Sec. 44508.

(1) The department may research the availability of fish in the waters of this state that are utilized by charter boats.

(2) The department shall form a catch activity committee that is composed of 2 individuals from the department and 2 representatives from the Michigan charter boat association. The catch activity committee shall do all of the following:

(a) Develop a monthly catch activity report form that pertains to the number, type, and location of fish taken from charter boats in this state.

(b) Plan and prioritize research concerning the information gathered pursuant to this section.

(3) The department shall distribute to each charter boat operator in this state the monthly catch activity report form developed under subsection (2), and each charter boat operator engaged in fishing shall complete and maintain that form in the manner prescribed in subsection (5).

(4) The department shall compile an annual report based upon information contained in those monthly catch activity report forms submitted to the department pursuant to subsection (5). The annual report shall not disclose the identity of a charter boat operator who provides information pursuant to subsection (5).

(5) A charter boat operator engaged in fishing shall do each of the following:

(a) Maintain on board each charter boat under his or her control a daily record of all catch activity of that charter boat for the current calendar month.

(b) Make available for inspection the daily catch activity records required to be maintained under this subsection upon the request of a peace officer.

(c) Complete a monthly catch activity report form provided by the department for each charter boat under his or her control.

(d) Sign, date, and submit to the department, on or before the tenth day of each month, a monthly catch activity report form completed by that charter boat operator for each charter boat under his or her control that was engaged in fishing during the previous month.

(e) The operator of a charter boat that is used for fishing on 2 or more bodies of water within a calendar month shall complete for that charter boat a separate monthly catch activity report form for each body of water fished, and shall sign, date, and submit each form to the department in the manner prescribed by this section.

(f) If a charter boat operator engaged in fishing does not submit to the department a completed monthly catch activity report form within 30 days after that form is required to be delivered to the department, the department shall notify that charter boat operator of his or her noncompliance with this section. If a charter boat operator engaged in fishing fails to return a completed monthly catch activity report form for a vessel within 60 days after that form is required to be delivered to the department, the department may revoke the state certificate of inspection issued for that vessel.

History: Add. 1995, Act 57, Imd. Eff. May 24, 1995 Popular Name: Act 451Popular Name: NREPA