An Act To Allow Municipalities with Shellfish Conservation Ordinances To Request Permission To Prohibit Marine Worm Harvesting
Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §6671, sub-§13 is enacted to read:
(1) A cover letter that identifies the proposed closed area;
(2) A map including global positioning system coordinates indicating the location of the closed area;
(3) A shellfish density survey when requested by the department; and
(4) A plan of action for closure notification to the public.
(1) A person who violates this paragraph commits a civil violation for which a fine of $300 may be adjudged.
(2) A person who violates this paragraph after having been previously adjudicated as violating this paragraph commits a civil violation for which a fine of $500 may be adjudged.
(3) A person who violates this paragraph after having been previously adjudicated as violating this paragraph 2 or more times commits a civil violation for which a fine of $1,000 may be adjudged.
Sec. 2. 12 MRSA §6751, sub-§2, as amended by PL 2001, c. 421, Pt. B, §49 and affected by Pt. C, §1, is further amended to read:
Sec. 3. 12 MRSA §6752, as enacted by PL 1977, c. 661, §5, is amended to read:
§ 6752. Exception for personal use
Any person may take or possess not more than 125 50 marine worms in any one day for personal use without a marine worm digger's license or a marine worm dealer's license. A person may not take or possess marine worms for personal use from shellfish conservation areas closed to marine worm harvesting pursuant to section 6671, subsection 13.
summary
This bill allows a municipality with a shellfish conservation ordinance to apply to the Department of Marine Resources to request a prohibition on marine worm harvesting. It also makes it a civil violation to harvest marine worms from areas closed to the harvest and possession of marine worms.