| Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: |
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| | Sec. 1. 12 MRSA c. 712 is enacted to read: |
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| ATLANTIC SALMON MANAGEMENT |
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| | The commissioner has the sole authority to manage the Atlantic | salmon fishery in the State, including the sole authority to | introduce Atlantic salmon into inland waters, other than | commercial aquaculture facilities and associated activities.__The | commissioner has the sole authority to limit or prohibit the | taking of Atlantic salmon, issue licenses for the taking of | Atlantic salmon and adopt rules establishing the time, place and | manner of Atlantic salmon fishing in all waters of the State.__In | addition, the commissioner may: |
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| | 1.__Programs.__Conduct research, publish and disseminate | information and plan, report and implement programs necessary for | the purposes of managing Atlantic salmon fisheries; |
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| | 2.__Contracts and agreements.__Enter into any contracts, | agreements or other arrangements with public agencies and with | private parties that the commissioner finds necessary to carry | out the purposes of this chapter; |
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| | 3.__Rules.__Adopt rules necessary to manage the Atlantic | salmon fishery and to promote the conservation and propagation of | Atlantic salmon.__Rules adopted by the commissioner must be | enforced by the Department of Marine Resources, the department | and other public officials authorized by law to enforce marine | resource laws or inland fisheries and wildlife laws.__Rules | adopted pursuant to this section are major substantive rules | pursuant to Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter II-A; and |
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| | 4.__Property.__Subject to other applicable requirements of | law, acquire, install, construct, operate, manage, sell and | convey interests in real and personal property, including, | without limitation, lands, dams, buildings, facilities, | structures, flowage rights, mill privileges, easements and | rights-of-way, as the commissioner finds necessary to carry out | the purposes of this chapter, as long as prior rights of | municipalities are not affected by the requirements. |
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| §7642.__Atlantic Salmon Fund |
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