Whereas, the purpose of this legislation is to disallow the shipment of large brood lobsters through Maine; and

Whereas, this legislation will help protect Maine's lobster industry and ensure the long-term viability of this valuable resource; and

Whereas, legislative action is immediately necessary in order to protect the lobster industry while fishermen are enjoying record lobster catches and while the State is experiencing a relatively healthy fishery; 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Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §6431, sub-§6, as repealed and replaced by PL 1987, c. 513, §4, is repealed.

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

SUMMARY

This bill repeals the provision of law that allows certain imported lobster to be exempt from the laws governing lobster measurement.