Whereas, immediate action must be taken to protect the elver resource and the public's safety during the 1999 elver fishing season, which begins March 15th; 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 §6505-A, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 1995, c. 536, Pt. A, §8 is amended to read:

2. Eligibility. An elver fishing license may be issued only to an individual. who is 16 years of age or older and who:

A.__During the 1996 elver fishing season held an eel fishing license under former section 6505 and paid fees for the use of elver fyke nets, Sheldon eel traps and dip nets in accordance with Public Law 1995, chapter 536, Part A, section 12; and

B.__During the 1997 and 1998 elver fishing seasons held an elver fishing license issued under this section.

Sec. 2. 12 MRSA 6505-B, as amended by PL 1997, c. 575, §2, is further amended to read:

§6505-B. Elver gear fees

1. Elver fyke net and Sheldon eel trap fee. It is unlawful for a person to submerge an elver fyke net or a Sheldon eel trap in the coastal waters of the State to fish for or take elvers unless the net or trap owner pays annually the following fees:

A. Fifty dollars per net or trap for the use of a first or 2nd elver fyke net or Sheldon eel trap, except that the fee under this paragraph does not apply to an elver fyke or Sheldon eel trap a person utilizes pursuant to section 6505- A, subsection 5. For the purposes of assessing fees under this subsection, an elver fyke net or Sheldon eel trap utilized pursuant to section 6505-A, subsection 5 is the first net or trap;