1. Permit required. Except as provided in subsections 1‑A and 2, an individual may not harvest, possess, ship, transport or sell seaweed without a current:
A. Resident seaweed permit; or [PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. F, §23 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2 (AFF).]
B. Nonresident seaweed permit. [PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. F, §23 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2 (AFF).]
1-A. Supplemental permit. An employee or immediate relation of a seaweed permit holder may harvest, possess or transport seaweed for commercial purposes with a current:
A. Resident supplemental seaweed permit; or [PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. F, §24 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2 (AFF).]
B. Nonresident supplemental seaweed permit. [PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. F, §24 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2 (AFF).]
2. Exceptions. The following are not required to have a permit:
A. [PL 2013, c. 282, §8 (RP).]
B. [PL 2013, c. 282, §8 (RP).]
C. An individual who harvests, possesses, ships or transports no more than 50 pounds of seaweed a day for noncommercial purposes; [PL 2013, c. 282, §9 (AMD).]
D. Charitable or municipal organizations that harvest, possess, ship or transport seaweed for noncommercial use by that organization; or [PL 1989, c. 523, §2 (NEW).]
E. Anyone harvesting, possessing, shipping or transporting seaweed that has detached naturally and is dead. [PL 2023, c. 563, §6 (AMD).]
3. Permit fees. The fees for seaweed permits are as follows:
A. For a resident seaweed permit, $8; [PL 2017, c. 284, Pt. EEEEE, §21 (RPR).]
B. For a nonresident seaweed permit, $30; [PL 2017, c. 284, Pt. EEEEE, §21 (RPR).]
C. For a resident supplemental seaweed permit, $4; and [PL 2017, c. 284, Pt. EEEEE, §21 (RPR).]
D. For a nonresident supplemental seaweed permit, $8. [PL 2017, c. 284, Pt. EEEEE, §21 (RPR).]
4. Surcharge fees. In addition to the permit fees established in subsection 3, the commissioner shall assess a surcharge on each permit issued under this section as follows, which must be deposited in the Seaweed Management Fund established in section 6806:
A. Fifty dollars for a resident seaweed permit; [PL 2009, c. 213, Pt. G, §30 (NEW).]
B. Two hundred dollars for a nonresident seaweed permit; [PL 2009, c. 213, Pt. G, §30 (NEW).]
C. Twenty-five dollars for a resident supplemental seaweed permit; and [PL 2009, c. 213, Pt. G, §30 (NEW).]
D. Fifty dollars for a nonresident supplemental seaweed permit. [PL 2009, c. 213, Pt. G, §30 (NEW).]
5. Violation. An individual who violates this section commits a civil violation for which a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $500 may be adjudged.