Bill > LD1343

This bill defines the verb "harvest" in both marine resources and inland fisheries and wildlife laws, providing two distinct meanings: first, to gather, forage, catch, trap, hunt, fish, take, or kill for human consumption, nourishment, sustenance, or bodily health (as outlined in the Maine Constitution's Article I, Section 25); and second, to catch, trap, hunt, fish, take, or kill for sport, wildlife management, or population control. The bill also formally recognizes hunting, fishing, and trapping as a valued part of Maine's cultural heritage, acknowledging their significant roles in the state's economy, wildlife management, and conservation efforts. By enacting this legislation, the state legislature explicitly affirms the people's right to harvest wildlife through hunting, fishing, or trapping, while maintaining that these activities remain subject to existing laws, rules, and regulations. The bill emphasizes that wildlife harvesting serves essential functions, including economic contributions, funding for wildlife management programs, and biological management of natural communities.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/display_ps.asp?LD=1343&snum=132