2013 Maine Revised Statutes
TITLE 12: CONSERVATION
Chapter 619: LOBSTER AND CRAB FISHING LICENSES
12 §6432-A. Bait

Part 9: MARINE RESOURCES
Subpart 2: LICENSING
Subchapter 2: LIMITS ON FISHING AND PROHIBITED ACTS

6432-A. Bait

1. Offal prohibited. A person may not use offal as bait to fish for or take lobster or crabs. For the purposes of this section, "offal" means the carcass, waste parts, renderings or remains of a wild or domesticated animal that is not a marine organism, but does not include animal hide from which the hair has been removed.

[ 2005, c. 203, 2 (NEW); 2005, c. 203, 3 (AFF) .]

2. Prima facie evidence. The possession of offal or a marine organism prohibited pursuant to subsection 4 while fishing for or taking lobster or crabs is prima facie evidence of a violation of this section.

[ 2011, c. 475, 1 (AMD) .]

3. Exception for freshwater organisms. Notwithstanding subsection 1, a person may use a freshwater organism as bait to fish for or take lobster or crabs if that freshwater organism and the location from which that freshwater organism has been harvested have been identified as acceptable on a list maintained by the commissioner pursuant to subsection 5.

[ 2011, c. 475, 2 (NEW) .]

4. Use of marine organism as bait. The commissioner may prohibit the use of marine organisms as bait to fish for or take lobster or crabs. A marine organism prohibited pursuant to this subsection and the location from which that marine organism is harvested must be identified on a list maintained by the commissioner pursuant to subsection 5.

[ 2011, c. 475, 2 (NEW) .]

5. Lists of freshwater organisms acceptable as bait and prohibited marine organisms. The commissioner may maintain a list of freshwater organisms that are acceptable as bait to fish for or take lobster or crabs, including the location from which those freshwater organisms are harvested. The commissioner may maintain a list of marine organisms that are prohibited as bait to fish for or take lobster or crabs, including the location from which those marine organisms are harvested. The commissioner may adopt routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A that contain the criteria for inclusion on the lists.

[ 2011, c. 475, 2 (NEW) .]

SECTION HISTORY

2005, c. 203, 2 (NEW). 2005, c. 203, 3 (AFF). 2011, c. 475, 1, 2 (AMD).