Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §12504, sub-§3, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 and affected by c. 614, §9, is amended to read:

3. Rules. The commissioner shall adopt all necessary rules relative to permits to ensure that derbies and tournaments are conducted only at such times and places and in such a manner as are consistent with the fisheries management objectives of the department. For the purposes of this subsection, "educational institution" means an accredited postsecondary educational institution incorporated, chartered or established under the laws of the State. Such rules must include:

A. Specifying the number of derbies or tournaments that may be conducted in a given body of water and the dates within which they may be conducted. These rules must be reviewed periodically; and

B. Fixing the maximum total value of prizes that may be awarded at each derby or tournament., except for a derby held by an educational institution that conforms to the rules adopted pursuant to paragraphs C, D, E, F and G;

C.__Requiring that at least 80% of the prizes awarded at a derby held by an educational institution be in the form of scholarships;

D.__Prohibiting the use of a motorboat in a derby held by an educational institution;

E.__Prohibiting the targeting of cold-water species in a derby held by an educational institution;

F.__Requiring that a derby held by an educational institution be an event that is only catch and release or catch, measure and release; and

G.__Restricting fishing equipment to one rod per person with a 2-rod limit per boat and to the use of artificial lures only in a derby held by an educational institution.

SUMMARY

This bill exempts accredited postsecondary educational institutions that hold fishing derbies from the prize limits set by the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife for derbies if the derby event meets the following requirements: