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An Act Regarding the Purchase of Trap Tags in the Lobster Fishery
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §6431-F, sub-§2, as amended by PL 2005, c. 239, §2, is further amended to read:
 
2. Exceptions.   Notwithstanding subsection 1, the following trap tag limits apply:
 
A. If the license holder was issued a Class I, Class II or Class III lobster and crab fishing license for the first time after meeting the requirements of the apprentice program under section 6422, the license holder may not purchase more than 300 trap tags for the initial license year. For each following year, the license holder may purchase up to an increase of 100 trap tags each year as long as the total number purchased does not exceed the number of traps allowed under the lowest trap limit established by rule for the zones identified on that person's license pursuant to section 6446, subsection 1-A; and
 
C. If the license holder was issued a Class I, Class II or Class III lobster and crab fishing license on appeal, the license holder may purchase for the initial license year a number of trap tags up to the number of trap tags purchased by the person for the most recent year in which the person held a license. For each following year, the license holder may purchase up to an increase of 100 trap tags each year as long as the total number purchased does not exceed the number of traps allowed under the lowest trap limit established by rule for the zones identified on that person's license pursuant to section 6446, subsection 1-A.;
 
D.  The commissioner shall establish by rule a minimum amount of lobster or crab landings Class I, Class II and Class III lobster and crab fishing license holders must report in each license year beginning after 2015 in order to purchase the maximum number of trap tags under subsection 1. A license holder who does not report the minimum amount of landings established by the commissioner in a license year may not purchase more than 300 trap tags in any subsequent license year. Rules adopted pursuant to this paragraph are routine technical rules pursuant to Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A; and
 
E.  If the holder of a Class I, Class II or Class III lobster and crab fishing license issued under section 6421 has no reported lobster or crab landings in the 2 years prior to January 1, 2015, the license holder may not purchase more than 300 trap tags for the license year beginning in 2016.
 
SUMMARY
This bill requires the Commissioner of Marine Resources to establish by rule a minimum amount of lobster or crab landings required of a Class I, Class II or Class III lobster and crab fishing license holder in order for the license holder to purchase the maximum number of trap tags available. If the license holder does not report the required amount of landings, the license holder is not eligible to purchase more than 300 trap tags in any subsequent license year. This bill also provides that a holder of a Class I, Class II or Class III lobster and crab fishing license who has not reported any lobster or crab landings to the Department of Marine Resources during the 2 years prior to January 1, 2015 may not purchase more than 300 trap tags in the license year beginning in 2016.