April 29, 2025, Special Fisheries and Wildlife Board Meeting

Minutes from the April 29, 2025, special meeting of the Fisheries and Wildlife Board.

LOCATION: A Zoom video webinar

DATE: April 16, 2025

At 1:00 p.m., the attendees were welcomed, thanked for participating, and notified that MassWildlife was providing language interpretation in the five most-commonly spoken languages in the state, Chinese, Haitian Creole, Portuguese, Spanish, and Vietnamese, as well as American Sign Language, and that CART transcription services were also being provided. The translators were introduced, they each welcomed the attendees in their own language, and briefly explained how to access the service during the meeting and hearing.

Chair Sears opened the special meeting at 1:10 p.m. and introduced the Board members, the Director, and the Commissioner.

Attendees

PRESENT: Steve Sears/Chair, Emma Ellsworth/Vice Chair, Ernie Foster/Secretary, Bob Durand, Sasha Dyer, Matthew Sisk, Mark S. Tisa/Director, Tom O’Shea/Commissioner/DFG, Eve Schlüter/Deputy Director, Mike Huguenin/Assistant Director/Wildlife

Suspend the meeting for the public hearing on proposed 2025-2026 migratory bird hunting regulations

The Chair asked for a motion to suspend the open session and turn the webinar over to the hearing officer, Director Tisa.

Mr. Sisk moved that the open session be suspended until the close of the public hearing, at which time the Board would return to open session. Mr. Durand seconded the motion. There being no discussion, a vote was taken by roll call.

Mr. Sears: Yes
Ms. Ellsworth: Yes
Mr. Foster: Yes
Ms. Dyer: Yes
Mr. Durand: Yes
Dr. Organ: Yes
Mr. Sisk: Yes

The vote of approval was unanimous.

At the conclusion of the hearing, Chair Sears reconvened the open session. 

VOTE on the proposed 2025-2026 migratory bird hunting regulations

Chair Sears asked whether the Board members had any questions on the proposals. Hearing none, he stated that he would entertain a motion on the proposed regulations before any discussion.

Mr. Durand moved that the regulations be approved as presented. Dr. Organ seconded the motion.

Chair Sears asked for any discussion. Hearing none, he asked for a roll-call vote.

Mr. Sears: Yes
Ms. Ellsworth: Yes
Mr. Foster: Yes
Ms. Dyer: Yes
Mr. Durand: Yes
Dr. Organ: Yes
Mr. Sisk: Yes

The vote of approval was unanimous.

Adjourn

There being no further business, Mr. Sisk moved that the meeting adjourn. Mr. Durand seconded the motion. There being no discussion, the vote was taken by roll call.

Mr. Sears: Yes
Mr. Foster: Yes
Ms. Ellsworth: Yes
Mr. Durand: Yes
Ms. Dyer: Yes
Dr. Organ: Yes
Mr. Sisk: Yes

The vote in favor was unanimous and the meeting was adjourned at 1:40 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Ernie Foster
Secretary