Under the provisions of M.G.L. Ch 30A and pursuant to the authority found in M.G.L. Ch. 130 ss. 17, 17A, 80, 100A and 104, Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) and the Marine Fisheries Advisory Commission (MFAC) have scheduled hearings on DMF proposals and a public petition pertaining to the management of the commercial striped bass fishery (322 CMR 6.07 and 7.01).

The proposals are:

1. Lower the daily possession limit through the following options:
   1. DMF proposal to drop from 30 fish to 20 fish per vessel; or
   2. Public petition to drop from 30 fish to 20 fish per vessel except on Sundays and the opening day of the season when the limit would be 10 fish;
2. DMF proposal to reduce the number of open fishing days per week (currently set at Sunday-Wednesday) from four to three; Comments will be accepted regarding which days of the week would be open;
3. DMF proposal to prohibit commercial striped bass fishing aboard vessels engaged in for-hire recreational fishing;
4. DMF proposal to allow dealers to sell during April through November striped bass legally caught and documented from out-of-state. Whole fish would have to conform to the Massachusetts 34” minimum size and bear an official tag designating state of origin. This proposal does not alter the existing rules governing imported striped bass during December through March.
5. DMF proposal to open the commercial fishery on July 10.

A public hearing has been scheduled for:
Tuesday, March 29, 2005 (7PM) at the Plymouth Community Intermediate School
(117 Long Pond Rd., Plymouth, MA 02360).

Contact DMF for draft regulations and further details or visit our website at www.mass.gov/marinefisheries.