Lobster Licensing Bill LD1503
Goes to Legislature

An Act To Amend Lobster and Crab Fishing License Laws will be sent to the Maine legislature at the end of March, 2016. There has been a lot of discussion in Maine about lobster licensing for a long time. The most comment collected by the state on changes to lobster licensing in the state has focused on the waiting list and age limits. Submitted comments can be read at the link provided below.

The amendment to the bill was recorded out March on 22nd and will be voted on sometime between March 22nd and the Statutory Adjournment date of April 20, 2016. It will become law at that time unless the governor vetoes it, in which case it would go to an over ride vote.

Bill LD1503 in addition to many other things calls for the commissioner to maintain a chronological lists of those without and those with a lobster license in the previous year intending to declare a zone. Every 3 years everyone on a waiting list will have to verify they want to remain on the list. There will be a 60 day response time before a 30 day deadline to respond to a certified U.S. mail notice. Retrospective notice of verified military service can get someone back on the list.

The following links provide the most direct and comprehensive description of the bill being voted on by the legislature. These links to the original bill LD1503 and testimony and voting are live at fishermensvoice.com as is a copy of the amended final bill.

LD1503 Original form:
http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=HP1026&item=1&snum=127

Public testimony, committee work and voting:
http://legislature.maine.gov/legis/info/#Testimony