An Act Regarding the Saltwater Recreational Fishing Registry
Maine Legislature, Session 125, LD 0308
Committee: Marine Resources
Sponsors: McKANE, SNOWE-MELLO, CHIPMAN, OLSEN, PRESCOTT, TILTON, TRAHAN
Amends: 12 MRSA §6032, 12 MRSA §6312, 12 MRSA §6313

Legislative Document 
No. 308 
H.P. 250 
House of Representatives, February 3, 2011 
An Act Regarding the Saltwater Recreational Fishing Registry 
(EMERGENCY) 
Reference to the Committee on Marine Resources suggested and ordered printed. 
HEATHER J.R. PRIEST 
Clerk 
Presented by Representative McKANE of Newcastle. 
Cosponsored by Senator SNOWE-MELLO of Androscoggin and 
Representatives: CHIPMAN of Portland, OLSEN of Phippsburg, PRESCOTT of Topsham, 
TILTON of Harrington, Senator: TRAHAN of Lincoln. 
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
Whereas, for the efficient management of the saltwater recreational fishery this 
legislation must take effect before the spring fishing season begins; and 
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within 
the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as 
immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, 
therefore, 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  12 MRSA §6032, as repealed and replaced by PL 2009, c. 559, §1 and 
affected by §4, is repealed. 
Sec. 2.  12 MRSA §6312, as enacted by PL 2009, c. 559, §2 and affected by §4, is 
repealed. 
Sec. 3.  12 MRSA §6313 is enacted to read: 
§6313.  Voluntary saltwater recreational fishing registry 
1.  Voluntary saltwater recreational fishing registry established.  The 
commissioner shall work with the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to 
establish, administer and maintain a voluntary annual registry of persons who engage in 
saltwater recreational fishing.  A person may register with the department through an 
online licensing system of the department or maintained by the department or by 
checking a box on that person's freshwater fishing license or watercraft registration issued 
under Part 13 at the time of purchase to indicate that that person plans to engage in 
saltwater recreational fishing for the period covered by the freshwater fishing license. 
2.  Mail-in registration. The department and the Department of Inland Fisheries and 
Wildlife may distribute postage-paid postcards to anglers through direct contact or 
through appropriate entities that allow an angler to register on the registry under 
subsection 1 by returning the postcard to the department.  The commissioner shall 
determine the content of the postcard and the information to be provided by the angler. 
3.  Voluntary registration; no fees.  The department may not establish or levy a fee 
for registering on the registry pursuant to subsection 1 or 2. 
4.  Administration; funding.  The commissioner and the Commissioner of Inland 
Fisheries and Wildlife shall administer the provisions of this section within the existing 
resources of the department and the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.  The 
commissioner and the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife shall work with the 
State's congressional delegation to seek federal funding for purposes of this section. The 
commissioner and the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife may not expand 
activities under this subsection beyond existing department resources unless federal 
funding is secured to cover the cost of those activities. 
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this 
legislation takes effect when approved. 
SUMMARY 
This bill repeals the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 12, section 6312 establishing the 
saltwater recreational fishing registry and Title 12, section 6032 establishing the Marine 
Recreation Fishing Conservation and Management Fund and does the following. 
It provides for voluntary saltwater recreational fishing registration. 
It directs the Commissioner of Marine Resources to work with the Commissioner of 
Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to establish a system that allows a person to register on the 
voluntary saltwater fishing registry online, by checking a box on a freshwater fishing 
license or watercraft registration or by mailing in a postcard distributed by the 
departments. 
It prohibits the establishment of a fee for registering on the saltwater recreational 
fishing registry and directs the Commissioner of Marine Resources and the 
Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to administer the saltwater recreational 
fishing registry within the departments' existing resources.