An Act To Create a Saltwater Recreational Fishing Registry
Maine Legislature, Session 124, LD 1432
Committee Amendment CA_C_S464 (Senate)
Amends: 12 MRSA §6032, 12 MRSA §6312

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "L..., to S.P. 516, L.D. 1432, Bill, "An Act To 
Create a Saltwater Recreational Fishing Registry" 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and before the 
summary and inserting the following: 
'Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §6032, as enacted by PL 1999, c. 85, §3, is repealed and the 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 striped bass endorsement and the 
commercial operator's license pursuant to section 6312, subsections 4 and 5, the 
commissioner may receive on behalf of the fund funds from any source. All money 
received into the fund must be used for the purposes of the fund under subsection 2. 
Unexpended balances in the fund at the end of the fiscal year do not lapse but must be 
carried forward to the next fiscal year to be used for the purposes of the fund. 
Any 
interest earned on the money 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 money 
collected in the fund and all expenditures made from the fund in the previous fiscal year. 
2. Uses of fund. The commissioner may authorize the expenditure of money from 
the fund for the implementation, administration and enforcement of the saltwater 
recreational fishing registry under section 6312 and for research and conservation efforts 
related to the saltwater recreational fishelY. 
Sec. 2. 12 MRSA §6312 is enacted to read: 
§6312. Saltwater recreational fishing registry, endorsement and license 
1. Definitions. As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the 
following terms have the following meanings. 
Page I -124LR1889(18)-1 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" (!;" to S.P. 516, L.D. 1432 
A. "Disabled veteran" means a veteran of the Armed Forces of the United States who 
has a service-connected disability as determined by the United States Department of 
Veterans Affairs. 
B. 
"Person with a disability" means a person who is physically or mentally 
incapacitated as determined by the commissioner. 
C. "Registry" means the registry for persons engaged in saltwater recreational fishing 
established under subsection 2. 
2. Saltwater recreational fishing registry established. The commissioner shall 
administer and maintain a registry of persons who engage in saltwater recreational 
fishing. The commissioner may designate by rule the methods of fishing or the saltwater 
areas for which registration is required under this section. 
The registry must at a 
minimum contain the name, address, date of birth and telephone number for each person 
registered. Only an individual may register. 
3. Registration required. A person may not engage in saltwater recreational fishing 
or land or possess fish taken from salt water without registering pursuant to this section 
except the following persons are exempt from this prohibition and the endorsement 
requirement under subsection 4: 
A. A person under 16 years of age; 
B. A passenger on board a vessel captained by an individual who possesses a valid 
commercial operator's license pursuant to subsection 5; 
C. A person renting a smelt fishing camp from an operator that possesses a valid 
commercial operator's license pursuant to subsection 5; 
D. A person with a disability; 
E. A disabled veteran; 
F. 
A person that possesses a valid New Hampshire saltwater recreational fishing 
license that meets the requirements of 50 Code of Federal Regulations, Sections 
600.1415 and 600.1416 (2009) engaging in recreational saltwater fishing from the 
State's southern border to Cape Neddick; and 
G. A resident fishing on July 4th, Labor Day weekend or Memorial Day weekend. 
Registration does not authorize a person registered on the registry to sell fish taken 
pursuant to the registry. 
4. Striped bass endorsement. A person required to register under subsection 3 may 
not engage in saltwater recreational fishing for striped bass or land or possess striped bass 
, 
taken from salt water without a striped bass endorsement issued by the commissioner or a 
clerk or agent appointed by the commissioner pursuant to subsection 6. A striped bass 
endorsement is valid for one year and the fees are: 
A. Five dollars for a resident; 
B. Fifteen dollars for a nonresident; and 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITIEE AMENDMENT" U' to S,P. 516, L.D. 1432 
C. Ten dollars for a resident lifetime striped bass endorsement for an applicant who 
is 70 years of age or older. A resident lifetime striped bass endorsement is valid for 
one year and may be renewed free of charge. 
Revenues collected pursuant to this subsection must be deposited in the Marine 
Recreation Fishing Conservation and Management Fund established under section 6032. 
