An Act To Stabilize And Sustainably Fund The Department Of Inland Fisheries And Wildlife, Fisheries And Hatcheries Division By Increasing The Inland Fishing License Fees And Establishing The Inland Fisheries Conservation And Enhancement Fund

This bill increases Maine fishing license fees by $7.00 for most licenses (e.g., resident fishing licenses rise from $25 to $32). It dedicates $6.00 of each increased fee to the new Inland Fisheries Conservation and Enhancement Fund and $1.00 to the Boat Launch Facilities Fund. The conservation fund must use 65% of its revenue for native freshwater fish species conservation/research and 35% for recreational fisheries management, with unspent funds carried forward annually. The bill directly affects all residents and nonresidents purchasing fishing licenses in Maine.