BOSTON—The Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game (DFG) announced the release of a five-year strategic plan, Connections: Working Together for Nature to guide the agency's work from 2025-2030.

 

The plan establishes a vision for the Department, focusing on solutions at the intersection of biodiversity, climate change, and environmental justice while advancing the priorities of the Healey-Driscoll Administration and Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA).

 

"I commend the team at the Department of Fish and Game for bringing the full force of the agency to combatting climate change and protecting our most precious natural resources," said Governor Maura Healey. "Under the new strategic vision led by Commissioner Tom O'Shea, the Department is taking action to ensure Massachusetts' rich ecosystems and diverse wildlife thrive and are accessible to all."

 

 

Since its inception, DFG has been dedicated to conserving fish and wildlife for the benefit of all people. The Department has significantly expanded its efforts in endangered species recovery, sustainable management of fisheries, land conservation and habitat management, restoration of rivers, wetlands, and streams, and enhanced work to connect with the public through recreation, education, and public access. While the Department maintains its commitment to conserve fish and wildlife and continue the long traditions of hunting, fishing, boating, and other outdoor recreation, this strategic plan outlines priority areas for growth and expansion. 

 

The Department has identified key priorities, which include developing nation-leading biodiversity conservation goals for 2030, 2040, and 2050 as called for by Governor Maura Healey's Executive Order No. 618. The agency will double the pace of land protection, working to protect an average of 6,000 acres per year, to support the state's goal of conserving 40 percent of Massachusetts land by 2050. Additionally, the Department will complete five landscape-scale conservation projects, expand river and wetland restoration efforts, promote carbon storage and sequestration, and develop decarbonization and resilience plans for all facilities.

 

The Department will also work to meaningfully connect with environmental justice and Indigenous communities by creating new inclusive recreation opportunities for underserved and environmental justice communities, increasing accessibility and use of Department programs, facilities, and resources, and improving language access. The Department will foster respectful, mutually beneficial partnerships with Indigenous peoples and collaborate with Tribes to identify resources they may wish to access for traditional and cultural uses. Finally, the Department will increase food security by expanding venison donations, connecting environmental justice communities with fresh, local seafood, and increasing Harmful Algal Bloom monitoring by 25 percent to ensure sustainable shellfish harvest.

 

The strategic plan was created collaboratively across the four Divisions—Division of Ecological Restoration (DER), Division of Fisheries & Wildlife (MassWildlife), Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF), and Office of Fishing & Boating Access (OFBA) and with input from the Fisheries & Wildlife Board and Marine Fisheries Advisory Commission (MFAC).

 

To explore the Department of Fish & Game's Strategic Plan for 2025-2030 and see a timeline for implementation, visit mass.gov/DFG-strategicplan.