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An Act To Require Biodegradable Hooks and Lures for Freshwater Fishing
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  12 MRSA §10001, sub-§8-A  is enacted to read:
 
8-A.  Biodegradable.     "Biodegradable," with regard to a material, means that the material will undergo degradation by biological processes when exposed to ordinary environmental conditions to yield carbon dioxide, water, inorganic compounds and biomass at a rate consistent with other materials that undergo degradation by biological processes and will leave no visible, distinguishable or toxic residue.
Sec. 2.  12 MRSA §12665  is enacted to read:
§ 12665. Unlawful use of nonbiodegradable hooks or artificial lures
Beginning January 1, 2024, a person may not fish in inland waters using a hook or an artificial lure unless the hook is composed wholly of biodegradable materials and those rubber or plastic portions of the artificial lure are composed wholly of biodegradable materials. A person who violates this section commits a Class E crime.
 
SUMMARY
Beginning January 1, 2024, this bill prohibits fishing in inland waters using nonbiodegradable hooks or certain nonbiodegradable artificial lures. A person who violates this prohibition commits a Class E crime.