An Act to Provide for a Vessel Breakdown License Exception for
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 0489
Sponsors: STROUT, MOORE
Amends: 12 MRSA §6506

Legislative Document
No. 489
H.P. 318
House of Representatives, February 11, 2025
An Act to Provide for a Vessel Breakdown License Exception for 
Commercial Halibut Fishing License Holders
(EMERGENCY)
Received by the Clerk of the House on February 6, 2025.  Referred to the Committee on 
Marine Resources pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed pursuant to Joint Rule 401.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative STROUT of Harrington.
Cosponsored by Senator MOORE of Washington and
Representatives: DRINKWATER of Milford, LYMAN of Livermore Falls, QUINT of 
Hodgdon, TUELL of East Machias, Senator: RENY 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, this legislation must take effect before May 18, 2025, the beginning of the 
the 2025 commercial halibut fishing season; 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 §6506, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 2021, c. 627, §5, is amended to 
read:
2.  Licensed activity; commercial license.  The holder of a commercial halibut fishing 
license issued under subsection 1 may fish for, take, possess, ship, transport or sell halibut 
that the holder has taken using the vessel named on the license. Crew members aboard a 
license holder’s vessel may fish for, take, possess, ship or transport halibut only if the 
license provides for crew members.
Sec. 2.  12 MRSA §6506, sub-§2-A is enacted to read:
2-A.  Exception to using vessel named on license holder's license for commercial 
license holders.  Notwithstanding subsection 2, the commissioner may temporarily 
authorize a holder of a commercial halibut fishing license to use a vessel other than the 
vessel named on that license holder's license to fish for, take, possess, ship or transport 
halibut if the license holder documents to the commissioner that the vessel named on that 
license holder's license has become temporarily inoperable because of an accident or a 
mechanical failure and requests in writing to the commissioner that the commissioner 
authorize the use of another vessel to fish for or take halibut. The commissioner's 
authorization may require the license holder to fish for, take, possess and land halibut 
separately from any halibut taken under another license listing the same vessel to ensure 
that harvest limits are not exceeded. An authorization granted by the commissioner to a 
license holder due to an accident or a mechanical failure may not exceed 2 weeks.  The 
commissioner may authorize one 2-week extension per license holder during the 
commercial halibut fishing season.
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation 
takes effect when approved.
SUMMARY
This bill provides that the holder of a commercial halibut fishing license may fish for, 
take, possess, ship, transport or sell halibut that the holder has taken using only the vessel 
named on the license. The bill also provides an exception to this provision.  It allows a 
commercial halibut fishing license holder to request authorization from the Commissioner 
of Marine Resources to use a vessel other than the vessel identified on that license holder's 
license when that license holder's vessel is temporarily inoperable.