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Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following:
‘Resolve, Directing the Department of Marine Resources To Evaluate the Limited-entry Lobster and Crab Fishing Licensing System’
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the title and inserting the following:
‘Sec. 1 Limited-entry lobster zone management review. Resolved: That the Department of Marine Resources shall submit a report to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over marine resources matters by February 15, 2021 that evaluates the limited-entry zone policy in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 12, section 6448. The report must examine the long waiting periods for new zone entrants to be permitted to obtain a lobster and crab fishing license to fish in a limited-entry zone. In examining the waiting list for participation, the department shall consider:
1. The current biological status of the fishery;
2. Current exit-to-entry ratios in each limited-entry zone;
3. Latency of licenses and trap tags;
4. The current policy for student lobster and crab fishing licenses; and
5. Any other factors the department finds relevant to its examination.
The department shall also revisit the findings and recommendations made in the report prepared for the department by the Gulf of Maine Research Institute pursuant to Resolve 2011, chapter 62. The report must include recommendations regarding the long waiting periods for entry into a limited-entry zone. In making any recommendations, the department shall account for potential impacts to the lobster fishery as a result of any proposed new federal regulations to address protections for endangered right whales. The joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over marine resources matters may report out legislation to the First Regular Session of the 130th Legislature based upon the report of the department.’
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or section number to read consecutively.
 
SUMMARY
This amendment replaces the bill with a resolve and changes the title. It requires the Department of Marine Resources to provide the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over marine resources matters with a report that evaluates the limited-entry zone system by February 15, 2021. It requires the department to examine the long waiting period for entry to fish in a limited-entry zone. This amendment requires the department, in examining the waiting list, to consider several factors, including, but not limited to, the current biological status of the fishery, current exit-to-entry ratios in each limited-entry zone, latency of licenses and trap tags and the current policy for student lobster and crab fishing licenses. It requires the department to revisit the recommendations made in the report prepared for the department by the Gulf of Maine Research Institute pursuant to Resolve 2011, chapter 62. It requires the department to make recommendations regarding the long waiting period for entry into a limited-entry zone. It also requires the department to account for possible new federal regulations to address protections for endangered right whales when making any recommendations. Lastly, this amendment authorizes the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over marine resources matters to report out legislation to the First Regular Session of the 130th Legislature.