to fish for or take lobsters; [PL 2013, c. 468, §16 (AMD).]
C. The individual is designated as the sponsor of a student pursuant to section 6421 and is operating the vessel named on the student's license for the purposes of providing practical lobster fishing training to the student while the student is present on the vessel; or [PL 2013, c. 468, §16 (AMD).]
D. The individual was the owner of a vessel that was named on that individual's Class I, Class II or Class III lobster and crab fishing license but is no longer the owner of that vessel due to sale or foreclosure. The individual must demonstrate immediate intent to become the owner of another vessel that will be used to fish for or take lobsters and request in writing permission from the commissioner to use the other vessel to fish for or take lobsters for a limited period of time. [PL 2013, c. 468, §17 (NEW).]
[PL 2013, c. 468, §§16, 17 (AMD).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 2009, c. 394, §8 (NEW). PL 2013, c. 468, §§16, 17 (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