Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (Massachusetts)
The Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (sometimes referred to as MassWildlife) is a division of the Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game, a governmental agency of Massachusetts.
The Division was founded as a state fisheries commission in 1866 in response to citizen concerns about the loss of Atlantic salmon to dams and pollution. The statutory responsibility of MassWildlife is the conservation (including protection, restoration, and management) of Massachusetts' fauna and flora.
Specifically, MassWildlife's charge is the stewardship of all wild amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals, and freshwater and diadromous fishes in the state. MassWildlife is also a guardian of endemic endangered, threatened, and special concern species, including native wild plants and invertebrates. This responsibility is established and articulated in the Constitution and General Laws of Massachusetts.
As the base of scientific knowledge regarding the interdependence of all environmental factors has grown, MassWildlife's mission has evolved to include all aspects of the natural environment.
Funding
The agency's activities are mainly supported by revenue from the sale of hunting, trapping and fishing licenses, stamps and permits, returns from federal taxes on hunting and fishing equipment as well various bond initiatives (primarily for land purchase). Additional funding is derived from a small amount of general fund money and voluntary donations from businesses, conservation organizations and individuals who contribute to the Wildlands Fund and the Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Fund through a various means including checking "yes" on state tax forms.
Oversight
MassWildlife is overseen by a seven-member Fisheries and Wildlife Board appointed by the Governor of Massachusetts. The Board supervises and controls the agency, has the authority to make regulations, sets policy, and oversees personnel appointments. The Board meets monthly and holds public hearings as part of the regulatory process. All meetings and hearings are posted on the agency website as well as at agency facilities.
The Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Advisory Committee, established in 1981, is another seven-member citizen body. The role of the Committee is to provide MassWildlife with independent scientific advice on the conservation and protection of over 400 species of wild plants and animals that are not hunted, fished or trapped. In addition, the Committee advises the Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program on matters such as promotion of the Natural Heritage Fund, funding priorities for biological field research and inventory as well as other issues concerning the protection of biodiversity in Massachusetts.