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132nd MAINE LEGISLATURE
FIRST REGULAR SESSION-2025
Legislative Document No. 325H.P. 225House of Representatives, February 3, 2025
An Act Related to the Disbursement of Revenue Generated from the
Harvesting of River Herring
Received by the Clerk of the House on January 30, 2025. Referred to the Committee on
Marine Resources pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed pursuant to Joint Rule 401.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative BRIDGEO of Augusta.
Cosponsored by Senator BALDACCI of Penobscot and
Representatives: CLUCHEY of Bowdoinham, DILL of Old Town, RIELLY of Westbrook. Page 1 - 132LR0667(01)
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2 as amended by PL 2011, c. 598, ยง11, is further
3 amended to read:
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5 leasing rights are allocated to the Migratory Fish Fund, as established. Expenditures from
6 the Migratory Fish Fund must be made:
7 A. To build fishways for river herring and other migratory fish;
8 B. For construction of other facilities for improving the environment of river herring
9 and other migratory fish;
10 C. For general propagation and conservation of river herring and other migratory fish;
11 D. For research to enhance the fishing industry based on river herring and other
12 migratory fish; and
13 E. For management measures required to maintain or enhance river herring
14 populations or populations of other migratory fish.; and
15 F. To municipalities where river herring harvesting rights have been granted and to
16 municipalities where known migration of river herring has occurred. Recipient
17 municipalities may donate funds for the purpose of supporting programs designed to
18 restore or protect the quality of the environment of river herring.
19 The Migratory Fish Fund does not lapse.
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21 The Department of Marine Resources shall study how to equitably distribute funds from
22 the Migratory Fish Fund, under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 12, section 631,
23 subsection 8, to municipalities. By December 3, 2025, the department shall report its
24 findings, including any suggested legislation, to the Joint Standing Committee on Marine
25 Resources. The committee may report out a bill based on the report to the Second Regular
26 Session of the 132nd Legislature.
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28 This bill specifies that funds from the Migratory Fish Fund must be distributed to
29 municipalities that have existing river herring harvesting rights as well as to municipalities
30 where there is a known river herring migration, at the discretion of the Commissioner of
31 Marine Resources. The bill also directs the Department of Marine Resources to study how
32 to equitably distribute funds from the Migratory Fish Fund to municipalities and to report
33 back to the Joint Standing Committee on Marine Resources. The committee is authorized
34 to report out a bill based on the report to the Second Regular Session of the 132nd
35 Legislature.
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