2011 Maine Revised Statutes
TITLE 12: CONSERVATION
Chapter 623: SHELLFISH, SCALLOPS, WORMS AND MISCELLANEOUS LICENSES
12 §6601. Commercial shellfish license

Part 9: MARINE RESOURCES

Subpart 2: LICENSING

Subchapter 1: SHELLFISH

§6601. Commercial shellfish license

1. License required. A person may not engage in the activities authorized under this section without a current commercial shellfish license or other license issued under this Part authorizing the activities.

[ 2005, c. 434, §4 (AMD) .]

2. Licensed activities. The holder of a commercial shellfish license may fish for, take, possess or transport shellfish within the state limits or sell shellstock the holder has taken to a wholesale seafood license holder certified under section 6856 or an enhanced retail seafood license holder under section 6852-A. The holder may also sell shellstock the holder has taken from that license holder's home in the retail trade. This license does not authorize the holder to fish for or take shellfish in violation of a municipal ordinance adopted pursuant to section 6671.

[ 2009, c. 217, §1 (AMD) .]

2-A. Licensed activities; aquaculture. The holder of a commercial shellfish license who is also the holder or authorized representative of a holder of a lease issued under section 6072, 6072-A or 6072-B or a license issued under section 6072-C and personnel who are operating under the authority of such a holder of a commercial shellfish license may remove, possess, transport within the state limits or sell cultured shellfish the holder has removed from the leased area or the licensed gear to a wholesale seafood license holder certified under section 6856. Such a holder of a commercial shellfish license may also sell such shellstock from that license holder's home in the retail trade. The department shall establish by rule a means to identify personnel operating under the authority of such a license holder. Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.

[ 2007, c. 522, §3 (NEW) .]

3. Eligibility. A commercial shellfish license may be issued only to an individual who is a resident.

[ 2005, c. 434, §4 (AMD) .]

4. Personal use exception. A person may take or possess no more than one peck of shellstock or 3 bushels of "hen" or "surf" clams for personal use in one day without a license, unless municipal ordinances further limit the taking of shellfish. This subsection does not apply to individuals whose ability to obtain a shellfish license has been suspended by the commissioner.

[ 2007, c. 54, §1 (AMD) .]

5. Fee. Except as provided in subsection 5-A, the fee for a commercial shellfish license is $133.

[ 2009, c. 213, Pt. G, §13 (AMD) .]

5-A. Exception. The fee for a commercial shellfish license for applicants 70 years of age or older is $67.

[ 2009, c. 213, Pt. G, §14 (AMD) .]

6. Definition. For the purposes of this subchapter, "shellfish" means shellstock clams, quahogs other than mahogany quahogs, and oyster shellstock.

[ 2005, c. 434, §4 (AMD) .]

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, §39 (NEW); 2001, c. 421, Pt. C, §1 (AFF) .]

SECTION HISTORY

1977, c. 661, §5 (NEW). 1979, c. 163, (AMD). 1981, c. 297, §3 (AMD). 1981, c. 480, §§4,15,16 (AMD). 1983, c. 824, §K3 (AMD). 1985, c. 243, (AMD). 1987, c. 328, §1 (AMD). 1987, c. 826, §1 (AMD). 1989, c. 348, §5 (AMD). 1991, c. 528, §RRR (AFF). 1991, c. 528, §T4 (AMD). 1991, c. 591, §T4 (AMD). 1993, c. 281, §1 (AMD). 2001, c. 421, §§B35-39 (AMD). 2001, c. 421, §C1 (AFF). 2003, c. 20, §WW11 (AMD). 2005, c. 233, §§1,2 (AMD). 2005, c. 434, §4 (AMD). 2007, c. 54, §1 (AMD). 2007, c. 466, Pt. A, §§34, 35 (AMD). 2007, c. 522, §3 (AMD). 2009, c. 213, Pt. G, §§13, 14 (AMD). 2009, c. 217, §1 (AMD).