Source: https://ecode360.com/15151366
Timestamp: 2020-01-23 05:02:33
Document Index: 252156078

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 74', '§ 74', '§ 74', '§ 74', '§ 74', '§ 74', '§ 74', '§ 74', '§ 74', '§ 74', '§ 74', '§ 74', '§ 1', '§ 6671', '§ 2', '§ 3', '§ 4', '§ 5', '§ 5001', '§ 5001', '§ 6', '§ 6671', '§ 7', '§ 6681', '§ 8', '§ 6671', '§ 9', '§ 10', '§ 11', '§ 12']

City of Biddeford, ME SHELLFISH CONSERVATION ORDINANCE
Ch 74 Art II Div 5 SHELLFISH CONSERVATION ORDINANCE
§ 74-101 Authority.
§ 74-102 Purpose.
§ 74-103 Shellfish Conservation Committee.
§ 74-104 Definitions.
§ 74-105 Licensing.
§ 74-106 Opening and closing of flats.
§ 74-107 Minimum legal size of soft shell clams.
§ 74-108 Penalty.
§ 74-109 Effective date.
§ 74-110 Period of ordinance.
§ 74-111 Separability.
§ 74-112 Repeal.
City of Biddeford, ME / Part II: Code of Ordinances / Waterways / HARBOR
DIVISION 5 SHELLFISH CONSERVATION ORDINANCE
Sec. 74-101 Authority.
Sec. 74-102 Purpose.
Sec. 74-103 Shellfish Conservation Committee.
Sec. 74-104 Definitions.
Sec. 74-105 Licensing.
Sec. 74-106 Opening and closing of flats.
Sec. 74-107 Minimum legal size of soft shell clams.
Sec. 74-108 Penalty.
Sec. 74-109 Effective date.
Sec. 74-110 Period of ordinance.
Sec. 74-111 Separability.
Sec. 74-112 Repeal.
[Ord. No. 2000.20, § 1, 4-4-2000; Ord. No. 2002.33, 4-2-2002]
This division is enacted in accordance with 12 M.R.S.A. § 6671.
[Ord. No. 2000.20, § 2, 4-4-2000; Ord. No. 2002.33, 4-2-2002; amended 4-7-2009 by Ord. No. 2009.11]
To establish a shellfish conservation program for the City that will insure the protection and optimum utilization of shellfish resources within its limits. These goals will be achieved by means that may include:
Licensing and recommendation of any changes to licensing fees to the City Council annually.
[Amended 11-17-2015 by Ord. No. 2015.75]
[Ord. No. 2000.20, § 3, 4-4-2000; Ord. No. 2002.33, 4-2-2002; amended 4-7-2009 by Ord. No. 2009.11]
The Shellfish Conservation Program for the City of Biddeford will be administered by the Shellfish Conservation Committee consisting of seven members to be appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the Council for terms of three years.
Reviewing annually the status of the resource using the results of clam flat, harvester or dealer surveys and other sources of information and preparing in conjunction with and subject to the approval of the Department a plan for implementing conservation measures.
Submitting to the City Council proposals for the expenditures of funds for the purpose of shellfish conservation.
Keeping this division under review and making recommendations for its amendments.
Securing and maintaining records of shellfish harvest from the City's managed shellfish areas and closed areas that are conditionally opened by the Department of Marine Resources.
Recommending conservation closures and openings to the City Council in conjunction with the area biologists of the Department of Marine Resources.
[Ord. No. 2000.20, § 4, 4-4-2000; Ord. No. 2002.33, 4-2-2002; amended 4-7-2009 by Ord. No. 2009.11]
As used in this division, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
Any person invited to assist a recreational license holder in harvesting a combined total that does not exceed one peck of shellfish per license per any one day.
Refers to the City of Biddeford, Maine.
Anyone not qualified as a resident under this division.
Refers to a person who is domiciled in this municipality. Proof of residency shall be by one of the following criteria:
A person who pays real estate property taxes to the City or can provide a rent receipt within the jurisdiction of the City;
A person who is a registered voter in the City;
A person who can provide a vehicle registration from the City of Biddeford, Maine;
A person who can provide a valid motor vehicle license showing an address within the jurisdiction of the City;
A person who can provide a valid school ID showing an address within the jurisdiction of the City. Proof of eligibility will be the burden of the applicant.
