The Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game (DFG) is the state agency responsible for conserving the Commonwealth’s freshwater and marine fisheries, wildlife, plants, and natural communities, and the habitats that support them. DFG’s mission is to conserve those resources for the benefit and enjoyment of all people, while also providing outdoor recreation opportunities across Massachusetts.
The Department is composed of four divisions: the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife), the Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF), the Division of Ecological Restoration (DER), and the Office of Fishing and Boating Access (OFBA). Together they manage hunting, fishing, trapping, and commercial-fishing licensing; trout stocking and hunter education; marine-fisheries science and management; and the state’s dam-removal, river-restoration, and streamflow-restoration programs. The Department’s 2025–2030 Strategic Plan and Massachusetts Biodiversity Goals guide its work in inland and coastal habitat conservation, environmental justice, and climate resilience for fish and wildlife.
DFG is headquartered in Boston and reports to the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA). As a Government Member, the Department is not a member of the US National Committee.
