An Act To Create a Saltwater Recreational Fishing License (AFfER DEADLINE)
Maine Legislature, Session 123, LD 1811
Committee: Marine Resources
Sponsors: PERCY, DAMON
Amends: 12 MRSA §6032, 12 MRSA §6506

Legislative Document 
No. 1811 
H.P. 1263 
House of Representatives, April 2, 2007 
An Act To Create a Saltwater Recreational Fishing License 
(AFfER DEADLINE) 
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule 
205. 
Reference to the Committee on Marine Resources suggested and ordered printed. 
Presented by Representative PERCY of Phippsburg. 
Cosponsored by Senator DAMON of Hancock. 
Printt'd \\11 recycled p:lpt'r 
'IY/~ 1/7. 7l!dC~ 
MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §6032, as enacted by PL 1999, c. 85, ~3, is repealed and the 
following enacted in its place: 
§6032. Marine Recreation Fishing Conservation and Management Fund 
1. 
Fund established. 
The Marine Recreation Fishing Conservation and 
Management Fund, referred to in this section as "the fund," is established within the 
department. In addition to fees derived from the saltwater recreational fishing license 
pursuant to section 6506, subsection 6, the commissioner mav receive on behalf of the 
fund funds from any source. All money received into the fund must be used for the 
pur.poses of the fund. Unexpended balances in the fund at the end of the fiscal vear do 
II 
not lapse but must be calTied forward to the next fiscal year to be used for the purposes of 
the fund. Any interest earned on the monev in the fund must be credited to the fund. By 
February I st of each year, the commissioner shall report to the joint standing committee 
of the Legislature having jurisdiction over marine resources matters on the amount of 
monev collected in the fund and all expenditures made from the fund in the previous 
fiscal vear. 
2. Uses of fund. The commissioner, with the advice of the Marine Recreational 
Fishing Advisory Council, may authorize the expenditure of money from the fund for: 
A. Resource and habitat enhancement; 
B. Fisheries management research; 
C. Acquisition of land or an interest in land that provides for the enhancement of 
fishery habitat or public access to coastal fishing waters; 
D. Enforcement of marine resources laws; 
E. Education and outreach; and 
F. Administration and operating expenses. 
Funds allocated for expenditure under paragraph C must be deposited 111 the Public 
Access to Maine Waters Fund established in Title 5, section 6203-A. 
Sec. 2. 12 MRSA §6506 is enacted to read: 
§6506. Saltwater recreational fishing license 
1. 
License required. 
Except as otherwise provided pursuant to this Part, it is 
unlawful for an individual to engage in saltwater recreational fishing without holding at 
least one of the following: 
A. An annual resident saltwater recreational fishing license; 
B. An annual nonresident saltwater recreational fishing license; 
C. A 2-week nonresident saltwater recreational fishing license; 
D. A charter boat saltwater recreational fishing license; or 
E. A head boat saltwater recreational fishing license. 
A saltwater recreational fishing license does not authorize the license holder to sell fish 
taken with the license. 
2. Agents for purpose of selling licenses. The commissioner shall adopt rules that 
establish the criteria for selecting agents to sell saltwater recreational fishing licenses. 
Agents appointed by the commissioner to issue licenses shall charge a fee of $2 for each 
license issued. Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules as 
defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A. 
3. Licensed activities. The holder of a saltwater recreational fishing license may 
fish for, take, transport or possess finfish and freshwater fish as defined in section 600 I In 
coastal waters. 
4. Exemptions. A license is not required to engage in saltwater recreational fishing 
in coastal waters for an individual under 16 years of age or a resident 70 years of age or 
older. A license is not required for a passenger or cre\v member on board a vessel 
designated on a current charter boat saltwater recreational fishing license or head boat 
saltwater recreational fishing license. 
5. Eligibilitv. A saltwater recreational fishing license may be issued onlY to an 
individual. 
6. Fees. The fees for saltwater recreational fishing licenses are: 
A. Fifteen dollars for an annual resident saltwater recreational fishing license; 
B. Thirty dollars for an annual nonresident saltwater recreational fishing license; 
C. Fifteen dollars for an annual nonresident saltwater recreational fishing license for 
applicants 70 years of age or older; 
D. Fifteen dollars for a 2-week nonresident saltwater recreational fishing license; 
E. '1'\\0 hundred dollars for a chm1er boat saltwater recreational fishing license; and 
F. Four hundred dollars for a head boat saltwater recreational fishing license. 
7. Disposition of fees. All fees for saltwater recreational fishing licenses collected 
pursuant to subsection 6 must be deposited in the Marine Recreation Fishing 
Conservation and Management Fund established in section 6032. 
8. Violation. Violation of this section is a civil violation for which a fine of not less 
than $100 may be adjudged. 
SUMMARY 
This bill establishes a saltwater recreational fishing license, dedicates the fees from 
licensing to the Marine Recreation Fishing Conservation and Management Fund and 
gives the Commissioner of Marine Resources authority to make expenditures from the 
fund for purposes such as fisheries management research and education and outreach.