Massachusetts General Laws Part I. Administration of the Government (Ch. 1-182) Ch. 130, § 106

(a) Except as provided in this section, no person shall possess, sell, offer for sale, trade or distribute a shark fin.

(b) A person who holds a license or permit to take or land sharks may separate a shark fin from a lawfully landed shark during the ordinary course of preparing the body of the shark for consumption, sale, trade or distribution; provided, however, that a shark fin so separated from the shark shall be immediately destroyed unless used by the person for the purposes of taxidermy.

(c) The division may issue a permit for the possession of a shark fin to a person conducting noncommercial, scientific research.

(d) A shark fin seized by the division through the enforcement of this section shall be destroyed by the division.

(e) Whoever violates this section shall be punished by a fine of not less than $500 nor more than $1,000 or by imprisonment for not more than 60 days or by both such fine and imprisonment; provided, however, that each shark fin possessed, sold, offered for sale, traded or distributed in violation of this section shall constitute a separate offense. A violation of this section by a person holding a commercial or recreational license or permit pursuant to this chapter may result in the suspension or revocation of such license or permit.