377 



The estuarine management activities and capabilities of the local- 

 government level in Massachusetts are described in the following chap- 

 ter 3 on local governments. However, in Massachusetts the towns or 

 local level governments control both the leasing and regulation of 

 shellfish. The above description of Massachusetts represents a con- 

 densation of material in the Massachusetts profile. 



DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES 



Division of Fisheries and Game. — (DFG) Full functional responsi- 

 bility for anadromous species and for waterf ow^l and animals. Enforces 

 provisions of State inland fish and game laws and regulations. 



Division of Forests and Parks. — (DFP) Responsible for providing 

 technical assistance to communities and other agencies in the acquisi- 

 tion and development of marine environment recreation lands. 



Division of Law Enforcement. — (DLE) Responsible for marine 

 patrol and rescue assistance within the Commonwealth's waters. This 

 agency is responsible for the enforcement of all laws, rules, and regu- 

 lations relative to marine fish and fisheries. 



Division of Conservation Services. — (DOS) Serves as a coordinat- 

 ing and interfacing agency between regional within-State groups and 

 also with Federal agencies. Responsible for administering policy on 

 preventing coastal pollution and for preserving biological and zo- 

 ological systems as related to coastal wetlands. 



Division of Marine Fisheries. — (DMF) Charged with management 

 of all marine fishery resources within the territorial limits of the 

 Commonwealth except such shellfish and alewife control as has been 

 allocated to the cities and towns. The program concentrates on estua- 

 rine fisheries research and on both basic and applied research on shell- 

 fish and lobsters. 



Division of Water Pollution Control. — A recently created agency to 

 enforce water quality standards. 



DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS 



Division of Waterivays. — (DW) Executive agency responsible 

 for harbor pollution and for transportation and disposal of refuse 

 at sea. Full functional responsibility for operation and maintenance 

 of the four State beaches and for construction of public recreational 

 boating facilities and for design and construction of shore protection 

 structures and dredging projects in collaboration with local com- 

 munities. Also licensing and permits for all tidewater structures in- 

 cluding fish weirs. Specifically, the Division regulates an existing law 

 concerning the removal of sand and gravel from tidal shores. An 

 amendment to the basic law administered by this Division gives the 

 local governments some authority since they may call hearings upon 

 any application to remove, dredge, or fill. 



Division of Sanitary Engineering. — Supervises and controls public 

 water supplies and sewage disposal systems, and regulates public 

 health aspects of shellfisheries. 



