‘Resolve, To Direct the Department of Marine Resources To Study the Implementation of a Saltwater Recreational Fishing License, Permit or Registry’

‘Sec. 1. Development and implementation of a saltwater recreational license, permit or registry. Resolved: That the Commissioner of Marine Resources shall develop and determine how to implement a saltwater recreational fishing license, permit or registry for the coastal waters of the State that will exempt saltwater recreational anglers and charter boat fishing vessels from registering under the federal registration program established in the reauthorized federal Magnuson-Stevens Fisheries Conservation and Management Act. The commissioner’s considerations must include, but are not limited to, the following: what the United States Secretary of Commerce may require for information from a state program to exempt that state’s saltwater recreational anglers and charter boat fishing vessels from registering under the federal program; how to implement the license, permit or registry, including, but not limited to, online access and fee payment; the fee structure, if any, for the license, permit or registry; uses for any revenue raised from fees for a license, permit or registry developed under this section; the feasibility and appropriateness of using 10% of such revenues to fund stock enhancement of marine resources; and placing a $1 surcharge on any license, permit or registry proposed under this section for the creation of a recreational fishing council modeled after the Maine Lobster Promotion Council; and be it further

Sec. 2. Report. Resolved: That no later than January 15, 2008 the Commissioner of Marine Resources shall report the commissioner’s findings and recommendations under section 1, including any implementing legislation, to the Joint Standing Committee on Marine Resources. The Joint Standing Committee on Marine Resources may submit legislation related to that report to the Second Regular Session of the 123rd Legislature.’