An Act To Promote Rockweed Habitat Conservation through the Consideration of No-harvest Areas
Maine Legislature, Session 126, LD 1830
Committee Amendment CA_B_H808 (House)
Amends: 12 MRSA §6807

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT ,~ " to H.P. 1318, L.D. 1830, Bill, "An Act To 
Promote Rockweed Habitat Conservation through the Consideration of No-harvest 
Areas" 
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following: 
'An Act To Further the Implementation ofthe Rockweed Fishery Management 
Plan' 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and before the 
summary and inserting the following: 
'Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §6807, as amended by PL 2013, c. 169, § 1, is further amended 
to read: 
§6807. Seaweed harvesting rules 
The commissioner may adopt rules regulating the harvest of seaweed on a species-
specific basis, including, but not limited to, the total number of licenses that may be 
issued, the designation of a harvesting season or seasons, the quantity of the resource that 
may be harvested in a season, areas that may be open or closed to harvest, the designation 
of sectors, limitations on harvest by sector, establishment of a process for allocation to 
sectors and gear and techniques that may be used in harvesting. Rules establishing areas 
closed to harvest or areas that may be seasonally closed to harvest and a process for the 
allocation to sectors under this section are major substantive rules pursuant to Title 5, 
chapter 375, subchapter 2-A. 
All other rules adopted under this section are routine 
technical rules pursuant to Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A. 
Sec. 2. 
Statewide management plan for rockweed; update on 
recommended actions. The Commissioner of Marine Resources, referred to in this 
section as "the commissioner," shall complete and present to the joint standing committee 
of the Legislature having jurisdiction over marine resources matters by January 31,2015 
an update on the implementation of the Rockweed Fishery Management Plan, referred to 
in this section as "the plan," dated January 2014, developed pursuant to Public Law 2013, 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT E" to H.P. 1318, L.D. 1830 
chapter 169 and in accordance with the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 12, section 6171, 
subsection 2-A. 
1. Working group convened. The commissioner shall create a working group 
whose purpose is to complete the work on developing criteria for areas closed to harvest 
or that are seasonally closed to harvest and identification of areas closed to harvest or that 
are seasonally closed to harvest as recommended by the plan, and recommend a process 
by which those designations will be maintained and adjusted as necessary. The working 
group must consist of scientists and other experts with areas of expertise relevant to the 
fishery and the considerations previously discussed by the plan's plan development team 
relevant to no-harvest determinations and staff as determined by the commissioner. 
2. Working group membership; criteria; areas closed to harvest. The update must 
identify: 
A. The membership of the working group convened pursuant to subsection 1; 
B. The criteria recommended by the working group to be used to determine areas to 
be closed to harvest or areas that are seasonally closed to harvest, and the scientific or 
legal reasoning for each criterion; 
C. Based upon the criteria in paragraph B, the recommended process for designating 
areas closed to harvest or areas that are seasonally closed to harvest, disseminating 
those designations and revising those designations; and 
D. To the extent possible, the recommendations of the working group in identifying 
areas closed to harvest or areas that are seasonally closed to harvest. 
3. Legislation. The joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction 
over marine resources matters is authorized to report out a bill to the First Regular 
Session of the 127th Legislature that is related to the implementation of the plan update 
submitted pursuant to this section.' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment, which is the minority report, replaces the bill and differs from the 
majority report in that it makes major substantive the rules establishing areas closed to 
harvesting rockweed or areas that are seasonally closed to harvesting rockweed. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(S~e at!~~Il.~d) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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Approved: 04/02114 frac 
LD 1830 
LR 2858(03) 
An Act To Promote Rockweed Habitat Conservation through the Consideration of No-harvest Areas 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment ~ {Ii -g Og\ 
Committee: Marine Resources 
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Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor cost increase - General Fund 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
The bill requires the Department of Marine Resources (DMR) to prepare and submit an update to the Legislature on 
implementation of the Rockweed Fishery Management Plan. The DMR must create a working group of experts to 
complete the work on developing criteria for certain areas closed to harvest or seasonally closed to harvest as 
recommended by the Rockweed Fishery Management Plan. The bill requires rules establishing areas closed to harvest 
and a process for the allocation to sectors be major substantive rules. Any additional costs to the DMR to undertake 
these activities are expected to be minor and can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources. 
LR2858(03) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1