Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §6749, as repealed and replaced by PL 2001, c. 327, §8, is amended to read:

§6749. Sea urchin harvesting season and open days

1. Closed season. It is unlawful for a person to fish for or take sea urchins from May 1st April 16th to August 31st.

2. Open days. The commissioner, in consultation with the Sea Urchin Zone Council under section 6749-X, shall establish by rule, within that area designated Zone 1 and that area designated as Zone 2 under section 6749-N, the open days for those zones during which a person may fish for or take sea urchins 94 open days during the sea urchin harvesting season during which a person may fish for or take sea urchins, except that until April 15, 2007, the commissioner, in consultation with the Sea Urchin Zone Council, shall establish 40 open days within that area designated Zone 1 under section 6749-N and 64 open days within that area designated Zone 2 under section 6749-N. Rules may specify the open days for gear type and may further define more than one time period. Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter II-A 2-A.

3. Prohibition. It is unlawful for a person to possess aboard a vessel, fish for or take sea urchins on any day not designated as open to sea urchin harvesting under this section.

SUMMARY

This bill amends the laws governing the setting of the sea urchin harvesting season.