(a) The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection shall adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, governing the taking of lobsters in the waters of this state and the possession of lobsters in the state regardless of where taken for the purpose of conserving and managing the populations of American lobster.

(b) Not later than April 1, 2007, the commissioner may adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, to implement the lobster trap allocation buy-back program established pursuant to section 26-157h. Such regulations shall include, but not be limited to, provisions for a payment of fifteen dollars for each allocated lobster trap permanently retired from the lobster fishery. Such regulations shall be limited to the buy-back of lobster trap allocations of resident commercial lobster fishermen holding lobster trap allocations issued by the commissioner and who have reported lobster landings between January 1, 1999, and December 31, 2005, as determined by the commissioner, based on reports submitted pursuant to section 26-157b, or who have received license transfers with trap allocations, and shall not require the buy-back of lobster traps. For purposes of this subsection, “lobster trap” means lobster pot.

(P.A. 85-434, S. 1, 6; P.A. 90-274, S. 11; P.A. 06-187, S. 49; P.A. 11-80, S. 1.)

History: P.A. 90-274 added provision making the section applicable to the possession as well as the taking of lobsters in the waters of the state; P.A. 06-187 designated existing provisions as Subsec. (a) and added Subsec. (b) re regulations to implement lobster trap allocation buy-back program, effective May 26, 2006; pursuant to P.A. 11-80, “Commissioner of Environmental Protection” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection” in Subsec. (a), effective July 1, 2011.