An Act Allowing the Harvesting of Yellow Perch with Seines

Emergency preamble. Whereas,  acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and

Whereas,  open-water fishing in the State's inland waters begins in the springtime, once the ice thaws from our rivers, lakes and ponds, and presents the greatest opportunity to begin removing the threat of nuisance species of fish such as yellow perch from state waters; and

Whereas,  it is imperative that the provisions of this legislation be implemented before the commencement of inland open-water fishing; and

Whereas,  the 90-day period is likely to end well after springtime fishing has commenced; 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 §12506, sub-§2, ¶¶B and C,  as amended by PL 2007, c. 463, §6 and affected by §9, are further amended to read:

Sec. 2. 12 MRSA §12506, sub-§2, ¶E  is enacted to read:

Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation takes effect when approved.

summary

This bill allows the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to adopt rules to issue a permit allowing a person to use seines to fish for and possess yellow perch.