Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 130, § 1A (2026)

Section 1A. The division of marine fisheries shall be within the department in the executive office of environmental affairs and shall be under the administrative supervision of a director who shall be called the director of marine fisheries. The director of the division of marine fisheries shall be appointed and may be removed by the commissioner of the department of fish and game with the approval of the marine fisheries advisory commission. The said division of marine fisheries shall administer all the laws relating to marine fisheries as appearing in chapter one hundred and thirty and any other general or special laws, except as pertain to the enforcement thereof. It shall be responsible for the biological development of marine fish and fisheries. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the division of marine fisheries shall have the sole authority and jurisdiction to regulate the harvest of marine fish and the effect of such activities on marine fish species and marine fisheries resources. No person authorized to engage in fishing activities by the division pursuant to this chapter shall be required to file a notice of intent pursuant to section 40 of chapter 131 or pursuant to a local wetlands by-law or regulation and no person shall be required to obtain a permit or license pursuant to chapter 91 or a water quality certification pursuant to chapter 21 in relation to any such fishing activities. Said division shall co-operate with all departments, boards, officials and institutions of the commonwealth or its subdivisions that may be concerned in any way with matters under its supervision. It shall co-operate with adjoining states and with the United States of America, or any agency thereof, with foreign countries, and any other agency, as may be authorized by the general court, and receive and dispense such funds from any of such agencies, states or governments as may be authorized by the general court.