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PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

321 CMR 4.00: Fishing

Date:

June 22, 2009 at 1:00 P.M. at the Canal Sportsmens' Club, 324 Main Street, Buzzards Bay.

In accordance with the Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 131, Section 5, and Chapter 30A, Section 2, NOTICE is hereby given of a public hearing to be held at 1:00 P.M. on Monday, June 22, 2009 at the Canal Sportsmens' Club, 324 Main Street, Buzzards Bay, Mass., relative to rules and regulations pertaining to the use of certain lead-based fishing sinkers and fishing jigs in the inland waters of Massachusetts.

Directions

From the North: Follow Route 495 south to Route 25 south (495 becomes 25). Follow 25 south and take the last exit before crossing over the Bourne Bridge (Exit No.2) to the Buzzards Bay rotary. Go almost all the way around the rotary and bear right towards/onto Route 6 east. Take an almost immediate right (approximately 150 feet from the rotary) onto the entrance road to the Canal Sportsmen's Club (the first right after the entrance to the Tamarack Technologies, Inc). There will be a small wooden sign at the entrance to the club road. Follow the road to the end to the Club.

From the south (on Cape Cod): Follow Route 28 north over the Bourne Bridge. Take the first exit to the right and follow ramp to the Buzzards Bay rotary. Follow direction above from that point.

Plain Language Summary of Hearing Proposal:

Ingestion of lead fishing tackle is a significant source of mortality for Common Loons. The existing freshwater fishing regulations prohibit the use of lead sinkers for fishing in the Quabbin and Wachusett Reservoirs. The proposed regulation change would prohibit the use of lead sinkers, lead weights, and lead fishing jigs with a mass of less than 1 ounce in the inland waters of Massachusetts. This provision, if passed by the Fisheries and Wildlife Board, shall become enforceable January 1, 2012.

Proposed Regulatory Language:

Below is a link to the proposed regulations text. Red text indicates proposed new language, strike-through indicates proposed text deletion.