In the context of this division the words "shellfish," "clams," and "intertidal shellfish resources" mean soft shell clams (Mya arenaria).
[Ord. No. 2000.20, § 5, 4-4-2000; Ord. No. 2002.33, 4-2-2002; Ord. No. 2004.8, 3-2-2004; amended 4-7-2009 by Ord. No. 2009.11]
It is unlawful for any person to dig or take shellfish from the shores and flats of this municipality without having a current license issued by this municipality as provided by this division. A commercial digger must also have a valid State of Maine Commercial Shellfish License issued by the Department of Marine Resources.
Resident commercial shellfish license. The license is available to residents of the municipality and entitles the holder to dig and take any amount of shellfish from the shores and flats of this municipality and reciprocating municipalities.
Resident commercial over 62 shellfish license. The license is available to residents of the municipality who can and do provide age verification legally attaining the age of older than 62 years of age at the time of purchase, and entitles the holder to dig and take any amount of shellfish from the shores and flats of this municipality and reciprocating municipalities.
[Added 11-17-2015 by Ord. No. 2015.75[1]]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also redesignated of former Subsection (a)(2) through (5) as Subsection (a)(3) through (6), respectively.
Nonresident commercial shellfish license. The license is available to nonresidents of this municipality and entitles the holder to dig and take any amount of shellfish from the shores and flats of this municipality.
Residential recreational shellfish license. The license is available to residents and real estate taxpayers of this municipality and entitles the holder and guest(s) to dig and take no more than one peck of shellfish per any one day from the shores and flats of this municipality.
Nonresident recreational shellfish license. The license is available to any person not a resident of this municipality and entitles the holder and guest(s) to dig and take not more than one peck of shellfish per any one day from the shores and flats of this municipality.
Resident/nonresident one-day recreational shellfish license. The license is available to any resident or nonresident, and entitles the holder to dig and take not more than one peck of shellfish during the one and only day, or any part thereof, for which the license has been purchased.
Resident student commercial shellfish license. The student must be at least 16 years of age or older and under 23 years of age, based upon the May 1 of the year of application. A person issued a student license is enrolled:
[Added 11-17-2015 by Ord. No. 2015.75]
A person must show proof of age and proof of school attendance, except that students attending college must show proof of 12 credit hours per semester by a state-recognized accrediting agency or body.
A person attending a public day school in accordance with the attendance requirement of 20-A M.R.S.A. § 5001-A, Subsection 1.
A person meeting the requirements of an alternative to attendance at public day school in accordance with 20-A M.R.S.A. § 5001-A, Subsection 3.
A person under the age of 18 as of May 1 of the year of application must have a parent or legal guardian signature on the shellfish application.
A person may not be considered to have ceased to be a student during any interim between school years if the interim does not exceed five months and if it is shown that the person has a bona fide intention of continuing to pursue a full-time course of study during the semester or other enrollment period immediately following the interim period. For purposes of this subsection, "full-time course of study" means at least 60% of the usual course load for the program in which the person is enrolled.
The Shellfish Committee may revoke a student license if the licensee fails to maintain required student status
Nonresident student commercial shellfish license. The student must be at least 16 years of age or older and under 23 years of age, based upon the May 1 of the year of application. A person issued a student license is enrolled:
[Added 11-17-2015 by Ord. No. 2015.75[2]]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also redesignated former Subsection (a)(6) as Subsection (a)(9).
Application procedure. Any person may apply to the Clerk for the licenses required by this division on forms provided by the municipality.
Fees. The fees for the licenses are as stated below and must accompany in full the application for the respective license. The Clerk shall pay all fees received to the Treasurer except for $3 of each license that will be retained by the Clerk as payment for issuing the license. Shellfish license fees and fines shall be used by the municipality for shellfish management, conservation and enforcement.
Resident commercial: determined annually.
Resident commercial over 62: determined annually.
Nonresident commercial: determined annually.
Resident student commercial: determined annually.
Nonresident student commercial: determined annually.
