Overview of the Department of Fish and Game

This section describes the makeup and responsibilities of the Department of Fish and Game.

Overview

The Department of Fish and Game (DFG) was established in accordance with Sections 7, 8, and 11B of Chapter 21A; Chapter 130; Chapter 131; and Chapter 131A of the Massachusetts General Laws. It is one of six state agencies under the general oversight of the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EOEEA). It is a semi-decentralized¹ state agency that is headed by a commissioner appointed by the Governor. It currently has four major divisions: the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (DFW), the Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF), the Office of Fishing and Boating Access (FBA), and the Division of Ecological Restoration (DER). As of April 2019, DFG had approximately 310 full-time-equivalent positions.

• DFW consists of two sections: Fisheries and Wildlife. According to its 2017 annual report,

The fisheries section operates an extensive hatchery program that provides an excellent fishery for brook, brown, rainbow and tiger trout. . . .

The fisheries section also carries out research and management on streams, rivers, lakes, and ponds designed to monitor fish communities statewide. . . .

The Wildlife Section is responsible for the conservation, management, and research of wildlife and game populations within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts; habitat management . . . ; responding to human-wildlife conflicts; guiding and supporting the agency’s Large Animal Response Team (LART); and supporting wildlife-dependent recreational opportunities.

DFW’s main office is in Westborough.

• According to DMF’s 2017 annual report,

DMF is the agency responsible for the development and promulgation of the Commonwealth’s regulations governing commercial and recreation fishing in marine environment[s].

DMF has five offices, which are in Boston, New Bedford, Oak Bluffs, Newburyport, and Gloucester. Payments for commercial licenses and permits can be purchased at the Boston, New Bedford, and Gloucester locations.

• According to its website, FBA “provides boat and canoe access sites, shore fishing areas, and sport fishing piers at more than 290 locations on coastal waters, great ponds and rivers throughout Massachusetts.” FBA’s main office is in Westborough.
• According to its website, DER “restores and protects rivers, wetlands, and watersheds in Massachusetts for the benefit of people and the environment.” DER has two offices, which are in Boston and Westfield.

DFG uses two systems to record fees, licenses, and permits:

• MassFishHunt (MFH): According to DFG’s website, MFH is “the official licensing and harvest reporting system for Massachusetts, [used] to purchase and print saltwater and freshwater fishing, hunting, and trapping licenses, permits, and stamps [and] report a harvest.” DFG has contracted with a third party for the operation and security of MFH.
• Fish: This is a program built in 1999 that contains a database of commercial fishing permits issued. It is developed within, and managed by, EOEEA.

DFG’s budgets for fiscal years 2017 through 2019 were as follows:

	Direct Appropriations	Retained Revenue	Federal Grant Spending	Total Budget
Fiscal Year 2017	$27,544,471	$542,989	$24,983,529	$53,070,989
Fiscal Year 2018	$28,978,897	$542,989	$9,891,604	$39,413,490
Fiscal Year 2019	$29,705,777	$542,989	$8,059,904	$38,308,670

 

According to the Massachusetts Management Accounting and Reporting System, the actual revenue during our audit period (July 1, 2016 through December 31, 2018) was as follows.

	Fiscal Year 2017	Fiscal Year 2018	Fiscal Year 2019†	Total
Federal Grants	$9,233,436	$7,694,178	$2,198,553	$9,126,167
Federal Reimbursement	8,270,619	9,001,307	4,162,994	21,434,920
Fees*	3,193,784	3,151,048	1,213,057	7,557,889
Fines and Penalties	3,620	3,750	220	7,590
Licenses and Permits*	7,807,563	7,968,211	1,972,393	17,748,167
Miscellaneous*	311,496	997,766	128,654	1,437,916
Other Contributions	41,120	45,207	18,300	104,627
Reimbursement for Services	516,519	529,570	331,615	1,377,704
Rent	53,927	61,451	29,272	144,650
Sale of Goods	23,942	44,719	17,829	86,490
Trust Contributions	6,948,589	4,719,835	1,094,496	12,762,920
Total Revenue	$36,404,615	$34,217,042	$11,167,383	$81,789,040

*    This row corresponds to our audit objective.

†    This column represents data through December 31, 2018.

 

These revenue categories are defined below.

• Federal Grants: This is funding received from the federal government for programs dedicated to preserving freshwater fish and wildlife in Massachusetts, including endangered plants and animals.
• Federal Reimbursements: These are payments received for services rendered to the federal government by DFG.
• Fees: These include fees for stamps required for wildlife and waterfowl hunting; environmental reviews; and information requests. Licenses and permits are required for hunting and fishing in the Commonwealth.
• Fines and Penalties: These are assessments for violation of Massachusetts gaming, fishing, and boating laws.
• Licenses and Permits: This category consists of revenue from fishing and hunting licenses and permits.
• Miscellaneous: This revenue includes one-time payments from private entities for use of state-owned land; donations on behalf of estates; and donations made for the conservation and protection of the natural habitats of Massachusetts wildlife.
• Other Contributions: These include donations from private citizens and other parties interested in promoting Massachusetts conservation and preservation projects.
• Reimbursement for Services: This category comprises reimbursement for the Marine Recreational Information Program and the Wallop Breaux Trust, which supports recreational boating safety activities.
• Rent: Rent is received from individuals and companies for the use of properties owned by the Commonwealth.
• Sale of Goods: This category encompasses revenue from publications, brochures, tags, posters, and wood products.
• Trust Contributions: This category encompasses revenue received from retail vendors that is not otherwise categorized as licenses or permits.

1.    DMF and DFW, although they fall under DFG, have separate boards established by the Legislature that oversee their operations.

Date published:	March 17, 2020