Bill S.391 187th (2011 - 2012)

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection Office of Research and Standards shall conduct a long-term research program on contaminants in Striped Bass. Contaminants to be looked for shall include but not be limited to mercury, polychlorinated biphenyls, dioxin, mirex, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, chlordane and dieldrin. The results of said research program shall be published annually and forwarded to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health for the purpose of publishing warnings to the public should levels of contaminants in the Striped Bass cause health concerns due to consumption of the fish by pregnant women or the general population. The research program shall be conducted as to have the maximum impact for the safety of the general population based around the commercial and recreational Striped Bass fishing season in the Commonwealth. Should there be a finding of elevated contaminants in Striped Bass by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, the Department shall direct the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries to institute a labeling and notification program for Striped Bass caught commercially and sold for human consumption in fish stores, fish markets and on the dock or wharf in Massachusetts as well as other markets the fish are sold into.