An island limited-entry program may be established pursuant to this section in order to maintain a number of licenses appropriate for the needs of an island community and the local lobster resource.
1.Proposal to the commissioner.
Notwithstanding section 6448, subsection 7‑A, a year-round island community may petition the commissioner for the establishment of an island limited-entry zone program if a minimum of 5 island residents that are holders of a Class I, Class II or Class III lobster and crab fishing license or 10% of the island residents that are holders of a Class I, Class II or Class III lobster and crab fishing license, whichever is greater, signs the petition submitted to the commissioner. If a majority of the Class I, Class II or Class III lobster and crab fishing license hold
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An island limited-entry program may be established pursuant to this section in order to maintain a number of licenses appropriate for the needs of an island community and the local lobster resource.
1.
Proposal to the commissioner.
Notwithstanding section 6448, subsection 7‑A, a year-round island community may petition the commissioner for the establishment of an island limited-entry zone program if a minimum of 5 island residents that are holders of a Class I, Class II or Class III lobster and crab fishing license or 10% of the island residents that are holders of a Class I, Class II or Class III lobster and crab fishing license, whichever is greater, signs the petition submitted to the commissioner. If a majority of the Class I, Class II or Class III lobster and crab fishing license holders that are residents on the island voting in a referendum held pursuant to section 6447, subsection 6 support the establishment of an island limited-entry zone program, the commissioner may adopt rules to establish such a program, including a waiting list. Before establishing or amending the number of licenses available to island residents, the commissioner shall determine the number of licenses preferred by a majority of the Class I, Class II or Class III lobster and crab fishing license holders resident on the island. The commissioner may accept the preferences proposed by a majority of the license holders as reasonable and adopt those preferences or reject the preferences as unreasonable. The commissioner shall consult with the lobster management policy council for the lobster management zone in which the island is located before making the decision.
2.
No longer resident.
An individual who obtains a Class I, Class II or Class III lobster and crab fishing license through an island limited-entry program but who no longer wishes to maintain residency on the island is subject to the following requirements.
3.
Restriction.
This section applies only to an island in the coastal waters with a year-round community that is not connected to the mainland by an artificial structure.
4.
Rules.
The commissioner shall adopt rules to implement the island limited-entry program. The rules must include but are not limited to: