Old Orchard Beach passes fishing ordinance that allows for flexibility

OLD ORCHARD BEACH — The town has approved a new ordinance to regulate fishing on the beach that allows for some flexibility.

In the early 1960s, when the town had a Town Meeting form of government, residents voted in an annual measure a few years in a row to ban surf fishing from the beach during daytime hours in the summer months.

 A similar measure was approved in the mid 1960s when Old Orchard Beach switched over to a Town Council form of government and the rule was voted in annually for the next few years. There was talk about putting an enforceable, permanent ordinance on the books, but it never happened.

The issue recently came to light when the police chief received a complaint from a resident regarding an incident where someone was fishing on the beach.

The Town Council, when first entertaining an enforceable fishing ordinance earlier this year had considered an ordinance revision that would have completely prohibited surf fishing in the summer between 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Council since made some revisions on the proposal and on Tuesday night approved an ordinance change that allows for some compromise.

The newly approved ordinance restricts fishing on the beaches from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Memorial Day to Labor Day unless a public safety representative designated by the police chief or fire chief determines that fishing will not be a safety hazard to other people. This permission can be withdrawn by a public safety representative.

The revised language would allow public safety officials to give someone permission to fish on the shore in the summer during a cloudy or cold day or other time when there are few people on the beach.

Publisher Liz Gotthelf can be reached at newsdesk@sacobaynews.com.