An Act To Permit the Harvest of Sea Cucumbers as Bycatch of Sea Urchin Dragging and To Allow Areas To Be Closed to Sea Cucumber Dragging

Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §6748-E  is enacted to read:

§ 6748-E.  Sea cucumbers caught as dragging bycatch

A person authorized to drag for and possess, ship, transport and sell sea urchins under section 6748-A may possess, ship, transport and sell sea cucumbers caught as bycatch if caught during the sea cucumber harvesting season. A person may retain sea cucumber bycatch under this section only if the person is also in possession of sea urchins and may not retain more than 2 fish totes per day. Sea cucumbers retained under this section must be 2 inches longer than any minimum size established by the commissioner by rule under section 6814. For purposes of this section, "fish tote" means one stackable standard tote no more than 28 inches long by 16 inches wide by 11 inches high.

Sec. 2. 12 MRSA §6801-A, sub-§1,  as enacted by PL 2005, c. 27, §1, is amended to read:

Sec. 3. 12 MRSA §6815  is enacted to read:

§ 6815.  Sea cucumber closed areas

The commissioner may close an area to sea cucumber dragging in order to protect lobster populations or to reduce conflicts between mobile and fixed fishing gear.

summary

This bill allows those authorized to engage in sea urchin dragging to possess, ship, transport and sell up to 2 fish totes per day of sea cucumbers caught as bycatch if the retained sea cucumbers are 2 inches longer than any minimum size established by the Commissioner of Marine Resources and the person retaining the sea cucumbers is also in possession of sea urchins. The bill also grants authority to the commissioner to close an area to sea cucumber dragging in order to protect lobster populations or to reduce conflicts between mobile and fixed fishing gear.