| Currently, there is a moratorium on the issuance of new Class |
| I, Class II or Class III lobster and crab fishing licenses; the |
| moratorium expires on December 31, 1999. Under the provisions of |
| the moratorium, a person who did not hold a license in the |
| previous year may not be issued a lobster and crab fishing |
| license. This bill amends the moratorium to allow a Class I, |
| Class II or Class III lobster and crab fishing license to be |
| issued to a person who was licensed as such prior to 1996 and |
| requires the Commissioner of Marine Resources to give priority to |
| those applications. |
