Renew your Maine shellfish license online

Maine Marine Licensing

Lobster and crab harvesters in Maine can now renew their licenses on the Internet, finally bringing one of the state's top licensed industries into the online fold.

The online renewal through the state Marine Resources Department is, for now, available only to Maine residents. It covers both commercial and noncommercial licenses, which affects almost 7,000 people in the state.

Although initial registration and renewal for out-of-state harvesters must still occur in person or through the mail, the online Maine Marine Licensing system will use basic information, including the boat registration number on file with the department, to pull up a harvester's existing record. The service, which includes payment by credit card, is a secure part of the Maine.gov portal designed and maintained by New England Interactive Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of NIC Inc.

The Marine Resources Department also handles licensing for other activities, including eel harvesting and marine dealers. Those should be added to the renewal system in coming years.

Other online licenses have been available online since 2001 through the Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Department's Maine Online Sportsman Electronic Systems. Those licenses, which can often be purchased through sporting goods and convenience stores, are not limited to renewal online.