Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

Section 44 of chapter 130 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2000 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out the second paragraph and inserting in place thereof the following paragraph:-

Beginning on January 1, 1989, the minimum size shall be 3¼ inches. Thereafter, the director may, by regulation approved by the marine fisheries advisory commission, increase the minimum size, and may establish different minimum sizes in separate geographic areas, if he determines that such increases are necessary to achieve compliance with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission Fisheries Management Plan for American lobster.