CHAPTER 595
H.P. 1619 - L.D. 2118
An Act to Implement the Recommendations of the Committee to Study the Loss of Commercial Fishing Waterfront Access and Other Economic Development Issues Affecting Commercial Fishing
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 38 MRSA §1804 is enacted to read:
§1804. Interagency review of coastal water access issues
The Executive Department, State Planning Office and the Department of Marine Resources, within existing budgeted resources, shall convene a working group of staff from all state agencies that deal with coastal water access issues to share data, program activities and areas for collaboration on coastal water access issues. Each agency shall identify the coastal water access data that the agency has, the coastal water access data that the agency needs and potential funding sources for the collection of the needed data. Other stakeholders may be included as appropriate. The State Planning Office and the Department of Marine Resources shall submit a report of the working group's activities, including how the agencies can work cooperatively to make creative use of available funds to address both recreational and commercial access needs and to optimize projects that are multiuse in nature to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over marine resources matters by January 15th of every odd-numbered year.
Sec. 2. Coastal management review. The Land and Water Resources Council, within existing budgeted resources, shall conduct a review of the effectiveness of the State's approved coastal management plan in meeting the State's public access and working waterfront policy goals established in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 38, sections 1801 and 1802. The review must include, but not be limited to, an exploration of state and local jurisdiction and authority, development of incentives for municipalities to improve coastal access, development of incentives for municipalities to conserve working waterfront lands for water-dependent uses, and development of performance indicators to allow for ongoing measurement of progress. By December 15, 2002, the Land and Water Resources Council shall submit a report that includes its findings and recommendations and any legislation necessary to implement its recommendations to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over marine resources matters and the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over natural resources matters. The joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over marine resources matters may report out legislation during the First Regular Session of the 121st Legislature concerning the findings and recommendations in the report.
Sec. 3. Seafood innovation, marketing and research fund. The Department of Marine Resources, with assistance from the Marine Resources Advisory Council, within existing budgeted resources, shall study the value of creating an ongoing seafood innovation, marketing and research fund for the commercial fishing industry to use for scientific research, for researching new products, new markets and new gear types and for enhancing value-added processing. The study must include mechanisms for funding the fund, specifically, industry contribution through a landings or license fee. By January 10, 2003, the Department of Marine Resources shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over marine resources matters. The joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over marine resources matters may report out legislation during the First Regular Session of the 121st Legislature concerning the findings and recommendations in the report.
Effective July 25, 2002, unless otherwise indicated.
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