Bill > LD1352

This bill makes several key changes to Maine's scallop fishery regulations. First, it prohibits the current apprentice program from being conducted through a lottery, requiring the Department of Marine Resources to develop a new non-lottery method for new entrants to participate in the scallop fishery by October 1, 2026. Second, the bill establishes a new rule that a new entrant can only become eligible for a hand fishing or scallop dragging license when an existing license is terminated, effectively limiting the total number of licenses. Third, the bill directs the Department of Marine Resources to adopt rules by January 1, 2026, that provide equal access to limited access scallop fishing areas for all license holders during the same period, rather than using a rotational system. These changes aim to modify entry into the scallop fishery, manage the number of licenses, and create a more equitable system for accessing fishing areas. Most of the bill's provisions will take effect on October 1, 2026, giving the Department of Marine Resources time to develop and implement the new rules.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/display_ps.asp?LD=1352&snum=132