---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 5107a"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "5107a"
heading: "State permits valid in certain waters"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/5107a"
units:
  - "Chapter 71 — Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management"
---

# §5107a. State permits valid in certain waters

- (a) **Permits—** Notwithstanding any provision of the Magnuson-Stevens [Fishery](/usc/16/5102.md?p=8) [Conservation](/usc/16/5102.md?p=4) and Management Act ([16 U.S.C. 1801](/usc/16/1801.md) et seq.), this chapter, or any requirement of a [fishery](/usc/16/5102.md?p=8) [management plan](/usc/16/544.md?p=k) or [coastal fishery management plan](/usc/16/5102.md?p=1) to the contrary, a [person](/usc/16/5102.md?p=11) holding a valid license issued by the [State](/usc/16/5102.md?p=13) of Maine which lawfully permits that [person](/usc/16/5102.md?p=11) to engage in commercial [fishing](/usc/16/5102.md?p=9) for American lobster may, with the approval of the [State](/usc/16/5102.md?p=13) of Maine, engage in commercial [fishing](/usc/16/5102.md?p=9) for American lobster in the following [areas](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) designated as Federal waters, if such [fishing](/usc/16/5102.md?p=9) is conducted in such waters in accordance with all other applicable Federal and [State](/usc/16/5102.md?p=13) regulations:
  - (1) west of Monhegan Island in the [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) located north of the line 43° 42′ 08′′ N, 69° 34′ 18′′ W and 43° 42′ 15′′ N, 69° 19′ 18′′ W;
  - (2) east of Monhegan Island in the [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) located west of the line 43° 44′ 00′′ N, 69° 15′ 05′′ W and 43° 48′ 10′′ N, 69° 08′ 01′′ W;
  - (3) south of Vinalhaven in the [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) located west of the line 43° 52′ 21′′ N, 68° 39′ 54′′ W and 43° 48′ 10′′ N, 69° 08′ 01′′ W; and
  - (4) south of Bois Bubert Island in the [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) located north of the line 44° 19′ 15′′ N, 67° 49′ 30′′ W and 44° 23′ 45′′ N, 67° 40′ 33′′ W.
- (b) **Enforcement—** The exemption from Federal [fishery](/usc/16/5102.md?p=8) permitting requirements granted by [subsection (a)](#a) may be revoked or suspended by the [Secretary](/usc/16/5102.md?p=12) in accordance with section 308(g) of the Magnuson-Stevens [Fishery](/usc/16/5102.md?p=8) [Conservation](/usc/16/5102.md?p=4) and Management Act ([16 U.S.C. 1858(g)](/usc/16/1858.md?p=g)) for [violations](/usc/16/620e.md?p=11) of such Act or this chapter.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 103–206, title VIII, § 809, as added Pub. L. 104–297, title IV, § 404(c), Oct. 11, 1996, 110 Stat. 3619; amended Pub. L. 106–555, title I, § 122(b)(3), Dec. 21, 2000, 114 Stat. 2766.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, referred to in text, is Pub. L. 94–265, Apr. 13, 1976, 90 Stat. 331, which is classified principally to chapter 38 (§ 1801 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 1801 of this title and Tables.

This chapter, referred to in subsec. (b), was in the original “this Act”, and was translated as reading “this title”, meaning title VIII of Pub. L. 103–206, Dec. 20, 1993, 107 Stat. 2447, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of title VIII to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 5101 of this title and Tables.

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 809 of Pub. L. 103–206 was renumbered section 811, and is classified to section 5108 of this title.

### Amendments

2000—Subsecs. (a), (b). Pub. L. 106–555 substituted “Magnuson-Stevens Fishery” for “Magnuson Fishery”.