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| 2 | 2 | | HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2926 FILED ON: 1/16/2025 |
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| 3 | 3 | | HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 898 |
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| 4 | 4 | | The Commonwealth of Massachusetts |
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| 5 | 5 | | _________________ |
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| 6 | 6 | | PRESENTED BY: |
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| 7 | 7 | | Michelle L. Badger |
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| 8 | 8 | | _________________ |
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| 9 | 9 | | To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General |
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| 10 | 10 | | Court assembled: |
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| 11 | 11 | | The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill: |
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| 12 | 12 | | An Act to end the taking of horseshoe crabs for bait. |
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| 13 | 13 | | _______________ |
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| 14 | 14 | | PETITION OF: |
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| 15 | 15 | | NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Michelle L. Badger1st Plymouth1/16/2025 1 of 2 |
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| 16 | 16 | | HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2926 FILED ON: 1/16/2025 |
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| 17 | 17 | | HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 898 |
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| 18 | 18 | | By Representative Badger of Plymouth, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 898) of |
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| 19 | 19 | | Michelle L. Badger relative to the use of horseshoe crabs for bait. Environment and Natural |
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| 20 | 20 | | Resources. |
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| 21 | 21 | | The Commonwealth of Massachusetts |
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| 22 | 22 | | _______________ |
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| 23 | 23 | | In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court |
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| 24 | 24 | | (2025-2026) |
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| 25 | 25 | | _______________ |
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| 26 | 26 | | An Act to end the taking of horseshoe crabs for bait. |
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| 27 | 27 | | Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority |
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| 28 | 28 | | of the same, as follows: |
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| 29 | 29 | | 1 Chapter 130 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following section:- |
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| 30 | 30 | | 2 Section 107. (a) As used in this section, the following term shall, unless the context |
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| 31 | 31 | | 3clearly requires otherwise, have the following meaning: |
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| 32 | 32 | | 4 “Horseshoe crab,” the species known as Limulus polyphemus. |
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| 33 | 33 | | 5 (b) No person shall engage in the harvesting of horseshoe crabs or the eggs of horseshoe |
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| 34 | 34 | | 6crabs from coastal waters to be used as bait. |
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| 35 | 35 | | 7 (b) The director may authorize the taking of horseshoe crabs by permit for educational or |
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| 36 | 36 | | 8scientific purposes; provided that, the director determines that such harvesting will not cause |
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| 37 | 37 | | 9harm to the horseshoe crab population of coastal waters. |
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| 38 | 38 | | 10 (c) The taking of horseshoe crabs incidentally during legal fishing operations shall not |
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| 39 | 39 | | 11violate this section if the horseshoe crabs are returned immediately to coastal waters unharmed. 2 of 2 |
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| 40 | 40 | | 12 (d) Any person who violates the provisions of this section shall be fined $25 for each |
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| 41 | 41 | | 13horseshoe crab taken from coastal waters. No penalty shall result in possessing a cast off or |
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| 42 | 42 | | 14molted shell also known as an exoskeleton of a horseshoe crab. |
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| 43 | 43 | | 15 (e) Pursuant to chapter 30A, the division shall promulgate rules and regulations to |
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| 44 | 44 | | 16enforce the provisions of this section. |
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