Assistance for Electronic Tracking Devices - Federal Lobster Vessels

MA DMF will provide a one-time payment to assist with the cost of installing and operating an electronic tracking device to vessels federally permitted to harvest trap-caught lobster. These devices are required on these federally permitted vessels by May 1, 2023.

Updates: MA DMF mailed information on the electronic tracking program, required affidavit, and subsidy application on March 17, 2023, to identified permit holders. If you did not receive this mailing and are required to install an electronic tracking device on your vessel, please reach out to [e-mail] to request this information. As we receive subsidy applications, we will forward the information to ASMFC on a weekly basis for them to issue payments. You can check the Lobster Electronic Tracking Device Reimbursement List to ensure your subsidy application was received and the date ASMFC mailed your payment. 

In Massachusetts, electronic tracking devices will be required by May 1, 2023, for vessels federally permitted to land trap-caught American lobster and/or Jonah crab. The Federal Fiscal Year 2022 budget provided funds for this assistance program which will be distributed for the purchase and installation of an electronic tracking device and a subsequent subscription service to all eligible Massachusetts persons or entities whose vessel is required to deploy an approved electronic tracker per Addendum XXIX to Amendment 3 to the American Lobster Fishery Management Plan and Addendum IV to the Jonah Crab Fishery Management Plan.

The Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (MA DMF) will identify the eligible permit holders and contact them via US mail to give them the electronic tracking device options to install on their commercial vessel and provide a subsidy application to help cover the cost of the device, subscription service, and defray the cost of installation. MA DMF will require a completed application to accept this financial assistance and an affidavit from the permit holder that the device is installed on their identified vessel. Each permit holder who returns these forms in 2023 will receive a one-time payment of $1,500 as a subsidy for the installation of an electronic tracking device on their federally permitted vessel.  

Permit holders who become eligible for this subsidy in 2024 or 2025 will receive a pro-rated payment of less than $1,500.  Funds for this subsidy will not be available after December 31, 2025.

You may choose not to accept financial assistance from this program, however, if your vessel's principal port is in Massachusetts and your vessel is federally permitted to land trap-caught American lobster and/or Jonah crab, you are still subject to this vessel tracking requirement by May 1, 2023.

More details about the operational requirements of the electronic tracking devices can be found on the Electronic Tracking of Federal Lobster Vessels webpage.  Please contact the Vessel Tracking Program at [e-mail] for questions about device requirements, device vendors, or any other issue specifically related to the operation of the electronic tracking device.  If you have questions about a payment from this program, please contact the DMF Grants Team at [e-mail].

Eligibility

Any commercial trap permit holder who currently has a vessel federally permitted to land American lobster and/or Jonah crab whose principal port is in Massachusetts and is required by ASMFC to deploy an approved vessel tracking device; or a permit holder as described who enters or reenters into the federal fishery from 2023-2025, will be eligible to receive funds for an electronic tracking device and subscription support.

Only one subsidy payment will be available per person/entity-vessel relationship through December 31, 2025.

Payments

After MA DMF receives the completed subsidy applications from eligible permit holders, we will compile payment lists for the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC).  ASMFC will mail checks to the address on your application - please be sure to review and correct any contact information on your application. You can check the Lobster Electronic Tracking Device Reimbursement List to see when ASMFC mailed your subsidy payment.

Completing the subsidy application serves as a request for financial assistance for a vessel tracking device for your federally permitted vessel. Requesting funds is a binding agreement to adhere to all the requirements in the vessel tracking affidavit.  A signed affidavit must be returned within 60 days of receiving funding or your permit will be subject to suspension.

MA DMF has been notified by the federal government funds from this program are taxable. Please be advised that recipients are responsible for the tax consequences of all income received. Therefore, please consult with your tax preparer if you have any further questions regarding the tax implications of these payments.