§6952-A. Trawling, seining or netting for lobster
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/me/title-12-conservation/chapter-627-general-prohibitions/6952-a·A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
1. Trawling, seining or netting for lobsters prohibited. A person may not:
A. Fish for or take lobsters by use of a trawl, drag, dredge, seine or net; or [PL 2011, c. 266, Pt. A, §21 (AMD).]
B. Possess any lobsters, regardless of their source, on board any boat rigged for dragging, trawling, dredging, seining or netting. [PL 2011, c. 266, Pt. A, §21 (AMD).]
[PL 2011, c. 266, Pt. A, §21 (AMD).]
2. Exception; liberated alive. A person does not violate this section if the lobster is immediately liberated alive in the coastal waters.
[PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. F, §36 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2 (AFF).]
3. Exceptions; boats. This section does not apply to:
A. A boat rigged for dragging, trawling, dredging or seining if all nets, drags and dredges are removed from the boat; or [PL 2011, c. 266, Pt. A, §22 (AMD).]
B. A boat rigged for netting if there are no finfish taken by gill net aboard. [PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. F, §36 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2 (AFF).]
[PL 2011, c. 266, Pt. A, §22 (AMD).]
4. Penalty for possession. A violation of this section 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.
[PL 2019, c. 113, Pt. C, §14 (AMD).]