5. Commercial operator's license. The following persons must possess a valid 
commercial operator's license issued by the commissioner or a clerk or agent appointed 
by the comm issioner pursuant to subsection 6: 
A. 
A captain of a vessel licensed to carry passengers for hire for saltwater 
recreational fishing; and 
B. 
A person operating a business that rents smelt fishing camps for saltwater 
recreational smelt fishing. 
The annual fee for a commercial operator's license is $50. Revenues collected pursuant to 
this subsection must be deposited in the Marine Recreation Fishing Conservation and 
Management Fund established under section 6032. 
6. Agent fee. A clerk or other agent appointed by the commissioner to register a 
person on the registry, issue a commercial operator's license or issue a striped bass 
endorsement under this section shall charge a person a fee of $2 for each registration, 
license or endorsement issued to that person by that clerk or agent. The commissioner 
shall charge a fee of $1 for each registration, license or endorsement taken by a 
department employee. 
7. Native American. Upon application, the commissioner shall register a member 
of the Passamaquoddy Tribe, the Penobscot Nation, the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians 
or the Aroostook Band of Micmacs on the registry without a charge or fee if the Native 
American presents a certificate from the respective reservation tribal clerk or the 
Aroostook Micmac Council stating that the person described is a Native American and a 
member of that nation, band or tribe. The commissioner may refuse to register a Native 
American that is otherwise prohibited from registering or from holding a recreational 
fishing license issued under Part 13. A registration under this subsection is valid for one 
year and may be renewed without a charge or fee. 
8. Penalty. A person who violates this section commits a civil violation for which a 
fine of not less than $100 may be adjudged. 
9. Suspension. A person on the registry or holding a striped bass endorsement or a 
license issued under this section is subject to the applicable suspension provisions under 
chapter 617. 
10. Collaboration on outreach efforts. The commissioner shall work with fishing 
and hunting groups and interested parties in the commissioner's efforts to notifY and 
educate the public about the registry. 
11. Report. The commissioner shall report registry information to the United States 
Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in a form 
and manner as required by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "C/' to S.P. 516, L.D. 1432 
12. Rules. The commissioner may adopt rules to carry out the purposes of this 
section. Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules as defined 
by Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A. 
Sec. 3. Appropriations and allocations. 
The following appropriations and 
allocations are made. 
MARINE RESOURCES, DEPARTMENT OF 
Bureau of Resource Management 0027 
Initiative: Provides funding for 2 seasonal Marine Patrol Officer positions, one full-time 
Marine Patrol Officer position, one part-time Marine Resource Scientist IV position, one 
part-time Marine Resource Scientist III position, one full-time Marine Resource 
Specialist I position, one full-time Marine Resource Scientist I position, 2 part-time 
Marine Resource Specialist I positions and 4 Conservation Aide positions and related All 
Other costs to administer, maintain and enforce the newly created saltwater recreational 
fishing registry. 
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS 
Personal Services 
All Other 
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL 
2009-10 
$0 
$0 
$0 
Sec. 4. Effective date. This Act takes effect January 1, 2011.' 
SUMMARY 
2010-11 
$76,882 
$85,434 
$162,316 
This amendment is the majority report, replaces the bill and does the following: 
1. It creates a saltwater recreational fishing registry administered by the Department 
of Marine Resources to register persons engaged in saltwater recreational fishing; 
2. It creates a striped bass endorsement and a commercial operator's license and 
requires that individuals fishing for striped bass obtain an endorsement and captains of 
vessels licensed to carry passengers for hire for saltwater recreational fishing obtain a 
commercial operator's license; 
. 
