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Amend the bill by striking out all of section 2 and inserting the following:
‘Sec. 2.  12 MRSA §6804, sub-§2-A  is enacted to read:
 
2-A.  Licenses limited.     The commissioner may establish by rule a system to limit the number of commercial northern shrimp licenses issued under this section when the total allowable catch for northern shrimp established for Maine by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission is less than 2,000 metric tons. Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
 
Prior to initiating rulemaking, the commissioner shall consult with members of the northern shrimp industry, including individuals who are eligible to obtain a license that allows fishing for or taking northern shrimp and holders of a license or permit issued under chapter 625 that allows wholesale or retail activity involving northern shrimp.
 
The commissioner shall provide a report regarding management of the northern shrimp resource and the northern shrimp fishing industry to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over marine resources matters by January 15th of the year following a year in which the commissioner limited the number of licenses issued under this section. The joint standing committee may report out legislation to the session of the Legislature in which the report was received regarding management of the northern shrimp resource or the northern shrimp fishing industry.’
 
SUMMARY
This amendment, like the bill, authorizes the Commissioner of Marine Resources to adopt rules to establish a system by which the number of commercial northern shrimp licenses issued may be limited in a season when the total allowable catch for Maine is less than 2,000 metric tons. The amendment requires the commissioner to consult with members of the northern shrimp industry prior to initiating rulemaking to limit the number of commercial northern shrimp licenses. The amendment also requires the commissioner, if the commissioner limits the number of commercial northern shrimp licenses, to provide a report to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over marine resources matters regarding management of the northern shrimp resource and the northern shrimp fishing industry. The joint standing committee may report out legislation based upon that report.