BEAT Webinar on Campaign to End Non-Native Fish Stocking

07:39AM / Thursday, February 26, 2026Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT) announces the launch of its campaign "Stop Non-Native Fish Stocking," a public education and advocacy effort urging the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to end the routine stocking of non-native fish in rivers, streams, lakes, and ponds.

The campaign highlights the ecological consequences of current stocking practices and aligns with state commitments to biodiversity and climate resilience.

According to a press release:

The Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife) spends millions of dollars to raise and stock waterways with non-native fish for recreational fishing. According to state information, stocked fish are generally unable to survive long-term, resulting in extremely high mortality rates shortly after stocking and potentially contributing to excess nutrients. Other independent research shows that stocking non-native fish disrupts aquatic ecosystems and negatively impacts native species. These outcomes run counter to the Massachusetts Biodiversity Mandate, which directs state agencies to protect native species and biodiversity across the Commonwealth. By advocating for an end to non-native stocking, BEAT seeks to modernize fisheries management in a way that prioritizes ecosystem health and public accountability.

BEAT will host a free public webinar on March 3, 2026, titled "The Harmful Practice of Fish Stocking in Massachusetts and What You Can Do to Help," to provide ecological context, review key findings, and offer space for discussion and questions, while also supporting informed public engagement around fisheries management decisions and providing practical guidance on how to push for policy change, including how to effectively contact MassWildlife and state officials.

Registration is Required. RSVP at https://www.thebeatnews.org/BeatTeam/event/stop-fish-stocking-webinar/

This campaign is part of BEAT's broader mission to protect the natural systems that sustain wildlife and communities in the Berkshires and beyond. BEAT's work integrates science, advocacy, and community engagement to address emerging environmental challenges and ensure that public resources support resilient, biodiverse ecosystems.

Registration details for the March 3 webinar and additional campaign resources are available at: https://www.thebeatnews.org/BeatTeam/stop-stocking/

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MassDOT, CSX Agree on Improvements to Support Berkshire Flyer, Passenger Rail

Staff Reports iBerkshires
06:01AM / Thursday, October 08, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The state Department of Transportation and CSX have reached an agreement for local infrastructure improvements that will be a "major step" to making the Berkshire Flyer a permanent seasonal service.

Gov. Maura Healey's administration said the improvements will also help toward the years-long project of expanding passenger rail in Western Massachusetts.

"People in Western Massachusetts have been clear that they want better rail connections, and we're delivering," Healey said in a statement released on Thursday. "This agreement puts the Berkshire Flyer on a path toward permanent seasonal service and invests in the infrastructure we need to keep expanding West-East passenger rail service between Boston and Albany. Combined with new federal funding for modern trains, we're giving people more choices, supporting local businesses and better connecting Western Massachusetts to opportunities across the Northeast."

Mayor Peter Marchetti said the Berkshire Flyer is an important asset to the city and that he was grateful for the investment to make it permanent.

The Berkshire Flyer was established in 2022, connecting the Berkshires directly to New York City for the first time in a half-century. The Amtrak service was based on the seasonal Cape Cod Flyer with the goal to increase tourism opportunities. The 2026 season expanded service with an additional round-trip, including new opportunities for Berkshire County residents to travel to New York City.

The administration also announced that new federal funding awarded to Amtrak for additional modern trainsets will support Compass Rail services, including the Berkshire Flyer and the future Inland Route between Boston, Springfield and New Haven.

Under the new agreement with CSX, MassDOT will fund construction of a siding and other track improvements in the Pittsfield area to increase rail capacity and reduce conflicts between passenger and freight operations. MassDOT will also explore the feasibility of a new platform at the Joseph Scelsi Intermodal Transportation Center.

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