Environment Committee
Government Administration and Elections Committee
Planning and Development Committee
AN ACT CONCERNING LOCAL SHELLFISH COMMISSIONS AND THE TRANSFER OF COMMERCIAL FISHING LICENSES
SUMMARY: By law, local shellfish commissions must prepare and periodically update a shellfish management plan, which they must submit to the Department of Agriculture (DOAG) commissioner. This act requires all management plan updates and any comments that DOAG makes regarding them to be in writing and subject to the Freedom of Information Act.
Generally, the law allows the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) commissioner to authorize the transfer of an active commercial fishing license if the person transferring the license landed finfish, lobster, sea scallops, crabs, or squid, as verified by seafood dealer reports, in at least five of the eight calendar years before the transfer request. The act adds an exception, requiring the DEP commissioner to authorize the transfer of an active commercial fishing license when the person transferring the license (1) held the license every year from 1980 to 1989, (2) landed summer flounder in this state in at least six of the 10 years, (3) and reported the landings to the commissioner as required by law. By law, an “active” commercial fishing license is one that was renewed in the current year.
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2009, except the commercial fishing license exception is effective on passage.