Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §7013-A, as enacted by PL 1999, c. 416, §1, is amended to read:

§7013-A. Fish stocking

1. Public comments. When the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, Bureau of Resource Management determines that there is a need to consider changing the long- term management objectives on a water or group of waters that supports a major fishery or major fisheries, including a change in the species of fish stocked for experimental or any other purposes, the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife shall provide information regarding such a proposal to any person at that person's request. The bureau shall conduct department-sponsored meetings to solicit public comments on those management objectives.

2. Department-sponsored meetings. Regional fisheries biologists must be available at department-sponsored meetings held pursuant to subsection 1 to review the management opportunities presented by the proposals to change long-term management objectives, as well as the information used to assess the opportunities, and stocking changes being considered, to present the information used to make the determination that changes were necessary and to receive public comments concerning the proposals.

SUMMARY

This bill allows anglers to have more input when the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife is making management and stocking changes on a body of water.