Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §6851, sub-§4, as amended by PL 2001, c. 421, Pt. B, §53 and affected by Pt. C, §1, is further amended to read:

4. License limited. A Except as provided in section 6851-A, a license under this section authorizes activities at only one establishment or with only one vehicle, but not on a vessel rigged to fish, provided that this license also authorizes the sale and transportation of scallops from any vessel.

Sec. 2. 12 MRSA §6851-A is enacted to read:

§6851-A. Reciprocity; transport

Notwithstanding section 6851, subsection 4, if a person possesses a valid out-of-state license to harvest lobsters and a wholesale seafood license with a lobster permit issued in accordance with section 6851, subsection 2-A, then that person may transport lobster, by vehicle or by vessel, into the State for the purposes authorized under section 6851, subsection 2-A if the state of which the person is a resident:

A.1.__Reciprocity.__Provides a reciprocal transporting privilege for residents of this State; and

B.2.__Equivalent minimum size restrictions. Imposes minimum size restrictions on the sale, transport, shipment or possession of lobster that are equivalent to those imposed under chapter 619, subchapter 2.

SUMMARY

This bill provides that a person who possesses both a valid out-of-state license to harvest lobster and a wholesale seafood license issued under Maine law may transport lobster, by vehicle or by boat, into the State from outside the state limits. This provision applies only if the state in which the person resides provides a reciprocal transporting privilege to Maine residents and imposes minimum size restrictions on lobster that are equivalent to those imposed under Maine law.