An Act Regarding the Swans Island Lobster Fishing Zone
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas, the trap limit in the Swans Island Lobster Conservation Area is 475 per individual and the rest of Zone B allows 800 traps; and
Whereas, it is necessary to raise the maximum number of allowed traps in the Swans Island Lobster Conservation Area in order to increase economic opportunity for license holders fishing in the Swans Island Lobster Conservation Area in order to sustain commercial lobster fishing as a viable economic pursuit for residents of Swans Island and keep the community's population sustainable; and
Whereas, the Maine lobster industry faces a critical opportunity for branding and marketing; and
Whereas, it is necessary that this Act take effect by June 2013 in order to take advantage of the plentiful summer harvest, in order to provide needed support to persons who fish for lobster and the lobster industry; and
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore,
Sec. 1. 12 MRSA c. 619, sub-c. 6 is enacted to read:
SUBCHAPTER 6
SWANS ISLAND LOBSTER CONSERVATION AREA
§ 6481. Swans Island Lobster Conservation Area
Beginning at the northern tip of Long Point, Marshall Island, Hancock County, Maine; then northerly to the navigational buoy at the western entrance to Toothacker Bay, located at the intersection of Loran lines 9960-W-12492.0 and 9960-X-25800.0; then northeasterly to West Point, Swans Island, Hancock County, Maine; then from Phinney Point on the northeastern shore of Swans Island southeasterly to the intersection of Loran lines 9960-W-12445.6 and 9960-X-25780.9, 68º22.40' W. Longitude, 44º08.79' N. Latitude, Hancock County, Maine; then southwesterly to the intersection of Loran lines 9960-W-12468.0 and 9960-X-25773.0, 68º23.6' W. Longitude, 44º06.4' N. Latitude; then south-southwesterly to the intersection of Loran lines 9960-W-12482.2 and 9960-X-25766.4, 68º24.01' W. Longitude, 44º04.8' N. Latitude; then southerly to the intersection of Loran lines 9960-W-12493.5 and 9960-X-25758.4, 68º23.9' W. Longitude, 44º03.1' N. Latitude, and the intersection with the 3-nautical-mile line of the territorial waters, as shown on United States Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Ocean Service, Office of Coast Survey Chart #13312; then southwesterly along the 3-nautical-mile line of the territorial waters approximately 3.5 miles to a point where a line drawn southeasterly 165º True from the center of Black Ledges intersects the 3-nautical-mile line of the territorial waters at Loran lines 9960-W-12524.5 and 9960-X-25765.5, 68º28.6' W. Longitude, 44º01.9' N. Latitude; then northwesterly 345º True to the center of Black Ledges; then northwesterly to the most southerly point of Marshall Island; thence along the westerly shore of Marshall Island to the point of beginning.
§ 6482. Fishing in Swans Island Lobster Conservation Area
(1) Registered with the commissioner to purchase Swans Island Lobster Conservation Area trap tags for the prior season, documents to the commissioner that the person harvested lobsters from the Swans Island Lobster Conservation Area in the prior season and applies to the commissioner during the period between January 1st and May 31st for Swans Island Lobster Conservation Area trap tags; or
(2) Registered with the commissioner to purchase Swans Island Lobster Conservation Area trap tags for the prior calendar year, documents to the commissioner that the person did not harvest lobsters from the Swans Island Lobster Conservation Area in the prior season because of an illness or medical condition and applies to the commissioner during the period between January 1st and May 31st for Swans Island Lobster Conservation Area trap tags.
Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation takes effect when approved.
SUMMARY
This bill establishes in statute the Swans Island Lobster Conservation Area. Under this bill, the maximum allowable number of lobster traps and tags per individual registered to obtain Swans Island Lobster Conservation Area trap tags is 550.