Maine Revised Statutes

1. License required.  A person may not engage in the activities authorized under this section without a current handfishing sea urchin license or other license issued under this Part authorizing the activities. The handfishing sea urchin license with tender issued under subsection 4, paragraph B authorizes a person to engage in the activities described in section 6535, subsection 2 aboard the licensee’s boat when it is engaged in the harvesting of sea urchins.

2. Licensed activity.  The holder of a handfishing sea urchin license may take sea urchins by hand or possess, ship, transport or sell sea urchins taken by that licensee. A tender authorized under subsection 4, paragraph B may possess, ship, transport and sell sea urchins the handfishing sea urchin license holder has taken. A person may not act as a tender under subsection 4, paragraph B unless that person has met the tender safety requirements adopted by rule pursuant to section 6533.

3. Eligibility.  A handfishing sea urchin license may be issued only to an individual who is a resident.

4. (CONFLICT: Text as amended by PL 2009, c. 396, §8) Fee.  Fees for handfishing sea urchin licenses are:

4. (CONFLICT: Text as amended by PL 2009, c. 213, Pt. G, §23) Fee.  The fee for a handfishing sea urchin license is $152.

4-A. (TEXT EFFECTIVE UNTIL 12/31/11) Temporary Zone 1 fee.  Notwithstanding subsection 4, the fees for a handfishing sea urchin license and a handfishing sea urchin license with tender issued for calendar year 2010 or 2011 to handfish for sea urchins within the area designated as Zone 1 under section 6749-N are $25 and $50 per year, respectively.

5. Rebuttable presumption.  It is unlawful for an individual to dive from a vessel with sea urchins on board unless that individual is licensed under this section. It is a rebuttable presumption that an individual diving from a vessel with sea urchins on board at any time of the year is diving for the purpose of fishing for or taking sea urchins.

6. (REALLOCATED FROM T. 12, §6748, sub-§5) Violation.  A person who violates this section commits a civil violation for which a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $500 may be adjudged.