Maine Revised Statutes
Subchapter 2: LIMITS ON FISHING AND PROHIBITED ACTS
12 §6432-A. Bait

§6432-A. Bait
1.  Offal prohibited.  A person may not use offal as bait to fish for or take lobster or crabs. A person may not sell offal for use as bait to fish for or take lobster or crabs. For the purposes of this section, "offal" means the carcass, waste parts, renderings or remains of a wild or domesticated animal that is not a marine organism. "Offal" does not include animal hide from which the hair has been removed or fat attached to an animal hide from which the hair has been removed as long as the total thickness of fat and animal hide does not exceed 1 1/4 inches.  
[PL 2017, c. 146, §1 (AMD).]
2.  Prima facie evidence.  The possession of offal or a marine organism prohibited pursuant to subsection 4 while fishing for or taking lobster or crabs is prima facie evidence of a violation of this section.  
[PL 2011, c. 475, §1 (AMD).]
3.  Exception for freshwater organisms.  Notwithstanding subsection 1, a person may use a freshwater organism as bait to fish for or take lobster or crabs if that freshwater organism and the location from which that freshwater organism has been harvested have been identified as acceptable on a list maintained by the commissioner pursuant to subsection 5.  
[PL 2011, c. 475, §2 (NEW).]
4.  Use of marine organism as bait.  The commissioner may prohibit the use of marine organisms as bait to fish for or take lobster or crabs. A marine organism prohibited pursuant to this subsection and the location from which that marine organism is harvested must be identified on a list maintained by the commissioner pursuant to subsection 5.  
[PL 2011, c. 475, §2 (NEW).]
5.  Lists of freshwater organisms acceptable as bait and prohibited marine organisms.  The commissioner may maintain a list of freshwater organisms that are acceptable as bait to fish for or take lobster or crabs, including the location from which those freshwater organisms are harvested. The commissioner may maintain a list of marine organisms that are prohibited as bait to fish for or take lobster or crabs, including the location from which those marine organisms are harvested. The commissioner may adopt routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2‑A that contain the criteria for inclusion on the lists.  
[PL 2011, c. 475, §2 (NEW).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 2005, c. 203, §2 (NEW). PL 2005, c. 203, §3 (AFF). PL 2011, c. 475, §§1, 2 (AMD). PL 2017, c. 146, §1 (AMD).

Structure Maine Revised Statutes

Maine Revised Statutes

TITLE 12: CONSERVATION

Part 9: MARINE RESOURCES

Subpart 2: LICENSING

Chapter 619: LOBSTER AND CRAB FISHING LICENSES

Subchapter 2: LIMITS ON FISHING AND PROHIBITED ACTS

12 §6431. Lobster measurement

12 §6431-A. Trap limit

12 §6431-B. Tag system

12 §6431-C. Lobster Management Fund

12 §6431-D. Boat trap limit (REPEALED)

12 §6431-E. Vessel limitation

12 §6431-F. Trap tags

12 §6431-G. Vessel operation

12 §6432. Methods of fishing

12 §6432-A. Bait

12 §6433. Escape vents

12 §6433-A. Biodegradable escape panels

12 §6433-B. Runners

12 §6434. Molesting lobster gear

12 §6435. Setting near weirs

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 §6440. Closed periods

12 §6441. Plugged lobsters

12 §6442. Lobster identification tags; fee authorized

12 §6443. Underwater storage

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

12 §6448. Limited-entry zones

12 §6449. Island limited-entry programs

12 §6450. Temporary medical allowance