The Department of Marine Resources is announcing the annual lotteries for scallop drag and scallop dive licenses. Based on licenses retired in 2025, the Department is making available 8 scallop drag apprentice licenses and 3 scallop dive licenses. The Department will begin accepting applications at noon on September 8th, and the lotteries will remain open until 4:30 pm October 5th.
In order to be eligible for the scallop license lotteries, an individual must meet all of the following criteria:
- Is a Maine resident and 18 years of age or older;
- Held in any previous calendar year or currently holds any commercial license issued by the Department of Marine Resources (under 12 M.R.S Part 9), or has in the past or currently is crewing onboard an active commercial scallop vessel;*
- Has not been convicted or adjudicated of a marine resources offense that resulted in a license suspension within the last 7 years;
- Does not currently possess a Scallop Dive or Scallop Drag license issued by Maine DMR
*If you intend to use a license that you held from 1995 –2026 to meet this requirement, the Department will use its licensing database to confirm that you held the license. If you intend to use a license that you held prior to 1995 to meet this eligibility criteria, you will need to produce a copy of the license for the Department’s review. If you intend to use experience as crew as evidence of meeting this requirement, you will need to provide documentation of the year(s), vessel(s), and captain(s). DMR will review the information provided to determine if you meet this requirement.
It is the responsibility of the applicant to determine their eligibility to participate in the scallop license lottery. If an applicant for either lottery is drawn, but determined to be ineligible, that drawing shall be void and the Department will draw another individual. The application fee submitted with the ineligible application is non-refundable.
There are additional criteria to enter the scallop drag apprentice lottery. Applicants to the scallop drag apprentice license lottery must identify the scallop drag license holder who has agreed to be their sponsor for the Apprentice Program. To be eligible to be a sponsor, the scallop drag license holder must have held their scallop drag license for a minimum of 5 years and may not have been convicted or adjudicated of a marine resources offense that resulted in a license suspension within the last 7 years. A sponsor may only agree to sponsor one apprentice per lottery, and must have identified the individual they will sponsor prior to the selection of that individual in the lottery.
Scallop drag apprentice license lottery winners must also complete the scallop drag apprentice requirements outlined in DMR regulation, Chapter 11. If you have questions about those requirements, contact Melissa Smith via email at melissa.smith@maine.gov
Any eligible individual may enter either the scallop drag apprentice license lottery or the dive license lottery, but not both lotteries. There will be a $52 fee to enter the lottery. $50 of each entry is deposited in the Scallop Research Fund and $2 goes to InforME who designed and supports the online lottery entry system.
Beginning on September 8th, online applications will be available at www.maine.gov/scalloplottery. Payments for online applications must be made by credit card. Applicants may also complete a paper application at the DMR offices in the Marquardt Building, 32 Blossom Lane, Augusta. Lobby days and hours are Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday 8 AM to 4:30 PM. However, please be advised that when applying in person, the lottery entry fee must be paid either by check or money order. We cannot accept cash payments. Any applications delivered in person on Wednesdays or Fridays must be left in the secure drop box in the Licensing vestibule. Finally, the Department cannot accept paper applications through the mail.
A Frequently Asked Questions document is available online as well. If you have remaining questions, please call Maine DMR at 624-6550, Option 2 and we will try to assist you.