CHAPTER 6

S.P. 120 - L.D. 373

An Act To Achieve Compliance with the Interstate Lobster

Fishery Management Plan

Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and

Whereas, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission has voted to find Maine in noncompliance with the Interstate Lobster Fishery Management Plan if the State does not change its lobster laws by March 2005; and

Whereas, this legislation needs to be an emergency so that Maine can be in compliance before the March deadline; and

Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore,

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:

Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §6431, sub-§1, as repealed and replaced by PL 1991, c. 31, §1 and affected by §2, is amended to read:

1. Minimum and maximum length. A person may not buy, sell, give away, transport, ship or possess any lobster that is less