Welcome to Southeastern Massachusetts Pine Barrens Alliance (SEMPBA)
The Southeastern Massachusetts Pine Barrens Alliance (SEMPBA) advocates for the protection of our globally-rare ecoregion, the Massachusetts Coastal Pine Barrens. An all-volunteer non-profit, SEMPBA develops educational materials, produces forums, monitors habitat and species. SEMPBA has a successful track record of winning local, state and federal grants, and distributes the vast majority of those funds to experts and established conservation entities who share their priorities and focus with us.
SEMPBA’s Community Conservation Center, located within Plymouth’s Center Hill Preserve, is open to the public and is often the site of conservation workshops, educational trail walks, and ongoing citizen science projects.
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Horseshoe Crab Protection Bill Advances to House Ways & Means!
We are pleased to share that H.898, An Act to End the Use of Horseshoe Crabs for Bait, has been reported out favorably by the Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources.
We are deeply grateful to the eight members of the Committee who voted in favor. Their support reflects a growing recognition that protecting horseshoe crabs is essential to restoring coastal ecosystems, supporting migratory shorebirds, and advancing Massachusetts’ biodiversity goals.
The bill has now been assigned a new number: H.5266, and has been referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means, where its next phase of review will take place.
This stage is critical. The Committee will consider the bill’s broader policy and fiscal implications as it determines whether the legislation should advance.
Next Steps: Thoughtful Outreach Matters
If you would like to help, respectful, informed outreach can make a meaningful difference.
We encourage supporters to:
- Contact members of the House Committee on Ways and Means and express support for H.5266.
- Emphasize that the bill advances biodiversity protection and coastal resilience, aligns Massachusetts with regional leadership (New York and Connecticut), and is supported by scientists, conservation organizations, and hundreds of residents.
- Visit our Horseshoe Crab Advocates page for the names and email links to legislators serving on the House Ways and Means Committee.
Resources for Taking Action
Letter Template—A ready-to-use letter you can personalize and send to your legislators (download Word doc.).
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Info Sheet —Learn why ending the bait harvest is critical for the recovery of horseshoe crabs—and share it widely! -
Fact Sheet for Legislators —Clear, science-based facts to help inform policy decisions.
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Thank you for helping give horseshoe crabs a future!
SEMPBA and DCR Seasonal Forestry Internship
SEMPBA is proud to be in partnership with the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) to provide a paid internship designed to inspire careers in the fields of consulting forestry, service forestry, forest health and environmental advocacy.
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SEMPBA is everywhere—doing everything we can to save the Coastal Pine Barrens!
Regional Collaboration
SEMPBA is proud to serve as coordinators for the Massachusetts Coastal Pine Barrens Partnership, one of 47 Regional Conservation Partnerships (RCPs) in the Northeastern United States.
Link to the Massachusetts Coastal Pine Barrens Partnership website
Research
SEMPBA volunteers participate in a range of research projects, including studying saltwater intrusion into Plymouth's groundwater, engaging citizens in regional climate change mitigation and preparedness, and contributing to various citizen science initiatives. There’s plenty of room for you and your ideas—join us in making a difference!
The Center @ Center Hill Preserve
Our Climate and Nature Center, nestled within the stunning Center Hill Preserve, showcases at least eight diverse natural communities—from beach to forest and everything in between—making it an exceptional site for nature education. We welcome schools, conservation groups, nature enthusiasts, and visitors of all kinds to explore the preserve. What you discover may inspire you—just as it has inspired SEMPBA volunteers—to take action in preserving our Coastal Pine Barrens!
Join our 2026 Annual Spawning Horseshoe Crab Survey on Long Beach
Every spring, Atlantic horseshoe crabs (Limulus polyphemus) return to the beaches of the U.S. East Coast to mate and, in the case of females, lay tens of thousands of eggs.
The Southeastern Massachusetts Pine Barrens Alliance (SEMPBA) will once again participate in the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (MDMF) Spawning Horseshoe Crab Survey on Plymouth’s Long Beach. The information we compile is used by the MDMF, along with data from other sites around the Commonwealth, to help determine horseshoe crab fishing and management regulations.
Contact SEMPBA (sharl@horseshoecrabs.org) to learn how you can become involved. Or sign up to survey here.
Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Action Grant Completed
Subterranean Resilience: Predicting, Assessing and Mitigating Saltwater Intrusion is a first-of-its-kind evaluation of the community’s susceptibility to saltwater intrusion, undertaken by researchers from the UMass-Amherst School of Earth and Sustainability, and a dozen local non-profit environmental and civic organizations who undertook a parallel program to raise awareness of climate resiliency issues regarding water quality. The grant also allowed for the creation of two legacy elements: the establishment of a community water testing station, and the creation of ‘One Water,’ an ongoing digital chronicle of local water-related projects and programs.
FINAL REPORT: Saltwater Intrusion Vulnerability Assessment in Plymouth, MA Compounding Effects of Sea Level Rise on Water Quality and Aquifer Sustainability, by the University of Massachusetts Amherst Hydrogeology Group Alexander Kirshen, Carly Lombardo, David Boutt, Daniel Corkran, Brendan Moran, & Rachel King. October 2023.
Click here to access the plant guide.
This native plant guide was funded in part by a Landscape Scale Restoration grant through the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
The SEMPBA Community Conservation Center is located at the beautiful Center Hill Preserve, 158 Center Hill Road, Plymouth, MA.
Phone 774-773-9982; Email Sharl at slheller@comcast.net.
