Chapter 607
H.P. 1455 - L.D. 2071
PART A
Sec. A-1. 12 MRSA §6073-B  is enacted to read:
The holder of a lease issued under section 6072, 6072-A or 6072-B or a license issued under section 6072-C is exempt from any requirement under sections 6701, 6702 and 6703 to hold a separate license for the removal, possession, transport or sale of scallops from the leased area or the licensed gear when the final product form is the adductor muscle only. This exemption does not apply to scallops in any other form.
Sec. A-2. 12 MRSA §6702,  as amended by PL 2003, c. 20, Pt. WW, §14 and c. 248, §8, is further amended to read:
1. License required.
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A person may not use a boat for dragging for scallops unless that boat carries person holds a scallop boat dragging license issued by the commissioner and that boat is identified on the license.
2. Licensed activity.
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A boat person licensed under this section may be used for dragging use the boat identified on the license to drag for scallops and to possess, ship, sell or transport shucked scallops taken under the license. The license also authorizes the captain and crew members aboard the licensed boat identified on the license when engaged in dragging for scallops to undertake these activities , except that the captain and crew members may not fish for or take scallops if the license holder is not aboard that boat except as provided in subsection 2-A.
2-A. Exemptions.
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Notwithstanding subsection 2, the commissioner may authorize a person to fish for or take scallops from a boat when the person holding a scallop dragging license that contains the name of that boat is not on board if: A. The holder of the scallop dragging license documents to the commissioner that an illness or disability temporarily prevents the license holder from fishing for or taking scallops from that boat and requests in writing to the commissioner that the commissioner authorize another person to use that boat to fish for or take scallops; or
B. The boat named on the license of a license holder is temporarily inoperable because of an accident or a mechanical failure and the license holder requests in writing to the commissioner that the commissioner authorize the license holder to use another boat to fish for or take scallops.
3. Eligibility.
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A scallop boat dragging license may be issued only to an individual who is a resident.
4. Personal use exception.
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In any one day, a person licensed pursuant to section 6703 may take or possess not more than 2 bushels one bushel of shell scallops or 4 quarts 2 quarts of shucked scallops for personal use without a scallop dragging license under this section.
5. Fee.
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The fee for a scallop boat dragging license is $111.
6. Violation.
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A person who violates this section commits a civil violation for which a forfeiture fine of not less than $100 nor more than $500 may be adjudged.
Sec. A-3. 12 MRSA §6703, sub-§3,  as amended by PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. F, §19 and affected by Pt. X, §2, is further amended to read:
3. License limitation; quantity.
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In any one day, the holder of a noncommercial scallop license may not take or possess more than 2 bushels one bushel of shell scallops or 4 quarts 2 quarts of shucked scallops.
Sec. A-4. 12 MRSA §6706  is enacted to read:
1. License eligibility in 2009.
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The commissioner may not issue a 2009 hand fishing scallop license or a 2009 scallop dragging license to a person unless that person possessed a scallop license issued pursuant to section 6701 or a scallop boat license issued pursuant to section 6702 in either: A. The 2005, 2006, 2007 or 2008 license year; or
B. The 2008 license year prior to May 1, 2008.
2. License eligibility in subsequent years.
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Except as provided in subsection 3, the commissioner may not issue a hand fishing scallop license or a scallop dragging license to any person in any year subsequent to 2009 unless that person possessed that license in the previous calendar year.
3. Scallop license limited entry system.
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Notwithstanding subsection 2, the commissioner shall establish by rule a limited entry system under which a person who did not hold a hand fishing scallop license or a scallop dragging license in the previous calendar year may become eligible to obtain that license. The rules for a limited entry system must include provisions for the method and administration of the program. Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
4. Repeal.
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This section is repealed July 1, 2012.
Sec. A-5. 12 MRSA §6721-A, sub-§2,  as reallocated by PL 2003, c. 520, §8, is amended to read:
2. Prima facie evidence.
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It is prima facie evidence of possession of illegal scallops if a vessel contains scallops less than the minimum shell size set by this section or the minimum shell size set by rules adopted pursuant to this section while a scallop boat dragging license holder or crew member is shucking scallops.
Sec. A-6. 12 MRSA §6721-A, sub-§5, ¶B,  as reallocated by PL 2003, c. 520, §8, is amended to read:
B. For the 2nd and each subsequent offense, a fine of $250 is imposed, all scallops on board may be seized and the scallop boat dragging license may be suspended for one year.
Sec. A-7. 12 MRSA §6723,  as amended by PL 1981, c. 91, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:
1. Drag limit.
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Except as provided by rule pursuant to section 6727-A, subsection 2, a person may not fish for or take scallops with any one combination of scallop drags in excess of 8 feet, 6 inches in width, measured from the extreme outside edge of the mouth of the drag or drags, in Blue Hill Bay above or north of a line drawn from Bass Harbor Head in the Town of Tremont westerly to Pond Island and thence to Naskeag Point in the Town of Brooklin.
