Eligibility for lobster licenses changed as a result of LD 1503, which passed as emergency legislation during the 2nd session of the 127th Legislature and was signed into law by Governor LePage on April 5, 2016 (Public Law Chapter 428).
If you believe that you may be eligible for a Class I, II or III lobster license under the new criteria, and are interested in fishing in one of Maine's limited entry zones, please review the following information and submit your lobster license application, as well as the requested supporting documentation, by mail to:
Department of Marine Resources
Licensing Division
21 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333
Due to the need to review the necessary documentation before a license may be issued, licenses for individuals meeting these criteria will not be issued in person at the DMR offices. Please mail all of the requested information to the address above, and your license will be sent to you following a determination that all of the criteria have been met.
Existing licensing criteria for individuals under the age of 18 have not changed. In addition, the changes in law ARE NOT retroactive – you must currently be under the age of 23 (and meet the following criteria) in order to be eligible for a license.
If you are over the age of 18, and under the age of 20:
- You must complete all the requirements of the Apprenticeship Program and submit the documentation before you turn 20.
- If you are currently on the waiting list, this requirement has been met.
- If you are not currently on the waiting list, the Department will need to review and approve your AP logs before you may purchase your license.
- You must have received your high school diploma or high school equivalency diploma.
- You will need to submit a copy of your diploma or equivalency with your license application.
- You must purchase your license before you turn 20 years of age.
- Your lobster license application must be postmarked before your 20th birthday.
If you are over the age of 20, and under the age of 23:
- You must have logged time fishing in the Apprenticeship Program before you turned 18.
- The Department will review your AP records to ensure this requirement has been met.
- You must complete all the requirements of the Apprenticeship Program and submit the documentation before you turn 23.
- If you are currently on the waiting list, this requirement has been met.
- If you are not on the waiting list, the Department will need to review and approve your AP logs before you may purchase your license.
- You must have been enrolled in, and meeting the requirements of at least a half-time course of study, at a postsecondary institution accredited by a state-recognized accrediting agency or body since before you were 18, and each year thereafter. “Half time course of study” means at least 50% of the usual course load for the program.
- If you have held a student license after the age of 18, the Department will consider your license to be proof of meeting this requirement in each year you held a license.
- For any year in which you did not hold a student license, you will need to submit proof of enrollment in at least a half time course of study for each of those years.
- You must currently be enrolled in and meeting the requirements of a half-time course of study at a postsecondary institution accredited by a state recognized accrediting agency or body;
- You must submit your current proof of enrollment with your license application.
- You must purchase your license before you turn 23 years of age.
- Your lobster license application must be postmarked before your 23rd birthday.
If you have questions about the documentation you need to provide, please contact DMR’s Licensing Division at 624-6550.