LD 1653
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Page 1 of 2 An Act Making Technical Changes in the Marine Resources Laws LD 1653 Title Page
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LR 895
Item 1

 
within the jurisdiction of the State of intersection with the
3-nautical-mile line; and

 
B. Beginning at a point 40 miles true north from the
lighthouse at Robinson's Point, Isle au Haut, Knox County;
thence true south through the lighthouse to a point where
the line intersects the southeasterly boundary of the
coastal waters within the jurisdiction of the State of
intersection with the 3-nautical-mile line; and

 
3. Off Hancock County. Within the following radio direction-
finder LORAN C bearings: Beginning at Schoodic Point, Hancock
County; thence running a True compass course of 159` for
approximately 16 miles to LORAN C bearing of 9960-W-12349.0 and
9960-X-25693.0 latitude 4404.33' north and longitude 06754.64'
west; thence running along a True compass course of 234` 236 for
approximately 11.4 miles, to and through Mt. Desert Rock to LORAN
C bearing of 9960-W-12456.0 and 9960-X-25695.0 latitude 4357.87'
north and longitude 06808.2' west; thence running in a True
compass course of 336` for approximately 4.2 miles to LORAN C
bearing of 9960-W-12440.0 and 9960-X-25718.0 latitude 4401.65'
north and longitude 06810.55' west; thence running in a westerly
direction to a point where that line intersects with the line
described in subsection 2, paragraph B, if it is extended to that
line.

 
Sec. 4. 12 MRSA §6439-A, as enacted by PL 1979, c. 152, §2, is
amended to read:

 
§6439-A. Limited lobster fishing in the vicinity of

 
Kittery

 
It shall be is unlawful to have on a trawl more than 10
lobster traps on one warp and buoy in the coastal waters
southerly of a line running between the Kitts Rocks Whistle Buoy
and the West Sister Buoy and extending westerly to the New
Hampshire border, and from the West Sister Buoy to the Murray
Rock Buoy and thence to and through the lighthouse on Boone
Island and, continuing in a straight line, to the boundary of the
coastal waters within the jurisdiction of this State point of
intersection with the 3-nautical-mile line. Each trawl set in
this area shall must be marked with at least one buoy with a buoy
stick of at least 4 feet in length.

 
Sec. 5. 12 MRSA §6471, as enacted by PL 1997, c. 574, §4, is
amended to read:

 
§6471. Monhegan Lobster Conservation Area

 
1. Monhegan Lobster Conservation Area. The following coastal
territorial waters of the State in the vicinity of Monhegan
Island are known as the Monhegan Lobster Conservation Area:

 
Beginning at a point located on Loran line 9960-25850 at
latitude 4344.09' north and longitude 06922.16' west that
is 2 nautical miles southwesterly of the nearest shore of
Monhegan Island; then following Loran line 9960-25850 in a
southwesterly direction to the point where it intersects the
3-mile territorial sea latitude 4344.28' north and
longitude 06923.37' west at a point on the 3-nautical-mile
line; then following the territorial sea 3-nautical-mile
line around the southern end of Monhegan Island to the point
where it intersects Loran line 9960-12889 latitude 4344.94'
north and longitude 06914.26' west; then following Loran
line 9960-12889 in a somewhat northerly direction to the
point where it intersects latitude 4345.8' north and
longitude 06915.3' west, to a point that is 2 nautical
miles from the nearest shore of Monhegan Island; then
following a line that is 2 nautical miles from the nearest
shore of Monhegan Island and that continues around the
northern end of Monhegan Island to the point of beginning.

 
Sec. 6. 12 MRSA §6501, sub-§6, as amended by PL 1999, c. 491, §4, is
further amended to read:

 
6. Definition. For the purposes of this chapter, "fish" means
all marine finfish and squid or other marine animals organisms,
except lobsters, crabs, sea urchins, shellfish, scallops, marine
worms, elvers, eels or, shrimp or seaweed.

 
Sec. 7. 12 MRSA §6523, as amended by PL 1999, c. 771, Pt. B, §5 and
affected by Pt. D, §§1 and 2, is further amended to read:

 
§6523. Marking ice fishing shacks

 
A person may not place any shack or temporary structure used
for ice fishing on the frozen coastal territorial waters or use
the shack or structure, unless the owner's name and address are
painted or otherwise clearly marked on the outside with 2-inch
letters. A person who violates this section commits a civil
violation for which a forfeiture of not less than $100 and not
more than $500 may be adjudged.

 
Sec. 8. 12 MRSA §6555, as amended by PL 1989, c. 788, §2, is
further amended to read:

 
§6555. Striped bass; method of taking

 
It is unlawful to fish for or take striped bass in the waters
of the State, except by hook and line.

 
Sec. 9. 12 MRSA §6556, as amended by PL 1989, c. 788, §3, is
further amended to read:

 
§6556. Striped bass; limits; personal use

 
It is unlawful for any person to fish for or take

 
striped bass in the waters of the State, except for personal use.

