Increase recreational fishing and boating access in coastal massachusetts the massachusetts division of marine fisheries MA DMF works to preserve marine stewardship of our residents and visitors and…

The Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (MA DMF) will receive $3.9 million under a Formula Grant from the U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Region 5's Sport Fish Restoration program (CFDA 15.605). The funding will support two projects to increase recreational fishing and boating access in coastal Massachusetts. The MA DMF, Massachusetts Office of Fishing and Boating Access, and City of Salem will rebuild the well-known Salem Willows fishing pier in Salem, serving nearby social justice populations. Additionally, the MA DMF will collaborate with the Town of Somerset and Office of Fishing and Boating Access to construct a new fishing and boating facility with an ADA-accessible fishing pier, carry-in boat launch, picnic area, and parking along the Taunton River in Somerset. The projects aim to preserve marine stewardship and foster its importance in future generations through improved public coastal access for fishing and boating year-round or seasonally. Total funding of $3.9M will be provided from October 1, 2022 through September 30, 2027.

Increase recreational fishing and boating access in coastal massachusetts the massachusetts division of marine fisheries MA DMF works to preserve marine stewardship of our residents and visitors and projects, located at family friendly sites, are important in fostering the importance of this stewardship in future generations our goal is to increase access to each site s coastal resources with year round access or as utilized through seasonal fisheries and boating IT is our hope that updating and increasing public access to these sites will allow historical fishing and boating to not only continue at these sites but bring in a broader socio economic public base, who may otherwise not be able to recreationally access marine resources as easily the first proposed project is to rebuild the well known fishing pier at salem willows in salem, MA MA DMF, the massachusetts office of fishing and boating access ofba , and the city of salem are collaborating to rebuild this pier which will also serve many nearby social justice SJ populations a second proposed project will be to collaborate with the town of somerset and ofba to build a new fishing and boating access facility in somerset, MA that will have an ADA accessible fishing pier, car top kayak and canoe ramp, a picnic area, and parking along the scenic taunton river this project would bring much needed opportunity for the public to enjoy recreational fishing or boating access who otherwise may have difficulty accessing this type of marine recreation because this project will create a new destination for families and individuals, we expect this location to increasingly attract anglers andboaters over the years, becoming a popular spot to foster recreational fishing and boating in future generations this facility will serve the local community which includes many nearby SJ populations grant staff will work with the recreational fishing and boating public alongside stakeholders to prioritize new locations throughout the duration of this grant