AUGUSTA, Maine — Gov. Paul LePage has signed emergency legislation that increases fines for elver fishing violations.
The new law carries $2,000 fines for fishing without a license, tampering with elver fishing gear or using untagged gear, and it includes license suspensions for second offenses.
With fishermen receiving up to $2,000 a pound for baby American eels, Marine Resources Commissioner Patrick Keliher said the new law should act as a deterrent to illegal fishing activity.
Fishermen catch the eels in fine-mesh nets as they swim up rivers and streams each spring.
Fishermen last year received $891 per pound on average for their catch, with prices this year starting out at more than double that.
The new law also changes which days of the week fishermen are prohibited from fishing.
Expanding the nanny state – oh yeah!
Now that he’s got the elver situation under control, is there any chance that he could get some additional laws enacted to control some of the weasels stealing welfare money from the good people of Maine every day?
he’s workin on it. give him a little credit
I know he is, I just wish that he’d not embroil himself in some of these needless arguments (mural etc) that distract him and the public from more important work.
With this much money involved, this sort of fishing will be depleted in 2 or 3 years.