B. Beginning at a point 40 miles true north from the lighthouse at Robinson's Point, Isle au Haut, Knox County; thence true south through the lighthouse to a point where the line intersects the southeasterly boundary of the coastal waters within the jurisdiction of the State of intersection with the 3-nautical-mile line; and

3. Off Hancock County. Within the following radio direction- finder LORAN C bearings: Beginning at Schoodic Point, Hancock County; thence running a True compass course of 159` for approximately 16 miles to LORAN C bearing of 9960-W-12349.0 and 9960-X-25693.0 latitude 4404.33' north and longitude 06754.64' west; thence running along a True compass course of 234` 236 for approximately 11.4 miles, to and through Mt. Desert Rock to LORAN C bearing of 9960-W-12456.0 and 9960-X-25695.0 latitude 4357.87' north and longitude 06808.2' west; thence running in a True compass course of 336` for approximately 4.2 miles to LORAN C bearing of 9960-W-12440.0 and 9960-X-25718.0 latitude 4401.65' north and longitude 06810.55' west; thence running in a westerly direction to a point where that line intersects with the line described in subsection 2, paragraph B, if it is extended to that line.

Sec. 4. 12 MRSA §6439-A, as enacted by PL 1979, c. 152, §2, is amended to read:

§6439-A. Limited lobster fishing in the vicinity of

Kittery

It shall be is unlawful to have on a trawl more than 10 lobster traps on one warp and buoy in the coastal waters southerly of a line running between the Kitts Rocks Whistle Buoy and the West Sister Buoy and extending westerly to the New Hampshire border, and from the West Sister Buoy to the Murray Rock Buoy and thence to and through the lighthouse on Boone Island and, continuing in a straight line, to the boundary of the coastal waters within the jurisdiction of this State point of intersection with the 3-nautical-mile line. Each trawl set in this area shall must be marked with at least one buoy with a buoy stick of at least 4 feet in length.

Sec. 5. 12 MRSA §6471, as enacted by PL 1997, c. 574, §4, is amended to read:

§6471. Monhegan Lobster Conservation Area

1. Monhegan Lobster Conservation Area. The following coastal territorial waters of the State in the vicinity of Monhegan Island are known as the Monhegan Lobster Conservation Area:

Beginning at a point located on Loran line 9960-25850 at latitude 4344.09' north and longitude 06922.16' west that is 2 nautical miles southwesterly of the nearest shore of Monhegan Island; then following Loran line 9960-25850 in a southwesterly direction to the point where it intersects the 3-mile territorial sea latitude 4344.28' north and longitude 06923.37' west at a point on the 3-nautical-mile line; then following the territorial sea 3-nautical-mile line around the southern end of Monhegan Island to the point where it intersects Loran line 9960-12889 latitude 4344.94' north and longitude 06914.26' west; then following Loran line 9960-12889 in a somewhat northerly direction to the point where it intersects latitude 4345.8' north and longitude 06915.3' west, to a point that is 2 nautical miles from the nearest shore of Monhegan Island; then following a line that is 2 nautical miles from the nearest shore of Monhegan Island and that continues around the northern end of Monhegan Island to the point of beginning.

Sec. 6. 12 MRSA §6501, sub-§6, as amended by PL 1999, c. 491, §4, is further amended to read:

6. Definition. For the purposes of this chapter, "fish" means all marine finfish and squid or other marine animals organisms, except lobsters, crabs, sea urchins, shellfish, scallops, marine worms, elvers, eels or, shrimp or seaweed.

Sec. 7. 12 MRSA §6523, as amended by PL 1999, c. 771, Pt. B, §5 and affected by Pt. D, §§1 and 2, is further amended to read:

§6523. Marking ice fishing shacks

A person may not place any shack or temporary structure used for ice fishing on the frozen coastal territorial waters or use the shack or structure, unless the owner's name and address are painted or otherwise clearly marked on the outside with 2-inch letters. A person who violates this section commits a civil violation for which a forfeiture of not less than $100 and not more than $500 may be adjudged.

Sec. 8. 12 MRSA §6555, as amended by PL 1989, c. 788, §2, is further amended to read:

§6555. Striped bass; method of taking

It is unlawful to fish for or take striped bass in the waters of the State, except by hook and line.

Sec. 9. 12 MRSA §6556, as amended by PL 1989, c. 788, §3, is further amended to read:

§6556. Striped bass; limits; personal use

It is unlawful for any person to fish for or take

striped bass in the waters of the State, except for personal use.

