Maine will reimburse commercial fishermen, aquaculturists $8.3M for license fees

File Photo / Fred Field Maine's Department of Marine Resources will use $8.3 million in federal funding to reimburse commercial fishermen, dealers, processors and aquaculturists for the cost of their 2022 licenses, Gov. Janet Mills announced Thursday.

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By Renee Cordes

Maine will use $8.3 million in federal funding to reimburse resident commercial fisherman, dealers, processors and aquaculturists for the cost of their state licenses and related fees, such as trap tag fees for lobster-license holders.

Gov Janet Mills announced the giveback on Thursday as a measure to help the industry cope with rising costs.

“Maine’s commercial fishing and seafood industry is a crucial cornerstone of our economy, and they are facing unprecedented increases in costs,” she said. “This puts money back in the pockets of Maine’s fishermen, aquaculturists and dealers to help them offset growing business expenses, hopefully providing a small measure of relief for them.”

The reimbursements will be carried out by the Department of Marine Resources, which will also waive aquaculture lease fees for the year through a separate process.

The first round of payments, which amount to $4.2 million, will be mailed by the end of this month people who obtained their licenses between Nov. 15, 2021, and March 31. Reimbursements for licenses purchased during each of the remaining quarters of 2022 will be mailed separately.

Licenses that are eligible for reimbursement include, for example: a Class II lobster license with 800 tags ($1,203 in reimbursement), a scallop dragger license ($243), a Zone 2 urchin dragger license ($312) and an elver license with two pieces of gear and crew ($498). More information on licenses can be found here.

“Cost increases continue to challenge this important Maine industry,” said DMR Commissioner Patrick Keliher. “This relief comes at a critical time.”

Eligible recipients include resident commercial license holders who renew a license held in 2021 and who are 18 years or older as of January 2022. License holders with multiple licenses will receive reimbursement for all eligible licenses. Dealers are eligible for the license cost plus the cost of supplemental license held in 2021 and will be reimbursed after the conclusion of the 2022 dealer licensing year, which ends March 31, 2023.

License holders will receive a paper check in the mail at the address provided to DMR in the license application.

Lobster license holders who obtained a license between Nov. 15, 2021, and March 31 but ordered trap tags after June 6 will be reimbursed for the tags during the next round of reimbursements.

The reimbursement applies only to the purchase of initial tags and not to replacement tags.