I have to disagree with you guys......here's why.
I had the same questions and being in Law Enforcement, I pulled the law up.
Emergency actions in the state of MA take effect on the date assigned......this case May 3rd. They snuck the 23rd under striped bass which the lawmakers cannot do.
That being said, we ran into an EPO last week......a Lieutenant IN CHARGE OF THE CAPE no less and asked him. He said I was correct in my assumptions. The emergency action as it was written SPECIFICALLY STATES that they will be in place on May 3rd. He said just because they have the 23rd in there makes no difference. He explained it this way. The authorities found it necessary to enact an "Emergency" action which covered a variety of species, one being striped bass. They voted on it and enacted it effective May 3. "Emergency" action takes effect on May 3 and not the 23rd.........a bit confusing.
That being said, He said his people have been instructed that the action is already in place and to disregard the 23rd BS. He said that they are not enforcing the 23rd stuff.
Yes.......I did make sure to take his name for the future but along the way, talking with many people, I heard the same kind of explanation.
Hope that helps a bit........it is, as usual, a confusing law!
