An Act to Allocate Commercial Menhaden Fishing Licenses for Island Communities

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132nd MAINE LEGISLATURE
FIRST SPECIAL SESSION-2025
Legislative Document No. 1678
H.P. 1113 House of Representatives, April 17, 2025
An Act to Allocate Commercial Menhaden Fishing Licenses for
Island Communities
Reference to the Committee on Marine Resources suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative EATON of Deer Isle.
Cosponsored by Senator GROHOSKI of Hancock and
Representatives: BISHOP of Bucksport, CROCKETT of Portland, RAY of Lincolnville,
RIELLY of Westbrook.

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1Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
2Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §6502-C, sub-§2-C is enacted to read:
32-C. Commercial license; island communities. Notwithstanding subsection 1-B, the
4 commissioner shall allocate one commercial menhaden fishing license for each of the
5 following island communities to be issued to an applicant who is a resident of each
6 community:
7 A. Chebeague Island;
8 B. Cliff Island;
9 C. Frenchboro;
10 D. Great Cranberry Island;
11 E. Isle au Haut;
12 F. Islesboro;
13 G. Islesford;
14 H. Long Island in Casco Bay;
15 I. Matinicus Isle;
16 J. Monhegan;
17 K. North Haven;
18 L. Peaks Island;
19 M. Swan's Island; and
20 N. Vinalhaven.
21 A license issued pursuant to this subsection may not be transferred to a resident of an island
22 community other than the community to which the commissioner allocated the license. If
23 a license that is allocated for an island community goes unissued for 3 consecutive years,
24 the commissioner may reallocate that license to another community listed under this
25 subsection.
26 The commissioner shall work with the municipal officers of the island communities listed
27 under this subsection and with relevant local organizations within those communities to
28 implement and administer this subsection, including verifying applicant residency,
29 facilitating the allocation of licenses and identifying the need for additional licenses to be
30 issued as incentives to attract year-round residents.
31SUMMARY
32 This bill directs the Commissioner of Marine Resources to allocate one commercial
33 menhaden fishing license each for certain island communities to be issued to an applicant
34 who is a resident of each community. The bill prohibits a license issued to a resident of an
35 island community from being transferred to a resident of a community other than the
36 community to which the commissioner allocated the license. The bill also allows the
37 commissioner to reallocate a license that goes unissued for 3 consecutive years to another
38 island community and directs the commissioner to work with the municipal officers of the
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39 island communities and relevant organizations within the communities to implement and
40 administer the provisions of the bill.
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