3. It sets striped bass endorsement fees for residents at $5 and nonresidents at $15 
and creates a $10 resident lifetime striped bass endorsement for a person 70 years of age 
or older. It sets the fee for a commercial operator's license at $50; 
4. It directs that revenue raised from the striped bass endorsement and commercial 
operator's license be deposited in the Marine Recreation Fishing Conservation and 
Management Fund; 
5. It provides that clerks or other agents appointed by the Commissioner of Marine 
Resources to register people on the saltwater recreational fishing registry, issue striped 
bass endorsements or issue commercial operator's I icenses shall charge a fee of $2 for 
each person registered, issued a striped bass endorsement or issued a commercial 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "C)' to S.P. 516, L.D. 1432 
operator's license. It also provides that the commissioner shall charge a fee of$1 for each 
registration taken, endorsement issued or commercial operator's license provided by 
department employees; 
6. It makes a violation of the registration, endorsement or license requirements a civil 
violation for which a fine of not less that $100 may be adjudged; 
7. It provides that a person on the registry or who holds a striped bass endorsement 
or a license issued under this amendment is subject to the applicable suspension 
provisions under marine resources laws; 
8. It provides that members of a federally recognized Indian tribe in Maine 
recreationally fishing in salt water must register annually free of charge; 
9. It provides an exemption to the registration and striped bass endorsement 
requirements for a person under 16 years of age, a person with a disability, a passenger on 
board a vessel captained by an individual who holds a commercial operator's license, a 
person renting a smelt fishing camp from a commercial operator that holds a commercial 
operator's license, a disabled veteran and a resident fishing on July 4th, Labor Day 
weekend or Memorial Day weekend; 
10. It provides that a person holding a valid New Hampshire saltwater recreational 
fishing license may fish in salt water in the area from Maine's southern border to Cape 
Neddick; 
II. It directs the commissioner to work with fishing and hunting groups and other 
interested parties to notifY and educate the public about the saltwater recreational fishing 
registry; 
12. It requires the commissioner to report registry information to the United States 
Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in a form 
and manner as required by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; 
13. It sets an effective date of January 1,2011; and 
14. It adds an appropriations and allocations section. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 03/2411 0 
::$Pac:;. 
LD 1432 
LR 1889(18) 
An Act To Create a Saltwater Recreational Fishing Registry 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment "c.;' 
Committee: Marine Resources 
Appropriations/Allocations 
Other Special Revenue Funds 
Revenue 
Other Special Revenue Funds 
Correctional and Judicial Impact Statements 
Establishes new civil violations. 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
2009-10 
$0 
$0 
2010-11 
$162,316 
$248,530 
Projections 
2011-12 
$665,609 
$912,788 
The collection of additional fines may also increase General Fund revenue by minor amounts. 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Projections 
2012-13 
$875,486 
$1,170,650 
The bill creates a saltwater recreational fishing registry effective January 1,2011. There would be no fee for 
registration except for individuals who require a striped bass endorsement. Individuals requiring a commercial 
operators license would also need to pay a fee for that license. These fees would be deposited to the newly created 
Marine Recreation Fishing Conservation and Management Fund. The new striped bass endorsement and commercial 
operators license fee are estimated to increase Other Special Revenue Funds revenue by $248,530 in fiscal year 2010-
Il. This revenue estimate is based upon the average number of saltwater anglers over the past 9 years and assumes 
that 80% of those individuals would require the striped bass endorsement. It also assumes 133 commercial operators 
licenses. Since these fees are new, the revenue estimate assumes a 20% participation rate in the first year. 
The bill includes an Other Special Revenue Funds allocation of $162,316 in fiscal year 2010-11 to the Department of 
Marine Resources for two seasonal Marine Patrol Officer positions and one full-time Marine Patrol Officer position 
and related administrative costs to administer, maintain and enforce the newly created saltwater recreational fishing 
registry. These three positions currently exist, therefore no additional headcount is needed. Administrative costs 
include technology, central fleet management and registration processing costs. 
LR1889(l8) - Fiscal Note - Page I of2 
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Beginning in fiscal year 2011-12 the Department will fund one part-time Marine Resource Scientist N position, one 
part-time Marine Resource Scientist III position, one full-time Marine Resource Specialist I position, one full-time 
Marine Resource Scientist I position, two part-time Marine Resource Specialist I positions and four Conservation 
Aide positions, which are also existing positions requiring no additional headcount. Revenue for fiscal year 2011-12 
is estimated assuming a 75% participation rate, with that participation rate reaching 100% in fiscal year 2012-13 and 
beyond. 
LR1889(18) - Fiscal Note - Page 2 of2