126th MAINE LEGISLATURE
		LD 1603		LR 2587(02)
	An Act Regarding Wet Storage Sites for Cultured Marine Organisms
	Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment " "
	Committee: Marine Resources
	Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Fiscal Note
Minor cost increase - General Fund Minor revenue increase - Other Special Revenue Funds
Fiscal Detail and Notes
	The bill establishes a new winter holding aquaculture lease allowing temporary wet storage of cultured organisms. The Department of Marine Resources (DMR) must adopt certain rules to implement this new lease, provide notice to certain riparian landowners and conduct site reviews. Any additional costs to DMR to undertake these activities are expected to be minor and can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources. The application fee for this new lease is $500 with all fees credited to the Aquaculture Research Fund within DMR. Only those holding certain leases and licenses are eligible for the new lease. DMR estimates that few of these leases would be issued and that only a minor amount of revenue would be raised by the introduction of this new lease.