1. Designation; prohibition. The Great Salt Bay is designated as a marine shellfish preserve in which the harvesting of any shellfish species and other harvesting activities involving bottom disturbance are prohibited, except that the commissioner may authorize research activities in the area.
2. Great Salt Bay defined. For the purposes of this section, "Great Salt Bay" means the tidal portion of the Damariscotta River in the towns of Damariscotta, Newcastle and Nobleboro that is north of a line extending between 2 points of land located 600 yards north of the U.S. Route 1 highway bridge.
3. Research activities. This section does not apply to research activities in the Great Salt Bay that are authorized by the commissioner.
4. Taking of finfish. Nothing in this section may be construed to limit the taking of finfish from the Great Salt Bay.