2023 Maine Revised Statutes › TITLE 12: CONSERVATION › Part 9: MARINE RESOURCES › Subpart 2: LICENSING › Chapter 619: LOBSTER AND CRAB FISHING LICENSES › Subchapter 2: LIMITS ON FISHING AND PROHIBITED ACTS › 12 §6431-E. Vessel limitation

§6431-E. Vessel limitation
1.  Definitions.
As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings.
A. "Family member" means a spouse, sibling, child's spouse, parent by blood, parent by adoption, spouse's parent, child by blood, child by adoption, stepchild, stepparent, grandchild or grandparent.   [RR 2021, c. 2, Pt. B, §53 (COR).]
B. "Owner" means:
(1) An individual who is the owner of a vessel registered under chapter 935 or the owner of a vessel documented under 46 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 67;
(2) The person who owns the highest percentage of a partnership, corporation or other entity that is the owner of a vessel registered under chapter 935 or a vessel documented under 46 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 67; or
(3) When 2 or more people own in equal proportion the highest percentages of a partnership, corporation or other entity that owns a vessel registered under chapter 935 or a vessel documented under 46 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 67, one of the highest percentage owners as designated by the owners of that partnership, corporation or other entity.   [PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. B, §24 (AMD); PL 2003, c. 614, §9 (AFF).]
C. "Qualifying period" means any 46 days during 3 consecutive months in one calendar year.   [PL 1997, c. 693, §1 (NEW); PL 1997, c. 693, §3 (AFF).]
D. "Replacement vessel" means a vessel that is substituted for the use of a vessel that is no longer utilized by an individual, partnership, corporation or other entity.   [PL 1997, c. 693, §1 (NEW); PL 1997, c. 693, §3 (AFF).]
[RR 2021, c. 2, Pt. B, §53 (COR).]
2.  Owner or family member on board.
This subsection applies to a person that holds a Class I, Class II or Class III lobster and crab fishing license issued under section 6421. Except as provided in subsection 3, a vessel may not be used to fish for or take lobsters unless that vessel is owned by a Class I, Class II or Class III lobster and crab fishing license holder and:
A. The owner of that vessel is present on that vessel and has that vessel named on the owner's Class I, Class II or Class III lobster and crab fishing license; or   [PL 2009, c. 394, §7 (AMD).]
B. A family member of the vessel owner holds a Class I, Class II or Class III lobster and crab fishing license and is present on that vessel.   [PL 2009, c. 394, §7 (AMD).]
[PL 2009, c. 394, §7 (AMD).]
3.  Exemptions; individuals.
The commissioner may authorize a person to fish for or take lobsters from a vessel when an owner or family member is not on board pursuant to subsection 2 if that person holds a Class I, Class II or Class III lobster and crab fishing license and:
A. The owner of that vessel holds a Class I, Class II or Class III lobster and crab fishing license, documents to the commissioner that an illness or disability temporarily prevents that owner from fishing for or taking lobsters from that vessel, and requests in writing to the commissioner that the commissioner authorize that person to use that vessel to fish for or take lobsters and tend the owner's traps pursuant to section 6434;   [PL 1997, c. 693, §1 (NEW); PL 1997, c. 693, §3 (AFF).]
B. Is the owner of a vessel that has become temporarily inoperable because of an accident or a mechanical failure and requests in writing permission from the commissioner to use that vessel to fish for or take lobsters;   [PL 1997, c. 693, §1 (NEW); PL 1997, c. 693, §3 (AFF).]
B-1. Was the owner of a vessel that was named on that individual's Class I, Class II or Class III lobster and crab fishing license but is no longer the owner of that vessel due to sale or foreclosure. The individual must demonstrate immediate intent to become the owner of another vessel that will be used to fish for or take lobsters and request in writing permission from the commissioner to use the other vessel to fish for or take lobsters for a limited period of time;   [PL 2013, c. 468, §15 (NEW).]
C. Documents to the commissioner by December 31, 2000 that that person fished for or took lobsters during the qualifying period in each of calendar years 1995, 1996 and 1997 from the same vessel and that vessel did not have on board an individual who meets the criteria of subsection 2, paragraph A or B. A person may not qualify for the exemption under this paragraph unless that person continues to fish for or take lobsters from the vessel from which the person harvested lobsters during the qualifying period in each of calendar years 1995, 1996 and 1997, or from a replacement vessel;   [PL 2001, c. 195, §1 (AMD).]
D. An individual, partnership, corporation or other entity documents to the commissioner by December 31, 2000 that that individual or partnership, corporation or other entity rented, leased or otherwise made available that vessel to the holder of a Class I, Class II or Class III lobster and crab fishing license during the qualifying period in each of calendar years 1995, 1996 and 1997 for the purpose of fishing for or taking lobsters. A person authorized under this paragraph may fish for or take lobsters only from the vessel that was made available during the qualifying period in each of calendar years 1995, 1996 and 1997, or a replacement vessel; or   [PL 2001, c. 195, §1 (AMD).]
E. The person is licensed by the United States Coast Guard to operate a passenger-carrying vessel in coastal waters. The vessel must be inspected by the United States Coast Guard and documented and licensed by the United States Coast Guard to carry passengers. By June 30, 2001, the owner of the vessel shall document to the commissioner that the vessel was utilized to fish for or take lobsters with paying passengers on board during the qualifying period in each of calendar years 1995, 1996 and 1997. The owner of the vessel shall notify the commissioner in writing on an annual basis, prior to the vessel being utilized to fish for or take lobsters, of the name and lobster license number of any person who will be using the vessel to fish for lobster during that calendar year. A person authorized under this paragraph may fish for or take lobsters only from the vessel that was made available during the qualifying period in each of calendar years 1995, 1996 and 1997, or a replacement vessel. No more than 40 lobster traps may be fished from that vessel.   [PL 2001, c. 195, §2 (NEW).]
[PL 2013, c. 468, §15 (AMD).]
4.  Rules.
The commissioner may adopt rules to implement and administer this section. Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules pursuant to Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter II‑A.
[PL 1997, c. 693, §1 (NEW); PL 1997, c. 693, §3 (AFF).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 1997, c. 693, §1 (NEW). PL 1997, c. 693, §3 (AFF). PL 1999, c. 26, §1 (AMD). PL 2001, c. 195, §§1,2 (AMD). PL 2003, c. 414, §B24 (AMD). PL 2003, c. 414, §D7 (AFF). PL 2003, c. 614, §9 (AFF). PL 2009, c. 394, §7 (AMD). PL 2013, c. 468, §15 (AMD). RR 2021, c. 2, Pt. B, §53 (COR).