Sec. 10. 12 MRSA §6571, first ¶, as enacted by PL 1977, c. 661, §5, is amended to read:

Within the coastal territorial waters of adjacent to Washington County:

Sec. 11. 12 MRSA §6572, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 1997, c. 92, §1, is amended to read:

1. Spawning areas for certain species. By January 1, 1998, the commissioner shall by rule identify the location of all coastal all locations of the territorial waters that serve as spawning areas for cod, haddock or yellowtail flounder and the dates during which those spawning activities occur in each area. In determining the coastal spawning areas for cod, haddock and yellowtail flounder, the commissioner shall solicit information on the State's historic coastal groundfish spawning areas from persons who participate in, or are otherwise knowledgeable about, commercial and recreational coastal marine fisheries. Rules adopted under this subsection are routine technical rules pursuant to Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter II-A.

Sec. 12. 12 MRSA §6575-E, as enacted by PL 1995, c. 536, Pt. A, §9, is amended to read:

§6575-E. Method of eel fishing

Except as provided in section 6505-C, subsection 2, it is unlawful for a person licensed under section 6505-C to fish for or take eels in the coastal waters of the State by any method other than eel pot or hoop net.

Sec. 13. 12 MRSA §6722, as amended by PL 1999, c. 94, §1, is further amended to read:

§6722. Closed areas

Unless modified by regulation adopted under section 6171-A, it is unlawful to fish for or take scallops in the coastal territorial waters from April 16th to November 30th, both days inclusive.

Sec. 14. 12 MRSA §6726, sub-§1, as amended by PL 1999, c. 94, §2, is further amended to read:

1. Minimum size. It is unlawful to utilize a drag to fish for or take scallops in the coastal territorial waters with rings that measure less than:

B. From December 1, 1999 to April 15, 2000, 3 1/4 inches in diameter; and

C. On December 1, 2000 and thereafter, 3 1/2 inches in diameter.

Sec. 15. 12 MRSA §6727, sub-§2, as amended by PL 1999, c. 94, §4, is further amended to read:

2. Open season. It is unlawful for a person to possess on any vessel fishing for scallops in the coastal territorial waters, or to utilize when fishing for or taking scallops in the coastal territorial waters, a drag or any combination of drags that measures in excess of 10 feet, 6 inches across from one extreme outside edge of the mouth of the drag or combination of drags to the opposite extreme outside edge.

Sec. 16. 12 MRSA §6954-C, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 1997, c. 281, §3, is amended to read:

1. Gear requirements. It is unlawful to fish in the coastal territorial waters northerly and inshore of the international bridge that connects Lubec to Campobello Island, New Brunswick, Canada with any drag or combination of drags:

A. That measures in excess of 5 feet, 6 inches in width measuring from one extreme outside edge of the mouth of the drag or combination of drags to the opposite extreme outside edge; and

B. If used for the taking of scallops, that is greater than 8 rings deep.

Sec. 17. 12 MRSA §6959, as enacted by PL 1999, c. 576, §1, is amended to read:

§6959. Dragging in the Taunton River area

It is unlawful for a person to fish with any drag or combination of drags in the coastal territorial waters westerly and northerly of the Route 1 bridge that connects the towns of Hancock and Sullivan in Hancock County, including Egypt Bay, Taunton Bay and Hog Bay. This section is repealed March 1, 2005.

SUMMARY

This bill makes several technical changes to the marine resources laws.

1. It clarifies that the term "coastal waters" means marine waters out to the seaward extent of the exclusive economic zone and provides that the term "territorial waters" means marine waters only out to the 3-nautical-mile line described on United States Government nautical charts.

2. It corrects the descriptions of limitations on lobster fishing areas in the Kittery, Pemaquid and Hancock County areas.

3. It corrects the description of the Monhegan Lobster Conservation Area.

4. It clarifies that fishing for seaweed is not subject to the commercial fishing license.

5. It clarifies that marking requirements for ice fishing shacks apply only in the territorial waters.

6. It removes a reference to waters of the State with regard to the limitations on how striped bass are caught and with regard to personal use of striped bass.

7. It clarifies that limitations on the use of trawls in Washington County apply only to the territorial waters adjacent to Washington County.

8. It clarifies that the requirement to identify spawning areas for groundfish applies only in the territorial waters.

9. It clarifies that limitations on the taking of eels apply only in the territorial waters.

10. It clarifies that limitations on the taking of scallops apply only in the territorial waters.

11. It clarifies that requirements for specific ring sizes for scallop drags apply only in the territorial waters.

12. It clarifies that drag size limits for scallop drags apply only in the territorial waters.

13. It clarifies that the limitations on fishing in Cobscook Bay apply only to the territorial waters.

14. It clarifies that limitations on dragging in Taunton Bay apply only in the territorial waters.