An Act To Allow Student License Holders in the Monhegan Lobster Conservation Area To Fish for or Take Lobsters during a Closed Season
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas, it is important for a student license holder to gain experience during the summer months when it is safer to fish and when that license holder is not in school; and
Whereas, it is necessary that this legislation take effect by June 26, 2019 in order for a student license holder in the Monhegan Lobster Conservation Area to be able to fish for or take lobster during the interim between school years; 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,
Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §6421, sub-§3-A, ¶E, as amended by PL 2015, c. 68, §3, is further amended to read:
(1) Ten lobster traps in the coastal waters of the State if the person is 8 years of age or older and under 11 years of age;
(2) Fifty lobster traps in the coastal waters of the State if the person is 11 years of age or older and under 14 years of age; or
(3) One hundred and fifty lobster traps in the coastal waters of the State if the person is 14 years of age or older and under 23 years of age.
A person issued a student license is enrolled in the apprentice program under section 6422. When applying for a license the person must designate a sponsor and may designate up to 3 sponsors. For the purposes of this paragraph, "sponsor" means a person who holds a Class I, Class II or Class III lobster and crab fishing license issued under this section.
Sec. 2. 12 MRSA §6472, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2007, c. 219, §2, is further amended to read:
Sec. 3. 12 MRSA §6477, as enacted by PL 1997, c. 574, §4, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:
§ 6477. Student license holder
The license holder must tend the tagged traps from a vessel operated by a person registered under section 6474. The student license holder must be present when that license holder's lobster traps are tended. A student license holder shall certify on forms supplied by the commissioner that a person registered under section 6474 authorizes the student license holder to fish for or take lobsters from that person's vessel.
Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation takes effect when approved.