An Act To Require That Marine Resources Dealers Purchase Only from Licensed Harvesters
Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §6803-A, as enacted by PL 2009, c. 283, §1, is amended by adding at the end a new paragraph to read:
A holder of a license issued under this section may buy only from a harvester who possesses a seaweed permit under section 6803. The harvester shall make the seaweed permit available for inspection upon the license holder’s request.
Sec. 2. 12 MRSA §6851, sub-§2, as amended by PL 1999, c. 491, §6 and affected by §9, is further amended to read:
A holder of a wholesale seafood license when buying directly from a harvester may buy only from a harvester who possesses the license or permit for that species as required under this Part. The harvester shall make the applicable marine resources license or permit available for inspection upon the wholesale seafood license holder’s request.
Sec. 3. 12 MRSA §6852, sub-§2, as amended by PL 2005, c. 434, §11, is further amended to read:
A holder of a retail seafood license when buying directly from a harvester may buy only from a harvester who possesses the license or permit for that species as required under this Part. The harvester shall make the applicable marine resources license or permit available for inspection upon the retail seafood license holder’s request.
Sec. 4. 12 MRSA §6853, as amended by PL 2009, c. 213, Pt. G, §39, is further amended by adding at the end a new paragraph to read:
A holder of a license required under this section when buying directly from a harvester may buy only from a harvester who possesses a marine worm digger's license under section 6751. The harvester shall make the marine worm digger's license available for inspection upon the license holder’s request.
Sec. 5. 12 MRSA §6864, as amended by PL 2009, c. 213, Pt. G, §§44 and 45, is further amended by adding at the end a new paragraph to read:
A holder of an elver dealer license when buying directly from a harvester may buy only from a harvester who possesses an elver fishing license under section 6505-A. The harvester shall make the elver fishing license available for inspection upon the elver dealer license holder’s request.
summary
This bill creates a requirement that seafood and marine worm dealers, when buying directly from a harvester, purchase marine organisms only from a properly licensed person. It also creates a requirement for harvesters, upon a dealer's request, to show their licenses to the dealer.