2. Violation.
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A person who violates this section commits a civil violation for which the following penalties apply: A. For the first offense, a mandatory fine of $500 is imposed and all scallops on board may be seized;
B. For the 2nd offense, a mandatory fine of $750 is imposed and all scallops on board may be seized; and
C. For the 3rd and subsequent offenses, a mandatory fine of $750 is imposed and all scallops on board may be seized. This penalty is imposed in addition to the penalty imposed under section 6728-B.
Sec. A-8. 12 MRSA §6726, sub-§1,  as amended by PL 2001, c. 272, §15, is further amended to read:
1. Minimum size.
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It is unlawful to utilize The minimum ring size is 3 1/2 inches except as provided by rule. The commissioner shall establish by rule a minimum ring size that may not be smaller than 4 inches in diameter. A person may not use a drag to fish for or take scallops in the territorial waters with rings that measure less than : the ring size provided pursuant to this subsection. Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules pursuant to Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.B. From December 1, 1999 to April 15, 2000, 3 1/4 inches in diameter; and
C. On December 1, 2000 and thereafter, 3 1/2 inches in diameter.
Sec. A-9. 12 MRSA §6727,  as amended by PL 2001, c. 272, §16, is repealed.
Sec. A-10. 12 MRSA §6728, sub-§3,  as enacted by PL 2001, c. 192, §1, is repealed.
Sec. A-11. 12 MRSA §6728, sub-§3-A  is enacted to read:
3-A. Violation.
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A person who violates this section commits a civil violation. The following penalties apply: A. For the first offense, a mandatory fine of $500 is imposed and all scallops on board may be seized; and
B. For the 2nd offense, a mandatory fine of $750 is imposed and all scallops on board may be seized; and
C. For the 3rd and subsequent offenses, a mandatory fine of $750 is imposed and all scallops on board may be seized and the scallop dragging license may be suspended for one year. This penalty is imposed in addition to the penalty imposed under section 6728-B.
Sec. A-12. 12 MRSA §6729, sub-§1,  as enacted by PL 2003, c. 319, §2, is amended to read:
1. License surcharges.
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The following surcharges are assessed on licenses issued by the department:A. For a hand fishing scallop license, $100;
B. For a scallop draggers license, $100; and
C. For a scallop diving tender license, $50 . ; and
D. For a noncommercial scallop license, $40.
Sec. A-13. 12 MRSA §6729-A, sub-§1,  as enacted by PL 2003, c. 319, §2, is amended to read:
1. Uses of fund.
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The commissioner shall use the fund for research directly related to scallop fishery management information needs , for implementation of scallop management measures and for reporting to licensed scallop harvesters on the results of research and the use of fund revenues. The commissioner may authorize the expenditure of money in the fund for research and development programs that address the restoration, development or conservation of scallop resources. The commissioner shall consult with the Scallop Advisory Council under section 6729-B before deciding upon research projects and awarding grants from the fund. The fund may also be used for support of the Scallop Advisory Council, including reimbursement for travel expenses.
Sec. A-14. Development of a strategic plan to rebuild and manage Maine's scallop resource. The Scallop Advisory Council, referred to in this section as "the council," and the Department of Marine Resources, referred to in this section as "the department," shall develop a comprehensive strategic plan that will rebuild Maine's scallop resource and create a sustainable scallop fishery. Maine's scallop stocks are in sharp decline, and the plan must propose steps that are commensurate with the dire status of the fishery. The plan must provide short-term and long-term bench marks for measuring progress in rebuilding the scallop stock over the entire coastline of the state. The council and the department shall use the following as a guide for discussion in the development of the strategic plan:
1. Entry restrictions to reduce fishing efforts, including, but not limited to, limited entry or a moratorium on the issuance of scallop licenses;
2. Management options for consideration, including, but not limited to:
A. The complete closure of the scallop fishery to allow the resource to recover;
B. Closure of the scallop fishery except for Cobscook Bay to allow for resource recovery outside of Cobscook Bay with measures to protect scallops in Cobscook Bay from overfishing;
C. Rotational management in which a significant portion of the coast is closed on a 3-year or 4-year rotation until a biological target is achieved;
D. Management of the scallop and urchin fishery, together with potential for using the current sea urchin assessment zones;
E. Creation of scallop seed conservation areas to allow scallops to mature and spawn for the benefit of the entire coast, taking into consideration all cable areas and the size of the areas needed to be effective and enforceable;
F. Size restrictions, including a maximum and minimum shell size that will enhance fecundity rates; and
G. Gear restrictions that include but are not limited to changes in drag configuration to minimize impacts on habitat and damage to undersized and oversized scallops, reduction in drag cable size and ring size and larger minimum mesh size for the upper bag; and
3. Other options for consideration, including, but not limited to, adjustments to the scallop fishing season, a ban on Sunday fishing or weekend fishing and daily catch and possession limits for commercial and noncommercial fisheries.
The council and department shall jointly report the strategic plan, including findings, recommendations and necessary implementing legislation and rules to be adopted to implement the plan, to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over marine resources matters no later than January 5, 2009. The joint standing committee may submit legislation to the First Regular Session of the 124th Legislature relating to the report and strategic plan.