An Act To Promote Biosecurity and Better Regulate the Importation, Possession and Use of Aquatic Species
Maine Legislature, Session 128, LD 1451
Committee: Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
Sponsors: VOLK
Amends: 12 MRSA §12152, 38 MRSA §410-N

Legislative Document
No. 1451
S.P. 502
In Senate, April 13, 2017
An Act To Promote Biosecurity and Better Regulate the 
Importation, Possession and Use of Aquatic Species
Reference to the Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife suggested and ordered 
printed.
HEATHER J.R. PRIEST
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator VOLK of Cumberland.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  12 MRSA §12152, sub-§2-A is enacted to read: 
2-A.  Prohibition on certain amphibians and aquatic invertebrates.  A person 
may not introduce, import or possess the following amphibians and aquatic invertebrates 
in the State unless a permit is issued by the commissioner under this section: 
A.  Any species of freshwater clam, or any species in the Corbicula genus; 
B.  Zebra mussel, Dreissena polymorpha; 
C.  Freshwater Asian gold clam, Pilsbryoconcha exilis; 
D.  Red swamp crayfish, Procambrarus clarkii; or 
E.  African clawed frog, Xenopus laevis. 
Sec. 2.  12 MRSA §12152, sub-§2-B is enacted to read: 
2-B.  Aquarium species.  Except as provided in paragraph A, a permit is not required 
to introduce, import or possess fish when those fish are kept in an aquarium. 
A.  A person may not introduce, import or possess the following fish species unless a 
permit is issued by the commissioner under this section: 
(1)  Amur catfish, Parasilurus asotus; 
(2)  Anjumara, Hoplias aimara; 
(3)  Arapaima, or any species in the Arapaima genus; 
(4)  Asian redtail catfish, Hemibagrus wyckioide; 
(5)  Bala shark, Balantiocheilos melanopterus; 
(6)  Bighead carp, Hypophthalmichthys nobilis; 
(7)  Black bass, or any species in the Micropterus genus; 
(8)  Black carp, Mylopharyngodon piceus; 
(9)  Black crappie, Pomoxis nigromaculatus; 
(10)  Blue catfish, Ictalurus furcatus; 
(11)  Blue tilapia, Oreochromis aureus; 
(12)  Bowfin, Amia calva; 
(13)  Brown bullhead, Ameiurus nebulosus; 
(14)  Catla, Catla catla; 
(15)  Channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus; 
(16)  Chinese high fin banded shark, Myxocyprinus asiaticus; 
(17)  Chinese paddlefish, Psephurus gladius; 
(18)  Columbian shark, Arius jordani; 
(19)  Common carp, Cyprinus carpio; 
(20)  Common pleco, Hypostomus plecostomus; 
(21)  Crucian carp, Carassius carassius; 
(22)  Dace, or any species in the Leuciscus genus; 
(23)  Flathead grey mullet, Mugil cephalus; 
(24)  Freshwater drum, Aplodinotus grunniens; 
(25)  Gar, or any species in the Lepisosteidae family; 
(26)  Giant barb, Catlocarpio siamensis; 
(27)  Giant freshwater stingray, Himantura polylepis; 
(28)  Gizzard shad, Dorosoma cepedianum; 
(29)  Goliath tigerfish, Hydrocynus goliath; 
(30)  Goonch, Bagarius yarrelli; 
(31)  Grass carp, Ctenopharyngodon idella; 
(32)  Iridescent shark, or any species in the Pangasianodon genus; 
(33)  Mahseer, Tor tor; 
(34)  Mekong giant catfish, Pangasianodon gigas; 
(35)  Mrigal carp, Cirrhinus mrigala; 
(36)  Northern pike, Esox lucius; 
(37)  Orangefin labeo, Labeo calbasu; 
(38)  Pacu, Piaractus brachypomus; 
(39)  Redtail catfish, Phractocephalus hemioliopterus; 
(40)  Rock bass, Ambloplites rupestris; 
(41)  Rohu, Labeo rohita; 
(42)  Round goby, Neogobius melanostomus; 
(43)  Rudd, Scardinius erythrophthalmus; 
(44)  Silver carp, Hypophthalmichthys molitrix; 
(45)  Snakehead, or any species in the Channidae family; 
(46)  Sturgeon, or any species in the Acipenseridae family; 
(47)  Sunfish, or any species in the Lepomis genus; 
(48)  Tench, Tinca tinca; 
(49)  Walking catfish, Clarias batrachus; 
(50)  Wels catfish, Silurus glanis; 
(51)  Western mosquitofish, Gambusia affinis; or 
(52)  White bass, Morone chrysops. 
Sec. 3.  38 MRSA §410-N, sub-§4 is enacted to read: 
4.  Prohibited aquatic plants.  A person may not introduce, import, transport or 
possess the following aquatic plants in the State: 
A.  Fanwort, Cabomba caroliniana; 
B.  Brazilian elodea, Egeria densa; 
C.  Hydrilla, Hydrilla verticillata; 
D.  Frogbit, Hydrocharis morsus-ranae; 
E.  Parrot feather, Myriophyllum aquaticum; 
F.  Brazilian water milfoil, Myriophyllum proserpinacoides; 
G.  Variable-leaf water milfoil, Myriophyllum heterophyllum; 
H.  Two-leaf water milfoil, Myriophyllum pinnatum; 
I.  Eurasian water milfoil, Myriophyllum spicatum; 
J.  European naiad, Najas minor; 
K.  Yellow floating heart, Nymphoides peltata; 
L.  Curly pondweed, Potamogeton crispus; or 
M.  Water chestnut, Trapa natans. 
SUMMARY 
This bill prohibits certain fish, amphibians and aquatic invertebrates from being 
introduced, imported or possessed by a person in the State unless a permit to do so has 
been issued by the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.  The bill provides that 
a permit is not required to introduce, import or possess other fish species kept in an 
aquarium.  The bill prohibits the introduction, importation, transportation and possession 
of certain aquatic plants in the State.