Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §6024, sub-§1-A, as amended by PL 1995, c. 382, §2, is further amended to read:

1-A. Appointment; composition; term; compensation. The Marine Resources Advisory Council, established by Title 5, section 12004-G, subsection 27, consists of 15 17 members. The Chair of the Lobster Advisory Council is an and the chair of the Recreational Marine Advisory Council or a successor organization established by the Governor, are ex officio member members of the council. Each other member is appointed by the Governor and is subject to review by the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over marine resources and to confirmation by the Legislature. Seven members must be persons who are licensed under this Part to engage in commercial harvesting activities. Those 7 members are selected by the Governor from names recommended to the Governor by groups representing commercial harvesting interests. Each member must represent a different commercial harvesting activity, except that none of those 7 members may represent lobster harvesters. The remaining 7 8 members must include one person who represents the interests of those who charter their boats for recreational purposes, one person who represents recreational marine fishing interests, one public member, 4 persons who hold a nonharvesting- related license under this Part and one person representing the aquaculture industry. The Governor shall select the person to represent the aquaculture industry from among the names recommended by the aquaculture industry. The composition of the council must reflect a geographical distribution along the coast. All appointed members are appointed for a term of 3 years, except a vacancy must be filled in the same manner as an original member for the unexpired portion of the term. An appointed member may not serve for more than 2 consecutive terms. Appointed members serve until their successors are appointed. The Chair of the Lobster Advisory Council and the chair of the Recreational Marine Advisory Council shall serve until a new Chair of the Lobster Advisory Council or a new chair of the Recreational Marine Advisory Council, respectively, is chosen. Members are compensated as provided in Title 5, chapter 379.

SUMMARY

This bill expands the Marine Resources Advisory Council from 15 to 17 members by making the chair of the Recreational Marine Advisory Council an ex officio member and by adding a member who represents the charter boat industry.