 
Sec. 10. 12 MRSA §6571, first ¶, as enacted by PL 1977, c. 661, §5, is
amended to read:

 
Within the coastal territorial waters of adjacent to
Washington County:

 
Sec. 11. 12 MRSA §6572, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 1997, c. 92, §1, is
amended to read:

 
1. Spawning areas for certain species. By January 1, 1998,
the commissioner shall by rule identify the location of all
coastal all locations of the territorial waters that serve as
spawning areas for cod, haddock or yellowtail flounder and the
dates during which those spawning activities occur in each area.
In determining the coastal spawning areas for cod, haddock and
yellowtail flounder, the commissioner shall solicit information
on the State's historic coastal groundfish spawning areas from
persons who participate in, or are otherwise knowledgeable about,
commercial and recreational coastal marine fisheries. Rules
adopted under this subsection are routine technical rules
pursuant to Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter II-A.

 
Sec. 12. 12 MRSA §6575-E, as enacted by PL 1995, c. 536, Pt. A, §9,
is amended to read:

 
§6575-E. Method of eel fishing

 
Except as provided in section 6505-C, subsection 2, it is
unlawful for a person licensed under section 6505-C to fish for
or take eels in the coastal waters of the State by any method
other than eel pot or hoop net.

 
Sec. 13. 12 MRSA §6722, as amended by PL 1999, c. 94, §1, is
further amended to read:

 
§6722. Closed areas

 
Unless modified by regulation adopted under section 6171-A, it
is unlawful to fish for or take scallops in the coastal
territorial waters from April 16th to November 30th, both days
inclusive.

 
Sec. 14. 12 MRSA §6726, sub-§1, as amended by PL 1999, c. 94, §2, is
further amended to read:

 
1. Minimum size. It is unlawful to utilize a drag to fish
for or take scallops in the coastal territorial waters with rings
that measure less than:

 
B. From December 1, 1999 to April 15, 2000, 3 1/4 inches in
diameter; and

 
C. On December 1, 2000 and thereafter, 3 1/2 inches in
diameter.

 
Sec. 15. 12 MRSA §6727, sub-§2, as amended by PL 1999, c. 94, §4, is
further amended to read:

 
2. Open season. It is unlawful for a person to possess on
any vessel fishing for scallops in the coastal territorial
waters, or to utilize when fishing for or taking scallops in the
coastal territorial waters, a drag or any combination of drags
that measures in excess of 10 feet, 6 inches across from one
extreme outside edge of the mouth of the drag or combination of
drags to the opposite extreme outside edge.

 
Sec. 16. 12 MRSA §6954-C, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 1997, c. 281, §3,
is amended to read:

 
1. Gear requirements. It is unlawful to fish in the coastal
territorial waters northerly and inshore of the international
bridge that connects Lubec to Campobello Island, New Brunswick,
Canada with any drag or combination of drags:

 
A. That measures in excess of 5 feet, 6 inches in width
measuring from one extreme outside edge of the mouth of the
drag or combination of drags to the opposite extreme outside
edge; and

 
B. If used for the taking of scallops, that is greater than
8 rings deep.

 
Sec. 17. 12 MRSA §6959, as enacted by PL 1999, c. 576, §1, is
amended to read:

 
§6959. Dragging in the Taunton River area

 
It is unlawful for a person to fish with any drag or
combination of drags in the coastal territorial waters westerly
and northerly of the Route 1 bridge that connects the towns of
Hancock and Sullivan in Hancock County, including Egypt Bay,
Taunton Bay and Hog Bay. This section is repealed March 1, 2005.

 
SUMMARY

 
This bill makes several technical changes to the marine
resources laws.

 
1. It clarifies that the term "coastal waters" means marine
waters out to the seaward extent of the exclusive economic zone
and provides that the term "territorial waters" means marine
waters only out to the 3-nautical-mile line described on United
States Government nautical charts.

 
2. It corrects the descriptions of limitations on lobster
fishing areas in the Kittery, Pemaquid and Hancock County areas.

 
3. It corrects the description of the Monhegan Lobster
Conservation Area.

 
4. It clarifies that fishing for seaweed is not subject to
the commercial fishing license.

 
5. It clarifies that marking requirements for ice fishing
shacks apply only in the territorial waters.

 
6. It removes a reference to waters of the State with regard
to the limitations on how striped bass are caught and with regard
to personal use of striped bass.

 
7. It clarifies that limitations on the use of trawls in
Washington County apply only to the territorial waters adjacent
to Washington County.

 
8. It clarifies that the requirement to identify spawning
areas for groundfish applies only in the territorial waters.

 
9. It clarifies that limitations on the taking of eels apply
only in the territorial waters.

 
10. It clarifies that limitations on the taking of scallops
apply only in the territorial waters.

 
11. It clarifies that requirements for specific ring sizes
for scallop drags apply only in the territorial waters.

 
12. It clarifies that drag size limits for scallop drags
apply only in the territorial waters.

 
13. It clarifies that the limitations on fishing in Cobscook
Bay apply only to the territorial waters.

 
14. It clarifies that limitations on dragging in Taunton Bay
apply only in the territorial waters.


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