Maine § 12 §12506 Eel, sucker, lamprey and yellow perch harvesting method permit; elver prohibition; limitations on river herring harvesting

Maine Statutes

§ 12 §12506 — Eel, sucker, lamprey and yellow perch harvesting method permit; elver prohibition; limitations on river herring harvesting

Maine § 12 §12506

Title 12CONSERVATION

Part 13INLAND FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE

Ch. 923FISH: FISHING SEASONS AND RESTRICTIONS

This text of Maine § 12 §12506 (Eel, sucker, lamprey and yellow perch harvesting method permit; elver prohibition; limitations on river herring harvesting) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Maine primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 12, § 12 §12506 (2026).

Text

1.Permit required. Except as otherwise authorized pursuant to this Part and except as provided in subsection 5‑A, a person may not fish for or possess the following fish using the harvesting methods listed in subsection 2 without a valid permit issued under this section:

2.Issuance. The commissioner may adopt rules providing for the issuance of permits to fish for or possess the following fish using the following harvesting methods in the inland waters of the State, provided the permits do not interfere with any rights granted under section 6131:

3.Fees; transfer of permit. The minimum fee for an individual permit for suckers, lampreys and yellow perch is $44. The holder of an individual permit for suckers, lampreys or yellow perch may purchase a crew permit for suckers, lampreys and ye

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

1.
Permit required.
Except as otherwise authorized pursuant to this Part and except as provided in subsection 5‑A, a person may not fish for or possess the following fish using the harvesting methods listed in subsection 2 without a valid permit issued under this section:
2.
Issuance.
The commissioner may adopt rules providing for the issuance of permits to fish for or possess the following fish using the following harvesting methods in the inland waters of the State, provided the permits do not interfere with any rights granted under section 6131:
3.
Fees; transfer of permit.
The minimum fee for an individual permit for suckers, lampreys and yellow perch is $44. The holder of an individual permit for suckers, lampreys or yellow perch may purchase a crew permit for suckers, lampreys and yellow perch for $102, authorizing up to 3 persons to engage in the permitted activity. The annual fee for an eel pot or weir permit is $102. An eel pot or eel weir permit is not transferable.
4.
Five-year limited entry; eel weirs.
A person is ineligible to receive an eel weir permit unless that person possessed a valid eel weir permit for calendar year 1995. The department shall adopt routine technical rules pursuant to Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2‑A regarding the issuance of eel weir permits. The number of weirs and the number of square miles of watersheds in this State fished by eel weirs may be no more than those permitted in calendar year 1995.
5.
Exception to permit requirement.
5-A.
Limitations on river herring harvesting.
Except as provided in this subsection a person may not harvest river herring.
5-B.
Harvesting suckers for bait without a permit.
Notwithstanding subsection 1, a person may take suckers for use as bait for fishing in inland waters as provided in section 12551‑A without a permit under subsection 2.
6.
Eels and elvers prohibitions.
The following prohibitions apply to the harvesting of eels and elvers in inland waters.
7.
Other harvesting methods for suckers.
Notwithstanding subsection 1, a person licensed or otherwise entitled to fish in Maine waters may take suckers for that person's use in all rivers, brooks and streams that are open to fishing between April 1st and June 30th of each calendar year by the use of a hand spear, by archery equipment or by snagging.
8.
Reports required.
A person issued a permit under this section shall submit a completed report on forms provided by the department with the following information: water name and location, including the town and county of waters fished; date fished; total catch; gear type and quantity; number of crew; amount of time the gear is set; total gear in the water; water depth; total time the boat is on the water; species and pounds harvested; license number of the dealer the catch was sold to or the disposition of the catch; town where the catch was brought to shore; boat registration number; vessel name; and the harvester's name, telephone number and permit number. A holder of an eel permit must submit the report by the date specified on the permit. A holder of a sucker, lamprey or yellow perch permit must submit the report by December 31st of each year. All data submitted as part of the report are for scientific purposes only and are confidential and not part of a public record within the meaning of Title 1, chapter 13, subchapter 1, except that the commissioner may disclose data collected under this subsection if released in a form that is statistical or general in nature.

Legislative History

PL 2003, c. 414, §A2 (NEW). PL 2003, c. 414, §D7 (AFF). PL 2003, c. 614, §9 (AFF). PL 2003, c. 655, §B253 (RPR). PL 2003, c. 655, §B422 (AFF). PL 2005, c. 12, §III26 (AMD). PL 2005, c. 397, §E8 (AMD). PL 2005, c. 683, §§A16-18 (AMD). PL 2007, c. 463, §6 (AMD). PL 2007, c. 463, §9 (AFF). PL 2011, c. 253, §29 (AMD). PL 2013, c. 148, §§1, 2 (AMD). PL 2015, c. 298, §8 (AMD). PL 2015, c. 494, Pt. A, §9 (AMD). PL 2017, c. 150, §4 (AMD). PL 2023, c. 239, §34 (AMD).