APPROVED CHAPTER
MARCH 25, 2024 562
BY GOVERNOR PUBLIC LAW
STATE OF MAINE
_____
IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD
TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-FOUR
_____
S.P. 853 - L.D. 2025
An Act to Provide for Medical and Vessel Breakdown License Exceptions for
Commercial Menhaden License Holders
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §6502-C, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 2019, c. 640, §4, is amended
to read:
2. Licensed activity; commercial license. The holder of a commercial menhaden
fishing license may fish for, take, possess, ship, transport or sell menhaden that the holder
has taken using the vessel named on the license. A commercial menhaden fishing license
also authorizes the crew members aboard the vessel named on the license to fish for, take,
possess, ship or transport menhaden when the license holder is aboard the vessel.
Sec. 2. 12 MRSA §6502-C, sub-§2-A is enacted to read:
2-A. License exception; illness, disability. Notwithstanding subsection 2, the
commissioner may temporarily authorize an individual other than the holder of a
commercial menhaden fishing license to fish for, take, possess, ship, transport or sell
menhaden when the license holder is not present if the license holder documents to the
commissioner that an illness or disability temporarily prevents the license holder from
fishing for or taking menhaden and requests in writing to the commissioner that the
commissioner authorize another holder of a commercial menhaden fishing license to fish
for or take menhaden from the license holder's vessel or the vessel named on the
temporarily authorized license holder's license. The commissioner's authorization may
require the temporarily authorized license holder to fish for, take, possess and land
menhaden separately from the temporarily authorized license holder's own menhaden to
ensure that harvest limits are not exceeded. A temporary authorization granted by the
commissioner to another license holder due to the illness or disability of the license holder
may not exceed one menhaden fishing season.
Sec. 3. 12 MRSA §6502-C, sub-§2-B is enacted to read:
2-B. Exception to using the vessel named on the license holder's license for
commercial license holders. Notwithstanding subsection 2, the commissioner may
temporarily authorize a holder of a commercial menhaden fishing license to use a vessel
Page 1 - 131LR2680(03)
other than the vessel named on that license holder's license to fish for, take, possess, ship
or transport menhaden 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 menhaden. The
commissioner's authorization may require the license holder to fish for, take, possess and
land menhaden separately from any menhaden 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 menhaden fishing season.
Sec. 4. 12 MRSA §6502-C, sub-§3, as enacted by PL 2019, c. 640, §4, is amended
to read:
3. Licensed activity; noncommercial license. The holder of a noncommercial
menhaden fishing license may fish for, take or possess menhaden that the holder has taken
using the vessel named on the license. A noncommercial menhaden fishing license
authorizes the crew members aboard the vessel named on the license to fish for, take or
possess menhaden when the license holder is aboard the vessel.
Page 2 - 131LR2680(03)


Statutes affected:
Bill Text LD 2025, SP 853: 12.6502
Bill Text ACTPUB , Chapter 562: 12.6502