Notice: Buoy Line
Marking Rule Proposal

Chapter 75 Protected Resources Regulations

BRIEF SUMMARY

There is an existing regulatory requirement for persons fishing lobster gear and trap/pot gear to mark their buoy lines with specific red marks in the sliver area and in federal waters. This proposed regulation removes the requirement for the red marks and would instead require persons fishing lobster gear and trap/pot gear in all Maine coastal waters to mark their buoy line with three purple 12-inch marks: one at the top of the buoy line, one midway along the buoy line, and one at the bottom of the buoy line. In addition, each buoy line must be marked with a 36-inch purple mark in the top two fathom of buoy line. Finally, all lobster gear and trap/pot gear fished from head of tide out to the Exemption Line would be required to have an additional green mark of a minimum of 6-inches in the top two fathom of buoy line. The new marking requirements would be required to be in place by April 1, 2020.

Date, time, location of Public Hearing
October 2, 2019, 4:00 PM

Department of Marine Resources, Marquardt Building – Room 118
32 Blossom Lane, Augusta, Maine.

COMMENT DEADLINE: October 14, 2019

CONTACT PERSON FOR THIS FILING

Amanda Ellis, 21 State House Station, Augusta, Maine 04333-0021
dmr.rulemaking@maine.gov
Tel: 207-624-6573; Fax: 207-624-6024.