Marine Resources committee hears bills on elver dealers, emerging fisheries, shrimp licensing and senior lobster permits; votes oppose state sovereignty bill

The Joint Standing Committee on Marine Resources held public hearings and work‑session discussion on a number of bills affecting fisheries licensing and coastal management. The committee received testimony from sponsors, the Department of Marine Resources (DMR) and industry representatives, and took votes or instructed staff on several items.

LD 1094 — Dealer license restrictions for elver buying

Representative Abden Simmons introduced LD 1094, which would bar issuance of an elver dealer’s license for five years to any person using the same business address as a dealer who has multiple license‑condition violations. Representative Simmons said the measure was intended to prevent repeat violations at the same buying station by people establishing new corporate entities to continue operations after enforcement actions. The Department of Marine Resources testified neither for nor against the bill, noting concerns about practical enforcement and potential legal issues when dealer licenses are issued to corporate entities (LLCs). DMR advised the committee it had asked the Office of the Attorney General for an opinion and recommended further legal review before policy action. No committee vote was taken; the committee closed the hearing and scheduled a work session to allow time for AG analysis.

LD 1176 — Emerging fisheries and northern shrimp licensing (Department bill)

Representative Holly Eaton, sponsor for DMR, introduced LD 1176, a departmental housekeeping and policy bill to expand the state’s emerging‑fisheries authority to species managed under the pelagic and anadromous license (examples cited included black sea bass) and to create a noncommercial northern shrimp license should the fishery reopen. Deirdre Gilbert, DMR Director of State Marine…