12 M.R.S. §6952-A: Trawling, seining or netting for lobster

1. Trawling, seining or netting for lobsters prohibited. A person may not:

A. Fish for or take lobsters by use of a trawl, drag, dredge, seine or net; or

B. Possess any lobsters, regardless of their source, on board any boat rigged for dragging, trawling, dredging, seining or netting.

2. Exception; liberated alive. A person does not violate this section if the lobster is immediately liberated alive in the coastal waters.

3. Exceptions; boats. This section does not apply to:

A. A boat rigged for dragging, trawling, dredging or seining if all nets, drags and dredges are removed from the boat; or

B. A boat rigged for netting if there are no finfish taken by gill net aboard.

4. Penalty for possession. A violation of this section is a Class D crime, except that in addition to any punishment that may be imposed under Title 17‑A, Part 6, the court shall impose a fine of $500 for each violation and, in addition, a fine of $100 for each lobster involved, up to and including the first 5, and a fine of $200 for each lobster in excess of 5, or, if the number of lobsters cannot be determined, a fine of not less than $1,000 or more than $5,000.