H.P. 948 - L.D. 1345
An Act to Allow Student License Holders to Become Eligible for Commercial Lobster and Crab Fishing Licenses
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §6421, sub-§3-A, ¶¶D and E, as amended by PL 1995, c. 568, §1, are further amended to read:
D. An apprentice lobster and crab fishing license authorizes the apprentice so licensed to engage in the licensed activities under subsection 2 on that apprentice's sponsor's vessel when the apprentice's sponsor is on board the vessel. A person who holds an apprentice lobster and crab fishing license may not tend any traps unless the traps are fished by the sponsor of the apprentice so licensed. An applicant for an apprentice lobster and crab fishing license may designate up to 3 sponsors. For the purpose of this paragraph, "apprentice's sponsor" means a person who holds a Class I, Class II or Class III lobster and crab fishing license issued under this section.
E. A student license authorizes the license holder to engage in the licensed activities under subsection 2. A person issued a student license may not submerge at any one time more than 150 lobster traps in the coastal waters of the State. An applicant for a student license shall designate a sponsor. A person issued a student license is enrolled in the apprentice program under section 6422. For the purpose of this paragraph, "sponsor" means a person who holds a Class I, Class II or Class III lobster and crab fishing license issued under this section.
Sec. 2. 12 MRSA §6422, sub-§1, as amended by PL 1995, c. 568, §2, is further amended to read:
1. Program established; experience component. By July 1, 1996, the commissioner shall establish by rule an apprentice program for entry into the lobster fishery. The program must include practical lobster fishing experience. A person must hold an apprentice lobster and crab fishing license or a student lobster and crab fishing license under section 6421 to enter the program.
Sec. 3. 12 MRSA §6422, sub-§4, ¶B, as amended by PL 1997, c. 574, §2, is further amended to read:
B. Documents to the commissioner that the person obtained practical lobster fishing experience as a holder of a student license issued under section 6421. This paragraph is repealed on December 31, 2001; or
Sec. 4. Educational brochure for student license holders. The Department of Marine Resources shall develop an educational brochure for student lobster and crab fishing license holders that provides a general overview of the laws related to fishing for lobsters. The department shall provide the brochure to the sponsor identified on an application for a student license and request that the sponsor review the brochure with the student license holder.
Effective September 18, 1999, unless otherwise indicated.
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