Maine Revised Statutes
Subchapter 2: LIMITS ON FISHING AND PROHIBITED ACTS
12 §6432. Methods of fishing

§6432. Methods of fishing
1.  Conventional traps.  A person may not fish for or take lobster by any method other than conventional lobster traps, as defined in rule, or from any platform other than a vessel. A vessel does not include a dock.  
[PL 2003, c. 520, §4 (AMD).]
2.  Marking.  A lobster or crab trap or trawl must be marked by a lobster buoy as described in subsections 3 and 4. The buoy must be visible at the surface. A person may not:  
A. Set, raise, lift or transfer any lobster trap or buoy unless it is clearly marked with the owner's lobster and crab fishing license number or the owner's nonresident lobster and crab landing permit number; or   [PL 2017, c. 197, §10 (NEW).]
B. Intentionally set or fish a lobster or crab trap or trawl in a manner that is designed to avoid detection that the trap or trawl has been set or fished.   [PL 2017, c. 197, §10 (NEW).]
[PL 2017, c. 197, §10 (RPR).]
3.  Color design.  It is unlawful to set, raise, lift or transfer any lobster trap unless the color design of the attached buoy is the same as the color design that is on file with the license application and is displayed on the boat, or unless the person is duly licensed and possesses written permission from the rightful owner of the lobster trap or buoy. Prior notification of changes in buoy color design must be provided to the commissioner. The Bureau of Marine Patrol may require the alteration of an individual's lobster and crab fishing buoy color design if a marine patrol officer has determined that the buoy color design is not distinct and distinguishable from the buoy color designs of the individual's family members as defined by section 6431‑E.  
[PL 2011, c. 266, Pt. A, §12 (AMD).]
4.  Design display.  The buoy color design shall be displayed on the boat as follows:  
A. On both sides of the hull or on a panel painted on both sides and attached to the boat's forward topside in a manner so as to be clearly visible on both sides of the boat. Each color shall appear as a solid color strip 4 inches high and 18 inches long abutting another color on its longest side to form a rectangle with a one-inch black border on all sides; or   [PL 1977, c. 661, §5 (NEW).]
B. A buoy of at least 12 inches long, mounted in a manner so that the color design is clearly visible on both sides of the boat.   [PL 1977, c. 661, §5 (NEW).]
[PL 1977, c. 661, §5 (NEW).]
5.  Penalty for possession.  Possession of lobsters other than caught by the method specified in subsection 1 is a Class D crime, except that in addition to any punishment that may be imposed under Title 17‑A, Part 6, the court shall impose a fine of $500 for each violation and, in addition, a fine of $100 for each lobster involved, up to and including the first 5, and a fine of $200 for each lobster in excess of 5, or, if the number of lobsters cannot be determined, a fine of not less than $1,000 or more than $5,000.  
[PL 2019, c. 113, Pt. C, §11 (AMD).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 1977, c. 661, §5 (NEW). PL 1989, c. 413, §1 (AMD). PL 1999, c. 82, §2 (AMD). PL 2003, c. 520, §4 (AMD). PL 2007, c. 201, §14 (AMD). PL 2009, c. 394, §9 (AMD). PL 2011, c. 266, Pt. A, §§11, 12 (AMD). PL 2013, c. 468, §18 (AMD). PL 2017, c. 197, §10 (AMD). PL 2019, c. 113, Pt. C, §11 (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