An Act To Allow Municipalities To Stock Ponds in Their Areas with Fish

Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §12764  is enacted to read:

§ 12764.  Municipal stocking of fish in inland waters within the municipality; notification

A municipality may stock an inland water within the municipality for the first time or with a new species of fish, subject to the department's authority relating to culture and research of appropriate fish species for that inland water. Prior to stocking an inland water under this section, the municipality shall notify the Bureau of Resource Management. The bureau shall review the stocking plan and, if the bureau determines the species of fish to be stocked is an appropriate species for that inland water, follow the public notice requirements under section 12758-A.

summary

This bill allows a municipality to stock with fish an inland water of the municipality, subject to a determination by the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, Bureau of Resource Management that the species of fish is appropriate to be stocked in that inland water and to the public notification requirements that apply when the bureau proposes to stock an inland water with fish.