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An Act To Amend the Laws Governing the Scallop Season
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §6171, sub-§3-A  is enacted to read:
 
3-A.  Consultation.     Prior to adopting or amending emergency rules pursuant to subsection 3 that result in the closure or reduction of the scallop fishing season, or a portion thereof, the commissioner shall consult with the Scallop Advisory Council established in section 6729-B and the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over marine resources matters.
Sec. 2. 12 MRSA §6722, sub-§1,  as repealed and replaced by PL 2007, c. 695, Pt. I, §6, is amended to read:
 
1. Scallop fishing season.   Unless modified by rules adopted under section 6171-A, a person may not fish for or take scallops in the territorial waters from April 16th to November 30th, both days inclusive. Rules adopted to limit fishing during the scallop fishing season may not lengthen the closed season or shorten the open season, but may only limit the total number of days during the open season that may be fished.
 
SUMMARY
This bill amends the laws governing the scallop season by:
1. Requiring that, prior to adopting or amending emergency rules that result in the closure or reduction of the scallop fishing season, the Commissioner of Marine Resources consult with the Scallop Advisory Council and the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over marine resources matters; and
2. Requiring that rules adopted to limit fishing during the scallop season may not lengthen the closed season or shorten the open season, but may only limit the total number of days during the open season that may be fished.