Code of Maine Rules › 13 - DEPARTMENT OF MARINE RESOURCES › 188 - MARINE RESOURCES - GENERAL › Chapter 25 - LOBSTER AND CRAB REGULATIONS › Section 188-25-11 - Lobster and Crab Bait Review Process

Current through 2024-29, July 17, 2024
It shall be unlawful to sell or use any marine or freshwater
				  organism as bait to fish for or take lobsters or crabs that has not been
				  reviewed and approved by the Department of Marine Resources.
An individual may apply for the review of a bait source to
				  the Department of Marine Resources on forms supplied by the Commissioner. The
				  Department will provide a written response within 60 days, whether the bait
				  will be placed on the "approved" freshwater list or "prohibited" marine list. A
				  freshwater organism that has been reviewed and not listed as "approved" is
				  prohibited as bait. A marine organism that has been listed as "prohibited" is
				  also prohibited as bait.
Application forms and lists of "approved" freshwater and
				  "prohibited" marine bait will be made available on the Department's website at
http://www.maine.gov/dmr/rm/lobster/index.htm
or by contacting the DMR Lobster Resource Coordinator at (207) 624-6550.
A.
Application Process
Applications for approval shall contain the following
				  information about the bait source:
Name, address, email, and phone number of the
					 applicant;
										Species including scientific name;
										Life cycle stage;
										Body part;
										Farm raised or wild;
										Relevant certifications (disease or pest free, hazard
					 analysis & critical control point, etc.);
										Area of origin;
										Proposed date(s) of removal;
										Intermediate processing location(s) and contact
					 information of processing facility, if applicable and
										Additional information necessary to determine if a bait
					 source is safe for aquatic and human populations.
B.
Review
The Commissioner shall evaluate the level of risk associated
				  with the proposed introduction of a bait source into the marine environment by
				  considering the potential impacts to the marine ecosystem and consumers. Each
				  evaluation shall consider the probable effects of the introduction of the bait
				  into the recipient area, including, but not limited to:
1. The effects of any previous introduction
				of the same or a similar species in Maine or other areas;
2. The relationship of the species of aquatic
				organism to be introduced with other members of the recipient area ecosystem;
				and
3. The potential effects of
				infectious or contagious pathogens, pests, parasites, or invasive species that
				might be associated with the species of aquatic organism to be introduced upon
				other members of the ecosystem of the recipient area.
The Commissioner may conditionally approve a bait source by
				  establishing conditions necessary to prevent the spread of infectious or
				  contagious pathogens, pests, parasites, or invasive species to aquatic or human
				  populations. The Commissioner may remove a bait source from either list at any
				  time in response to changed conditions or additional information that merits
				  reconsideration of the initial review.
If a species/location is placed on the "prohibited" marine
				  list or not included on the "approved" freshwater list, the applicant may
				  petition for a permit to import the bait, subject to testing requirements,
				  proof of chain of custody and/or other information as requested by the
				  Commissioner.
The Department shall annually review and update the
				  "approved" freshwater and "prohibited" marine bait lists.