Maine § 12 §6432 Methods of fishing

Maine Statutes

§ 12 §6432 — Methods of fishing

Maine § 12 §6432

Title 12CONSERVATION

Part 9MARINE RESOURCES

Ch. 619LOBSTER AND CRAB FISHING LICENSES

This text of Maine § 12 §6432 (Methods of fishing) 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 §6432 (2026).

Text

1.Conventional traps. A person may not fish for or take lobster by any method other than conventional lobster traps, as defined in rule, or from any platform other than a vessel. A vessel does not include a dock.

2.Marking. A lobster or crab trap or trawl must be marked by a lobster buoy as described in subsections 3 and 4. The buoy must be visible at the surface. A person may not:

3.Color design. It is unlawful to set, raise, lift or transfer any lobster trap unless the color design of the attached buoy is the same as the color design that is on file with the license application and is displayed on the boat, or unless the person is duly licensed and possesses written permission from the rightful owner of the lobster trap or buoy. Prior notification of changes in buoy color design must

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1.
Conventional traps.
A person may not fish for or take lobster by any method other than conventional lobster traps, as defined in rule, or from any platform other than a vessel. A vessel does not include a dock.
2.
Marking.
A lobster or crab trap or trawl must be marked by a lobster buoy as described in subsections 3 and 4. The buoy must be visible at the surface. A person may not:
3.
Color design.
It is unlawful to set, raise, lift or transfer any lobster trap unless the color design of the attached buoy is the same as the color design that is on file with the license application and is displayed on the boat, or unless the person is duly licensed and possesses written permission from the rightful owner of the lobster trap or buoy. Prior notification of changes in buoy color design must be provided to the commissioner. The Bureau of Marine Patrol may require the alteration of an individual's lobster and crab fishing buoy color design if a marine patrol officer has determined that the buoy color design is not distinct and distinguishable from the buoy color designs of the individual's family members as defined by section 6431‑E.
4.
Design display.
The buoy color design shall be displayed on the boat as follows:
5.
Penalty for possession.
Possession of lobsters other than caught by the method specified in subsection 1 is a Class D crime, except that in addition to any punishment that may be imposed under Title 17‑A, Part 6, the court shall impose a fine of $500 for each violation and, in addition, a fine of $100 for each lobster involved, up to and including the first 5, and a fine of $200 for each lobster in excess of 5, or, if the number of lobsters cannot be determined, a fine of not less than $1,000 or more than $5,000.

Legislative History

PL 1977, c. 661, §5 (NEW). PL 1989, c. 413, §1 (AMD). PL 1999, c. 82, §2 (AMD). PL 2003, c. 520, §4 (AMD). PL 2007, c. 201, §14 (AMD). PL 2009, c. 394, §9 (AMD). PL 2011, c. 266, Pt. A, §§11, 12 (AMD). PL 2013, c. 468, §18 (AMD). PL 2017, c. 197, §10 (AMD). PL 2019, c. 113, Pt. C, §11 (AMD).