Resident recreational: determined annually.
Resident recreational 65 to 69 years old: determined annually.
Nonresident recreational: determined annually.
Nonresident recreational 65 to 69 years old: determined annually.
Resident recreational 70 years old or older: free.
Nonresident recreational 70 years old or older: free.
Resident/nonresident one day only license: determined annually.
Limitation of diggers. Clam resources vary in density and size distribution from year to year and over the limited soft clam producing area of the municipality. It is essential that the municipality carefully husband its shellfish resources. If, following the annual review of the municipality's clam resources, its size distribution, abundance and the warden's reports, as required by Section 74-103, the Shellfish Conservation Committee, in consultation with the DMR area biologist, determines limiting commercial or recreational shellfish licenses is an appropriate shellfish management option for the following year:
Prior to April 1, the Committee shall report its findings and document recommendations for the allocation of commercial and recreational licenses to be made available for the following license year to the Commissioner of Marine Resources for concurrence.
After receiving approval of proposed license allocations from the Commissioner of Marine resources and prior to May 1, the Shellfish Conservation Committee shall notify the Clerk in writing of the number and allocation of shellfish licenses to be issued.
Notice of the number of licenses to be issued and the procedure for application shall be published in a trade or industry publication, or in a newspaper or combination of newspapers with general circulation, which the municipal officers consider effective in reaching persons affected, not less than 10 days prior to the period of issuance and shall be posted in the municipal offices until the period concludes.
The Clerk shall issue licenses to residents and nonresidents as allocated starting June 1 to residents and nonresidents on a first-come, first-served basis.
Licenses may be returned to the municipality voluntarily, and reissued to another person at the current fee according to the priorities established in this section. Any license returned is nonrefundable.
Members of the Shellfish Conservation Committee shall be entitled to apply for a recreational shellfish license 30 days in advance of general license sales.
All clam diggers/harvesters must use hand implements only – no assisted air harvesting (scuba diving).
There shall be no night digging of shellfish. "Night" is defined as 1/2 hour after sunset and 1/2 hour before sunrise.
[Added 11-17-2015 by Ord. No. 2015.75[3]]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also redesignated former Subsection (d)(8) as Subsection (d)(9).
All recreational clam diggers/harvesters shall not possess more than one container while harvesting. The container must have a maximum volume of not more than 10 quarts. NOTE: A ten-quart pail filled to within one inch of the rim is approximately one peck of clams.
For each commercial license category, the Clerk shall issue one license to nonresidents when six licenses are issued to residents and one more to nonresidents when five more are issued to residents; thereafter, one nonresident license will be issued for every 10 additional resident licenses issued.
License expiration date. Each license issued under authority of this article expires at midnight on the last day of May next following the date of issuance.
Fee waivers. Recreational shellfish license fees will be waived for license holders 70 years or older. Individuals 12 years or younger do not need a license to assist a recreational shellfish license holder in harvesting not more than one peck of shellfish in total per any one day.
Suspension. Any shellfish licensee having three convictions for a violation of this division shall have his shellfish license automatically suspended for a period of 30 days.
A licensee whose shellfish license has been suspended pursuant to this division may reapply for a license only after the suspension period has expired.
The suspension shall be effective from the date of mailing of a notice of suspension by the Clerk to the licensee.
Any licensee whose shellfish license has automatically been suspended pursuant to this section shall be entitled to a hearing before the Shellfish Conservation Committee upon the filing of a written request for hearing with the Clerk within 30 days following the effective date of suspension. The licensee may appeal the decision of the Shellfish Conservation Committee before the Council by filing a written request for appeal with the Clerk within seven days of the decision of the Shellfish Conservation Committee.
Shellfish harvesting log. Commercial shellfish license holders shall be required to keep a shellfish harvesting log which must be submitted to the Shellfish Conservation Committee Secretary no later than the 15th of the following month. The log will include the date, location and number of bushels harvested during each day; failure to maintain and submit monthly shellfish harvesting logs shall cause the harvester to lose automatic license retention.
