Title 16ConservationRelease 119-73

§5107a State permits valid in certain waters

Title 16 › Chapter CHAPTER 71— - ATLANTIC COASTAL FISHERIES COOPERATIVE MANAGEMENT › § 5107a

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Allows a person with a valid Maine commercial lobster license, and with Maine’s approval, to fish for American lobster in four specific areas of Federal waters even if other federal rules or fishery plans say otherwise, as long as they follow all other Federal and State rules. The four areas are: west of Monhegan Island north of the line 43°42′08″N, 69°34′18″W to 43°42′15″N, 69°19′18″W; east of Monhegan Island west of the line 43°44′00″N, 69°15′05″W to 43°48′10″N, 69°08′01″W; south of Vinalhaven west of the line 43°52′21″N, 68°39′54″W to 43°48′10″N, 69°08′01″W; and south of Bois Bubert Island north of the line 44°19′15″N, 67°49′30″W to 44°23′45″N, 67°40′33″W. The Secretary may revoke or suspend this permission under 16 U.S.C. 1858(g) for violations.

Full Legal Text

Title 16, §5107a

Conservation — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Notwithstanding any provision of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.), this chapter, or any requirement of a fishery management plan or coastal fishery management plan to the contrary, a person holding a valid license issued by the State of Maine which lawfully permits that person to engage in commercial fishing for American lobster may, with the approval of the State of Maine, engage in commercial fishing for American lobster in the following areas designated as Federal waters, if such fishing is conducted in such waters in accordance with all other applicable Federal and State regulations:
(1)west of Monhegan Island in the area located north of the line 43° 42′ 08′′ N, 69° 34′ 18′′ W and 43° 42′ 15′′ N, 69° 19′ 18′′ W;
(2)east of Monhegan Island in the area located west of the line 43° 44′ 00′′ N, 69° 15′ 05′′ W and 43° 48′ 10′′ N, 69° 08′ 01′′ W;
(3)south of Vinalhaven in the area located west of the line 43° 52′ 21′′ N, 68° 39′ 54′′ W and 43° 48′ 10′′ N, 69° 08′ 01′′ W; and
(4)south of Bois Bubert Island in the area located north of the line 44° 19′ 15′′ N, 67° 49′ 30′′ W and 44° 23′ 45′′ N, 67° 40′ 33′′ W.
(b)The exemption from Federal fishery permitting requirements granted by subsection (a) may be revoked or suspended by the Secretary in accordance with section 308(g) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1858(g)) for violations of such Act or this chapter.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, referred to in text, is Pub. L. 94–265, Apr. 13, 1976, 90 Stat. 331, which is classified principally to chapter 38 (§ 1801 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 1801 of this title and Tables. This chapter, referred to in subsec. (b), was in the original “this Act”, and was translated as reading “this title”, meaning title VIII of Pub. L. 103–206, Dec. 20, 1993, 107 Stat. 2447, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of title VIII to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 5101 of this title and Tables.

Prior Provisions

A prior section 809 of Pub. L. 103–206 was renumbered section 811, and is classified to section 5108 of this title.

Amendments

2000—Subsecs. (a), (b). Pub. L. 106–555 substituted “Magnuson-Stevens Fishery” for “Magnuson Fishery”.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

16 U.S.C. § 5107a

Title 16Conservation

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73