Section 6501 - Commercial fishing license1.License required. A person may not engage in the activities authorized under this section without a current: A. Commercial fishing license for a resident operator; [2003, c. 452, Pt. F, §10(NEW); 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2(AFF).]B. Commercial fishing license for a resident operator and all crew members; [2003, c. 452, Pt. F, §10(NEW); 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2(AFF).]C. Commercial fishing license for a nonresident operator and all crew members; or [2003, c. 452, Pt. F, §10(NEW); 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2(AFF).]D. Other license under this Part authorizing the activities. [2003, c. 452, Pt. F, §10(NEW); 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2(AFF).] [2003, c. 452, Pt. F, §10(AMD); 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2(AFF).]
2.Licensed activity. The holder of a commercial fishing license may fish for or take fish or possess, ship, transport or sell fish that the holder has taken. The license authorizes crew members aboard the licensee's boat when it is engaged in commercial fishing to undertake these activities, if the license provides for crew members. [2001, c. 421, Pt. B, §25(AMD); 2001, c. 421, Pt. C, §1(AFF).]
3.Exemptions. The licensing requirement under subsection 1 does not apply to activities described in this subsection. A. A person may fish for, take, possess or transport any species of fish if they have been taken by speargun, harpoon, minnow trap, hand dip net or hook and line and are only for personal use. [2001, c. 421, Pt. B, §25(AMD); 2001, c. 421, Pt. C, §1(AFF).]B. [MRSA T. 12 § 6501, sub-§ 3, ¶B (RP); 2021, c. 627, §3(AMD).]C. [2011, c. 266, Pt. A, §15(RP).] [2021, c. 627, §3(AMD).]
4.Eligibility. A commercial fishing license may be issued only to an individual. [2001, c. 421, Pt. B, §25(AMD); 2001, c. 421, Pt. C, §1(AFF).]
5.Fees. Fees for commercial fishing licenses are: A. Forty-eight dollars for resident operator; [2009, c. 213, Pt. G, §5(AMD).]B. One hundred twenty-eight dollars for resident operator and all crew members; and [2009, c. 213, Pt. G, §5(AMD).]C. Four hundred eighty-one dollars for nonresident operator and all crew members. [2009, c. 213, Pt. G, §5(AMD).] [2009, c. 213, Pt. G, §5(AMD).]
6.Definition. For the purposes of this chapter, "fish" means all marine finfish except Atlantic herring, Atlantic menhaden, whiting, spiny dogfish, river herring, Atlantic mackerel, blueback herring, squid, butterfish, scup, black sea bass, smelt, shad and Atlantic halibut. For the purposes of this chapter, "fish" also means all other marine organisms, except lobsters, crabs, sea urchins, shellfish, scallops, marine worms, elvers, sea cucumbers, eels, shrimp or seaweed. [2021, c. 627, §4(AMD); 2021, c. 627, §7(AFF).]
7.License freeze.[1979, c. 25(NEW); MRSA T. 12 § 6501, sub-§ 7 (RP).]
8.Violation. A person who violates this section commits a civil violation for which a forfeiture of not less than $100 nor more than $500 may be adjudged. [2001, c. 421, Pt. B, §25(NEW); 2001, c. 421, Pt. C, §1(AFF).]
Amended by 2022, c. 627,§ 4, eff. 1/1/2023.Amended by 2022, c. 627,§ 3, eff. 8/8/2022.Amended by 2012, c. 598,§ 21, eff. 4/6/2012.Amended by 2011, c. 266,§§ A-14 through A-16, eff. 9/28/2011.1977, c. 661, § 5 (NEW) . 1979, c. 25, (AMD) . 1981, c. 480, §§3,15,16 (AMD) . 1983, c. 301, § 7 (AMD) . 1983, c. 824, §K3 (AMD) . 1985, c. 243, (AMD) . 1985, c. 379, § 2 (AMD) . 1985, c. 659, (AMD) . 1991, c. 528, §RRR (AFF) . 1991, c. 528, §T2 (AMD) . 1991, c. 591, §T2 (AMD) . 1995, c. 536, §A6 (AMD) . 1997, c. 19, § 5 (AMD) . 1999, c. 491, § 4 (AMD) . 2001, c. 272, § 7 (AMD) . 2001, c. 421, §B25 (AMD) . 2001, c. 421, §C1 (AFF) . 2003, c. 20, §WW6 (AMD) . 2003, c. 452, §F10 (AMD) . 2003, c. 452, §X2 (AFF) . 2009, c. 213, Pt. G, §5 (AMD) . MRSA T.12, §6501, sub-§7 (AMD) .