2009 Connecticut General Statutes 26-142b – Resident and nonresident commercial finfish, fishing and lobster pot licenses. Restrictions on issuance, transfer and renewal
(a) For the purposes of this section, “active” with regard to a commercial finfish license, commercial fishing license or commercial lobster pot license means that the license has been renewed in the current year and “number of lobster pots actively fished” means the maximum calculated number of pots as established by the Commissioner of Environmental Protection pursuant to regulations adopted in accordance with section 26-157c.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Commissioner of Environmental Protection shall issue resident and nonresident commercial finfish licenses, commercial fishing licenses and commercial lobster pot licenses under section 26-142a only to persons who held a commercial finfish license, a commercial fishing license, or a commercial lobster pot license at any time from June 1, 1995, to December 31, 2003, inclusive, provided, if such license holder is incapacitated or unable to operate a vessel, the commissioner may reissue a license to a member of such license holder’s immediate family or to a member of such license holder’s crew, as designated by such license holder, on a temporary basis not to exceed the duration of such incapacity or inability. Such temporary license shall be subject to the provisions of section 26-142a.
(c) The commissioner may authorize the transfer of an active commercial finfish license, commercial fishing license or commercial lobster pot license, issued pursuant to subsection (c) of section 26-142a, provided the person transferring the license held the license and landed finfish, lobsters, sea scallops, crabs or squid in at least five of the eight calendar years preceding the transfer request and reported such landings to the commissioner, pursuant to section 26-157b, for at least thirty fishing days in each year. Such landings shall be verified by seafood dealer reports submitted pursuant to section 26-157b. The recipient of a transferred commercial lobster pot license shall be limited to the number of lobster pots allocated to such license, except a transferee who currently holds a commercial lobster pot license, issued pursuant to subsection (c) of section 26-142a, shall be limited to the number of pots allocated to such person’s currently held lobster pot license or to the transferred license, whichever is greater. The length of any commercial fishing vessel used by the recipient of a transferred license to fish with a trawl net in the waters of this state shall be not more than ten per cent greater than the length of the largest vessel used by the person transferring the license during such qualifying period.
(d) The commissioner may authorize the transfer of an active commercial finfish license, commercial fishing license or commercial lobster pot license pursuant to subsection (c) of this section, for a period of two years from the date of death of such license holder.
(e) Upon transfer of a license, the original license holder shall become ineligible to obtain a renewal of that license. Such original license holder may acquire a new license through a subsequent license transfer.
(f) A transfer of a license under this section shall not be made while a commercial fishery license, registration or vessel permit held by the transferor or transferee is under suspension and a transfer shall not be authorized for any transferee who has had a commercial fishery license, registration or vessel permit revoked or suspended within the preceding twelve months.