This week’s Massachusetts Fisheries and Wildlife Board meeting, held remotely on Tuesday, had an agenda item that informed the Board that a change to the Massachusetts RMV license offerings would be able to provide a significant benefit to the cold-water fisheries resources in the commonwealth. Over the years, the native brook trout has been the focus of considerable study and great effort has been made to try to protect this species. Brook trout populations are under increasing stress from habitat alteration and climate change, to the point that some populations have been lost.
Many of us remember fishing locally for “brookies,” which were common to most local brooks. As time passed, these brooks have been degraded by development here and across the state, and native reproducing populations of brook trout have become scarce. In his presentation, Todd Richards, who serves as assistant director of Fisheries, informed the board that due to an agreement with the Massachusetts Environmental Trust, MassWildlife would now be assisting in the administration of the MET funds and will direct the funding to projects which will benefit brook trout by improving the cold-water habitat they require.
This action speaks directly to the future funding diversification mentioned by MassWildlife Director Mark Tisa and the working group that was responsible for creating a solid financial future for MassWildlife, which began with the successful modernization of the fees and permits to align with rising costs and shrinking revenues. It was stated that the increase was a first step, and the agency would aggressively seek alternatives like grants and nontraditional sources to pursue fiscal stability though additional funding mechanisms. This is a reflection of that agency goal.
You can expect to see promotion of this special MET license plate, which features a brook trout, in the near future. When my current registration expires, you will see one on the Silverado. The revenue will increase MassWildlife’s ability to direct brook trout conservation and also be supporting the grass roots efforts of our partners across the state. The April MassWildlife magazine will be an “all aquatic” magazine with something for everyone and that issue will include promotion of the plate. If you do not already subscribe to MassWildlife magazine, you should consider it as the magazine is a quality and informative periodical that comes four times a year.
What makes this funding change possible is the fact that MassWildlife is uniquely positioned to: (1) assist MET in the administration of its Unrestricted General Grants Program; and (2) direct conservation projects using a portion of the funding from the brook trout license plate to advance conservation and management of cold-water fishery resources through existing staff and a network of grass roots, university, and regional partnerships. The funding will be used specifically for management activities that benefit brook trout and their habitats, for research and monitoring to improve understanding of impacts to brook trout habitat caused by climate change, and for better management of brook populations. The grant program and directed conservation projects funded through the sale of brook trout (FW) license plates will complement and further the conservation and management activities funded through the Inland Fisheries and Game Fund.
Here are the details of the funding:
1. Coldwater Fish Resource (CFR) Directed Projects Program (MassWildlife). Revenue generated by the sale of the leaping brook trout license plate will be distributed whereby half of the net proceeds from the brook trout license plate will be disbursed to MassWildlife through an interagency service agreement between MET and MassWildlife for use by the Coldwater Fish Resource (CFR) Directed Projects Program, as described below. None of the funding can be used to fund the salaries of employees, or to support routine, ongoing program activities underway at the time of the execution of this agreement.
MassWildlife will use such funds to implement projects to manage and restore brook trout populations and habitats (e.g., improve fish passage), to improve knowledge of cold-water fisheries ecology, to address emerging issues such as climate change and/or to develop materials to educate the public about the importance of cold-water habitats and steps that can be taken to protect them.
2, Unrestricted General Grants Program (MET)
The remaining funds will be distributed by MET through its Unrestricted General Grants Program to fund projects and activities for the restoration of fish habitat, estuaries and aquatic ecosystems where priority is given to the conservation of cold-water fish, with a focus on brook trout for ecosystem sustainability, habitat conservation, and aquatic restoration.
The Massachusetts Environmental Trust is the key to this great program. To learn more about it you can visit the trust website:
https://www.mass.gov/how-to/purchase-an-environmental-license-plate
To purchase an environmental license plate, you can also visit MyRMV to order your specialty plate online through the MASSRMV. There are no shipping fees when ordering online. Choose ORDER A SPECIAL/VANITY PLATE. Fill out the required form on the RMV site (make sure you get the brook trout plate); Select the vehicle you want the plate for and press next; From the Vehicle Registration Plate Order page, scroll down to the next button. Choose Charitable Plate from the dropdown menu.
Mike Roche is a retired teacher who has been involved in conservation and wildlife issues his entire life. He has written the Sportsman’s Corner since 1984 and has served as advisor to the Mahar Fish’N Game Club, Counselor and Director of the Massachusetts Conservation Camp, has been a Massachusetts Hunter Education Instructor for over 40 years and is a licensed New York hunting guide. He can be reached at mikeroche3@msn.com.