Lawmakers in Maine are set to consider a proposal to change the rules governing the state's apprenticeships for new lobster fishermen.
Republican Rep. Billy Bob Faulkingham of Winter Harbor has offered a proposal to allow new fishermen to complete the apprenticeship program by demonstrating proficiency as opposed to logging hours. The proposal's coming up for a public hearing before the Marine Resources Committee on Tuesday.
Faulkingham's proposal would allow an apprentice to complete the program by bringing at least 4,000 pounds of lobster to land over a period of not less than two years.
He says it's a "better gauge of proficiency."
The Committee is also scheduled to hold a hearing Tuesday on a proposal to tweak the state's rules about lobster fishing licenses for fishermen with medical conditions.