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An Act To Authorize the Commissioner of Marine Resources To Limit the Number of Shrimp Licenses That May Be Used in Certain Seasons
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §6804, sub-§2, as amended by PL 2003, c. 248, §10, is further amended to read:
 
2. Licensed activities.   TheExcept as limited pursuant to subsection 2-A, the holder of a commercial northern shrimp license may fish for or take shrimp or possess, ship, transport or sell northern shrimp that the license holder has taken. A license issued under subsection 7, paragraph B or C also authorizes unlicensed crew members aboard the vessel declared by the license holder to engage in these activities.
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.
 
Effective 90 days following adjournment of the 128th Legislature, Second Regular Session, unless otherwise indicated.