§6436. Egg-bearing lobsters; v-notched lobsters
1. Egg-bearing and v-notched lobsters. A person may not take, transport, sell or possess:
A. Any lobster that is bearing eggs; or [PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. F, §9 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2 (AFF).]
B. Any female lobster marked with a v-notch in the right flipper next to the middle flipper or any female lobster that is mutilated in a manner that could hide or obliterate that mark. The right flipper is determined when the underside of the lobster is down and its tail is toward the person making the determination. [PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. F, §9 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2 (AFF).]
[PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. F, §9 (RPR); PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2 (AFF).]
2. Exceptions. No violation of this section shall occur if:
A. The lobster is immediately liberated alive into the coastal waters when taken or discovered in a pound; or [PL 1977, c. 661, §5 (NEW).]
B. The lobster is possessed and sold to the department by a lobster pound owner who has a permit to do so as provided in this section. [PL 1977, c. 661, §5 (NEW).]
[PL 1977, c. 661, §5 (NEW).]
3. Permitted possession; regulations. The commissioner may issue a permit for the holding and delivery of egg-bearing lobsters to the department by a lobster pound owner who holds a current wholesale seafood license. The commissioner may adopt regulations governing the issuing of permits and the conditions and limitations under which these lobsters may be held and delivered.
[PL 1977, c. 661, §5 (NEW).]
4. Prima facie evidence.
A. Discovery of an egg-bearing lobster by a marine patrol officer in a pound not included in a permit under section 3 shall be prima facie evidence of a violation. [PL 1979, c. 541, Pt. B, §73 (AMD).]
B. Any lobster whose right flipper is v-notched or mutilated in a manner which could hide or obliterate such a mark shall be prima facie evidence that the lobster is a v-notched female lobster. [PL 1977, c. 661, §5 (NEW).]
[PL 1979, c. 541, Pt. B, §73 (AMD).]
5. Penalty for possession of egg-bearing lobsters. Possession of lobsters in violation of subsection 1, paragraph A 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 $1,000 for each violation and, in addition, a fine of $200 for each lobster involved, up to and including the first 5, and a fine of $400 for each lobster in excess of 5, or, if the number of lobsters cannot be determined, a fine of not less than $2,500 or more than $10,000.
[PL 2019, c. 113, Pt. C, §12 (AMD).]
6. Penalty for possession of v-notched lobsters. Possession of lobsters in violation of subsection 1, paragraph B 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 $400 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, §13 (AMD).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 1977, c. 661, §5 (NEW). PL 1981, c. 433, §9 (AMD). PL 1999, c. 82, §3 (AMD). PL 2003, c. 452, §F9 (AMD). PL 2003, c. 452, §X2 (AFF). PL 2009, c. 394, §§10, 11 (AMD). PL 2013, c. 468, §§19, 20 (AMD). PL 2019, c. 113, Pt. C, §§12, 13 (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