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An Act To Provide Flexibility in the Purchase of Lobster and Crab Trap Tags
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.; and
 
D.  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a holder of a Class I, Class II or Class III lobster and crab fishing license may purchase up to the maximum number of trap tags the license holder purchased under that license in any previous year.
 
SUMMARY
This bill adds an exception to the lobster and crab fishing trap tag limits, allowing a holder of a Class I, Class II or Class III lobster and crab fishing license to purchase up to the maximum number of trap tags the license holder purchased under that license in any previous year.