Whereas, a lifelong interest in recreational sport fishing begins with children who have the opportunity to fish; and

Whereas, current sport fishing rules unreasonably restrict the opportunity for a child to fish with a single baited hook and line; and

Whereas, such opportunities must be in place as quickly as possible; 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 §7557-A is enacted to read:

§7557-A.__Quality fishing rivers; identification; open to persons

under 12 years of age fishing with a single baited hook

and line

Rules adopted by the commissioner that set forth the special fishing rules for inland waters of the State must list together and in one place all rivers or river segments identified by the department as quality fishing rivers.__Notwithstanding any special rules on those quality fishing rivers adopted under this Part, a person under 12 years of age may, during the open water fishing season, fish with a single baited hook and line from the bank of any river or river segment identified by the commissioner as a quality fishing river.__Rules adopted pursuant to this section are routine technical rules pursuant to Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter II-A.

Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this Act takes effect when approved.

SUMMARY

This bill specifies that the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife must list in its special fishing rules all rivers or river segments identified as quality fishing rivers. For easy reference those rivers must be listed together and in one