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LD 1341

Resolve, Directing The Department Of Marine Resources To Evaluate How To Effectively Allow 2 Licensed Individuals To Fish For Lobsters Or Scallops From A Single Vessel

132nd Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Chip Curry and 9 co-sponsors

Directs Maine DMR to study how two licensed harvesters could fish lobsters or scallops from one vessel; a future regulation may follow, with small, absorbable costs.

Became Law without Governor's Signature
#fishingrestrictions #gear #lobsters
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Bill Summary · LD 1341

Summary — LD 1341 (132nd Legislature)

Title: Resolve, Directing the Department of Marine Resources To Evaluate How To Effectively Allow 2 Licensed Individuals To Fish For Lobsters Or Scallops From A Single Vessel
Bill number: LD 1341
Introduced: March 28, 2025
Status: Became law without Governor’s signature (June 8, 2025)
Committee: Marine Resources

Purpose

LD 1341 is a Resolve directing the Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR) to evaluate how the State could effectively allow two licensed individuals to fish for lobsters or scallops from a single vessel. The directive is for an evaluation/study rather than an immediate change in law or regulation.

Key provisions

  • Directs DMR to conduct an evaluation of approaches, requirements, and impacts associated with permitting two licensed harvesters to fish from the same vessel for lobster or scallop fisheries.
  • The enacted measure is a Resolve (study/directive), not an immediate regulatory or statutory change; implementation of any policy changes would require subsequent regulatory action or legislation.
  • Committee Amendment “A” (S‑115) was adopted and the final Resolve passed as amended.

(Note: The publicly available documents supplied do not include the full text of the Resolve; specifics such as required deliverables, deadlines, or reporting instructions to the Legislature are not present in the materials provided.)

Who is affected

  • Lobster and scallop license holders and vessel owners/operators in Maine — potential future changes could affect vessel operations, licensing practices, crew compositions, catch accounting and sharing, and safety protocols.
  • DMR and state enforcement partners, who would evaluate, and potentially implement, any regulatory changes.
  • Coastal fishing communities and markets, to the extent that any operational change affects harvest levels, costs, or efficiency.

Fiscal impact

  • Fiscal notes dated May 8 and May 22, 2025 indicate a minor General Fund cost increase.
  • DMR anticipates any additional costs to be minor and absorbable within existing budgeted resources.

Legislative history and timeline

  • Referred to Marine Resources Committee: March 28, 2025.
  • Work session and reported out as OTP‑AM (ought to pass as amended): April 24, 2025.
  • Committee Amendment “A” adopted: May 21, 2025.
  • Passed by both chambers (concurrence) and finally passed: May 27, 2025.
  • Became law without Governor’s signature: June 8, 2025.

Practical next steps

  • DMR will undertake the directed evaluation. Interested stakeholders (fishers, industry groups, enforcement, local communities) should monitor DMR communications for study scope, opportunities for input, and any subsequent recommendations or proposed rule/legislative changes.

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

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