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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3256 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1059
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Jeffrey Rosario Turco
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act relative to fisheries conservation gear grant program.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Jeffrey Rosario Turco19th Suffolk1/16/2025 1 of 2
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3256 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1059
By Representative Turco of Winthrop, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1059) of
Jeffrey Rosario Turco that the Division of Marine Fisheries establish a program for commercial
fishing gear. Environment and Natural Resources.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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An Act relative to fisheries conservation gear grant program.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 SECTION 1. There is hereby established, subject to appropriation, a Fisheries
2Conservation Gear Grant Program, the purpose of which shall be to provide funding assistance
3for the research, development, and acquisition of commercial fishing gear which limits or
4eliminates the mortality of juvenile or other fish not legally harvestable, or harm or mortality to
5protected species such as the Northern Right Whale, while maximizing the sustainability and
6productivity of an affected fishery. The program shall be developed and administered by the
7Division of Marine Fisheries, which shall conduct regular hearings at intervals of not less than
8once per year, to determine the size, type and scope of such grants necessary to maximize their
9effectiveness in achieving the goals set forth in this section. In administering the program, the
10division shall utilize eligibility criteria which, to the greatest extent possible, ensure equity based
11on geography, fishery type, gear type, and demographic factors, provided further that grants may
12be conditioned on matching resources and collaboration between commercial fishery participants
13and scientific or other institutions which conduct relevant research. 2 of 2
14 SECTION 2. Eligibility for grants from the program shall be restricted to fishing industry
15participants domiciled in Massachusetts and holding a valid state or federal commercial fisheries
16permit, and institutions of higher learning or research organizations located in the
17commonwealth.
18 SECTION 3.The division may, on behalf of the commonwealth, retain all or a portion of
19the ownership of any intellectual property developed through said program, including but not
20limited to patents, and registrations, provided, however, that any intellectual property so held
21shall be made available through licensure or other means under reasonable terms and conditions
22to those otherwise eligible for grant funding pursuant to this act, and for the purposes of this act.