Conservation benefit. Biddeford commercial shellfish license holders who have purchased their licenses during the period of issuance for the previous license year and who have completed 12 hours of conservation work under the supervision of the Shellfish Conservation Committee shall be permitted to purchase a shellfish license the next year for a reduced fee, to be set by the Shellfish Committee annually, and purchased during the first week preceding the regular sale date. The Shellfish Conservation Committee will preapprove all accepted conservation projects by a majority vote. These records will be kept by the Secretary. In the event all commercial license holders complete their conservation obligation and it is deemed that licenses must be reduced for the following year, licenses will be issued by seniority. "Seniority" is defined as number of years a license has been held. If a tie in seniority occurs, the City Clerk will conduct a lottery to break the tie.
[Ord. No. 2000.20, § 6, 4-4-2000; Ord. No. 2002.33, 4-2-2002; amended 4-7-2009 by Ord. No. 2009.11]
The municipal officials, upon the approval of the Commissioner of Marine Resources, may open and close areas for shellfish harvest. Upon recommendations of the Shellfish Conservation Committee and concurrence of the Department of Marine Resources area biologist that the status of shellfish resources and other factors bearing on sound management indicate that an area should be opened or closed, the municipal officials may call a public hearing, and shall send a copy of the notice to the Department of Marine Resources. The decision of the municipal officials made after the hearing shall be based on findings of fact.
It shall be unlawful for any person to harvest, take or possess shellfish from any areas closed by the City of Biddeford in accordance with the Department of Marine Resources (DMR) Regulation Chapter 7. Harvesting shellfish in a closed area is a violation of this municipality' s ordinance and is punishable under 12 M.R.S.A. § 6671.
[Added 9-6-2016 by Ord. No. 2016.75]
Boundaries of conservation closures are explicitly defined in the conservation closure application submitted by the City of Biddeford to DMR and are part of the resulting permit issued by DMR. These permits are posted at the City Clerk' s Office and on the DMR website.
[Ord. No. 2000.20, § 7, 4-4-2000; Ord. No. 2002.33, 4-2-2002; amended 4-7-2009 by Ord. No. 2009.11]
It is unlawful for any person to possess soft shell clams within the municipality which are less than two inches in the longest diameter except as provided by Subsection (b) of this section
Lot. The word "lot" as used in this division means the total number of soft shell clams in any bulk pile. Where soft shell clams are in a box, barrel, or other container, the contents of each box, barrel, or other container constitutes a separate lot.
Possess. For the purpose of this section, "possess" means dig, take, harvest, ship, transport, hold, buy and sell retail and wholesale soft shell clam shell stock.
Tolerance. Any person may possess soft shell clams that are less than two inches if they comprise less than 10% of any lot. The tolerance shall be determined by count of not less than one peck nor more than four pecks taken at random from various parts of the lot or by a count of the entire lot if it contains less than one peck.
Penalty. Whoever violates any provision of this section shall be punished as provided by 12 M.R.S.A. § 6681.
[Ord. No. 2000.20, § 8, 4-4-2000; Ord. No. 2002.33, 4-2-2002; amended 4-7-2009 by Ord. No. 2009.11]
A person who violates this division shall be punished as provided by 12 M.R.S.A. § 6671(10).
[Ord. No. 2000.20, § 9, 4-4-2000; Ord. No. 2002.33, 4-2-2002; amended 4-7-2009 by Ord. No. 2009.11]
This division, which has been approved by the Commissioner of Marine Resources, shall become effective after its adoption by the municipality, provided that a certified copy of the ordinance from which this division is derived is filed with the Commissioner within 20 days of its adoption.
[Ord. No. 2000.20, § 10, 4-4-2000; Ord. No. 2002.33, 4-2-2002; amended 4-7-2009 by Ord. No. 2009.11]
This article shall remain in effect until eliminated or amended.
[Ord. No. 2000.20, § 11, 4-4-2000; Ord. No. 2002.33, 4-2-2002]
If any section, subsection, sentence or part of this division is for any reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional, such decisions shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this division.
[Ord. No. 2000.20, § 12, 4-4-2000; Ord. No. 2002.33, 4-2-2002]
Any ordinance regulating the harvesting or conservation of shellfish in the municipality and any provisions of any other municipal ordinance that is inconsistent with this division is hereby repealed.