An Act To Strengthen Maine's Fisheries Laws
Maine Legislature, Session 127, LD 1410
Committee: Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
Sponsors: DAVIS, MARTIN, DUTREMBLE
Amends: 12 MRSA §10001, 12 MRSA §10902, 12 MRSA §12258, 12 MRSA §12506

Legislative Document 
No. 1410 
S.P. 525 
In Senate, May 13, 2015 
An Act To Strengthen Maine's Fisheries Laws 
Submitted by the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife pursuant to Joint Rule 204. 
Reference to the Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife suggested and ordered 
printed. 
HEATHER J.R. PRIEST 
Secretary of the Senate 
Presented by Senator DAVIS of Piscataquis. 
Cosponsored by Representative MARTIN of Sinclair and 
Senator: DUTREMBLE of York. 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  12 MRSA §10001, sub-§6, ¶¶E and M, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 414, 
Pt. A, §2 and affected by c. 614, §9, are repealed. 
Sec. 2.  12 MRSA §10001, sub-§6, ¶T, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 
and affected by c. 614, §9, is amended to read: 
T.    White sucker, (Catostomus commersoni); and 
Sec. 3.  12 MRSA §10001, sub-§6, ¶U, as amended by PL 2007, c. 159, §1, is 
repealed. 
Sec. 4.  12 MRSA §10001, sub-§§16 and 18, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. 
A, §2 and affected by c. 614, §9, are amended to read: 
16.  Eel.  "Eel" means a member of the species Anguilla rostrata in that stage of its 
life cycle when it is 6 9 inches or more in length. 
18.  Elver.  "Elver" means a member of the species Anguilla rostrata in that stage of 
its life cycle when it is less than 6 9 inches in length. 
Sec. 5.  12 MRSA §10001, sub-§36-A is enacted to read: 
36-A.  Lamprey eel.  "Lamprey eel" means the species Petromyzon marinus (sea 
lamprey). 
Sec. 6.  12 MRSA §10001, sub-§59-A is enacted to read: 
59-A.  Sucker.  "Sucker" means only the species Catostomus commersoni (white 
sucker) and the species Catostomus catostomus (longnose sucker). 
Sec. 7.  12 MRSA §10902, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 and 
affected by c. 614, §9, is amended to read: 
1.  Conviction or adjudication of violation or noncompliance with a permit 
restriction.  Any Noncompliance with a permit restriction or any conviction or 
adjudication for a violation of this Part is grounds for suspension of any license or permit 
issued under this Part.  Except where provided by law, the commissioner shall determine 
the suspension period.  To suspend a license or permit based upon a conviction or 
adjudication, the commissioner shall follow the procedures under section 10903.  A 
suspension or revocation of a license by the District Court is subject to the provisions of 
subsection 5. 
Sec. 8.  12 MRSA §12258, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 and affected 
by Pt. D, §7 and c. 614, §9 and amended by c. 655, Pt. B, §§219 and 220 and affected by 
§422, is repealed. 
Sec. 9.  12 MRSA §12506, sub-§8 is enacted to read: 
8.  Reports required. A person issued a permit under this section shall submit a 
completed report on forms provided by the department with the following information: 
water name and location, including the town and county of waters fished; date fished; 
total catch; gear type and quantity; number of crew; amount of time the gear is set; total 
gear in the water; water depth; total time the boat is on the water; species and pounds 
harvested; license number of the dealer the catch was sold to or the disposition of the 
catch; town where the catch was brought to shore; boat registration number; vessel name; 
and the harvester's name, telephone number and permit number.  The report must be 
submitted by the date specified on the permit.  All data submitted as part of the report are 
for scientific purposes only and are confidential and not part of a public record within the 
meaning of Title 1, chapter 13, subchapter 1, except that the commissioner may disclose 
data collected under this subsection if that data are released in a form that is statistical or 
general in nature. 
If a person issued a permit under this section fails to provide information required under 
this section, the commissioner may refuse to renew or may revoke that person's permit. If 
a person becomes ineligible for a permit as a result of a violation of this section, that 
person may request a hearing in accordance with section 10905. 
SUMMARY 
This bill amends and adds definitions in the inland fisheries and wildlife laws.  It 
establishes a reporting requirement for persons licensed to fish for eels, suckers, lampreys 
or yellow perch.  The reported information will be used for scientific purposes and is 
confidential.  It provides for suspension or revocation of a permit for noncompliance with 
a permit restriction.  The bill repeals a provision of law allowing eel permits to be issued 
to trappers.