E. The commissioner, in collaboration with the Department of Marine Resources and in consultation with appropriate federal, state and local government entities, shall prepare and submit an annual evaluation report to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over inland fisheries and wildlife matters and the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over marine resources matters. The report must address, but is not limited to, the impact of the fisheries management program on fish ecology, angler satisfaction, tourism and the regional economy. The report must include findings and recommendations on the applicability of the program to the improved management of state recreational fishing.__The first annual report is due March 31, 2006.

Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.

Sec. 3. Program development. The development of the fisheries management program pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 12, section 10108, subsection 12 must begin 120 days following adjournment of the First Regular Session of the 122nd Legislature and the program must be fully implemented 2 years after that date.

SUMMARY

This bill establishes a pilot fisheries management program to restore, enhance and protect salmon, brook trout and alewives in the inland waters of Mount Desert Island and to serve as a possible model statewide. The Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife is required to develop and implement the program in collaboration with the Department of Marine Resources and other appropriate federal, state and local government entities. The bill requires annual evaluation reports of the program to be submitted to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over inland fisheries and wildlife matters and the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over marine resources matters beginning March 31, 2006.