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An Act To Allow Student License Holders To Fish for or Take Lobsters during a Closed Season
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §6421, sub-§3-A, ¶E, as amended by PL 2015, c. 68, §3, is further amended to read:
 
E. A student license authorizes the license holder to engage in the licensed activities under subsection 2. Notwithstanding section 6472 or any other provision that establishes a closed season on fishing for or taking lobsters, a student license holder is authorized to fish for or take lobsters during a closed season if that closed season occurs during an interim between school years. A student license may be issued only to a person who, at the time of application, is 8 years of age or older and under 23 years of age. A person issued a student license may not submerge more than:
 
(1) Ten lobster traps in the coastal waters of the State if the person is 8 years of age or older and under 11 years of age;
 
(2) Fifty lobster traps in the coastal waters of the State if the person is 11 years of age or older and under 14 years of age; or
 
(3) One hundred and fifty lobster traps in the coastal waters of the State if the person is 14 years of age or older and under 23 years of age.
 
A person issued a student license is enrolled in the apprentice program under section 6422. When applying for a license the person must designate a sponsor and may designate up to 3 sponsors. For the purposes of this paragraph, "sponsor" means a person who holds a Class I, Class II or Class III lobster and crab fishing license issued under this section.
 
SUMMARY
This bill allows a person with a student lobster and crab fishing license to fish for or take lobsters during a closed season on fishing for or taking lobsters if that closed season occurs during an interim between school years.