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LD 44

An Act To Amend The Laws Pertaining To Elver Fishing

132nd Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Allison Hepler

LD 44 amends Maine elver fishing laws, updating licensing, reporting, and enforcement to regulate harvesters, buyers, and coastal communities.

Signed by Governor
#eels #elverfishing #fish
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Bill Summary · LD 44

Summary — LD 44: "An Act To Amend the Laws Pertaining to Elver Fishing"

Status: Signed by Governor (June 10, 2025)
Introduced: January 6, 2025
Committee: Marine Resources
Subjects: Eels; Elver fishing; Fish

Purpose / Intent

LD 44 is a bill to amend Maine’s statutes governing elver (young American eel) fishing. The legislative record provided does not include the full bill text or the specific statutory changes; however, the action taken indicates the Legislature approved changes to current law as set forth in the engrossed version of the bill with Committee Amendment "A" (H‑344) adopted.

Key procedural points

  • Referred to the Marine Resources Committee upon introduction (1/6/2025).
  • Work session held and committee voted OTP‑AM (ought to pass as amended) on 3/13/2025.
  • Reported out by committee (OTP‑AM) and placed on consent calendar.
  • Committee Amendment "A" (H‑344) was read, adopted, and the bill was passed to be engrossed as amended (6/2/2025).
  • Passed to be enacted and sent for concurrence (6/3/2025).
  • Signed by the Governor on 6/10/2025 (enacted).

Fiscal impact

Two fiscal notes associated with the bill (LR0186(02) and LR0186(03)) — approved on 04/29/2025 and 06/02/2025 — state there is no fiscal impact. The Legislature determined the amendments would not result in additional costs to state government or require new appropriations.

Who is affected

  • Elver harvesters (licensed fishermen) and those participating in the elver fishery.
  • Buyers, processors, and dealers in elver product.
  • Marine Resources agencies responsible for licensing, enforcement, and fisheries management.
  • Coastal communities and stakeholders with economic or conservation interests in eel fisheries.

What to expect / likely effects

Because the specific statutory language is not included in the provided materials, the precise substantive changes cannot be summarized here. Bills that amend elver fishing laws typically address one or more of the following: licensing and permit conditions, seasons and catch limits, reporting and recordkeeping, dealer/buyer regulations, enforcement and penalties, and allocation or transfer of permits. LD 44 modifies existing elver fishery statutes in some manner now enacted into law; the absence of fiscal impact suggests the changes are regulatory or clarifying rather than creating new funded programs.

Where to find the full text and details

To see the precise amendments and the text of Committee Amendment "A" (H‑344), consult the Maine Legislature’s bill tracking and document system (search LD 44, 132nd Legislature) or contact the Marine Resources Committee staff. The engrossed, enacted bill and amendment documents will contain the specific statutory language and implementation details.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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