“The Healey-Driscoll Administration today announced $1.6 million in grants to support innovative approaches to enhance Massachusetts commercial marine fisheries and the seafood industry. Twenty Massachusetts businesses and organizations are receiving funding through the Environmental Economic Innovation and Resiliency in Marine Fisheries Grant Program, supplemented by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). The grant program will fund projects that work to mitigate economic barriers resulting from climate change and promote sustainable, local fisheries development in Massachusetts.

“Massachusetts is a leader in protecting the health of our fishing industry, and this funding shows our commitment to keep the industry thriving by utilizing cutting-edge technology and the latest scientific research,” said Governor Maura Healey. “Our administration is taking a holistic approach to combating climate change, which includes supporting our fisheries, advancing green energy, and enhancing the state’s blue economy.”

“Having served as mayor of a coastal community, I know how much the fishing industry contributes to and impacts a city’s economy, character, and food security,” said Lt. Governor Kim Driscoll. “Massachusetts’ commercial fishing and processing industries were hit hard and changed forever by the pandemic. This funding will support innovative, environmentally friendly efforts to grow the industry and support critical food production in Massachusetts.”

The Environmental Economic Innovation and Resiliency in Marine Fisheries Grant Program is administered by the Department of Fish and Game’s (DFG) Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF). The grant program aims to develop, utilize, and promote innovative approaches that enhance environmental benefits and encourage increased economic activity in Massachusetts commercial marine fisheries and the seafood industry. Project outcomes, developed technologies, and data will be shared with the relevant industries and local and state natural resource managers to help grow and support critical food production. 

“The fishing industry is on the front lines of climate change, and it’s critical we make meaningful, long-term investments now to ensure the sustainability and resiliency of our marine fisheries,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. “This funding is two-fold in that we are helping fishers and their families recover from the pandemic while supporting new approaches that will safeguard our valuable marine resources from climate harm.”

“Our coastal cities benefit from a successful and vibrant fishing industry, and supporting these projects will give fishers, growers, and processors the tools to promote sustainably harvested local seafood,” said DFG Commissioner Tom O’Shea. “By investing in innovation, research, and technology, we’re building a more resilient workforce in the fishing industry.”

“Today’s funding announcement represents a significant investment in the future of our blue economy. This funding will support innovative approaches to enhance the marine environment, combat climate change, and promote sustainable, local fisheries development,” said State Senator Susan Moran (D-Falmouth). “I commend the Healey-Driscoll Administration for their commitment to supporting our fishing industry and coastal communities, which play a vital role in our economy, local culture, and food security. This grant funding will help the industry recover from the challenges posed by the pandemic and promote critical food production right here in Massachusetts.”

“Fishing is at the core of our cultural identity as well as the local economy in New Bedford,” said State Senator Mark Montigny (D-New Bedford), who has long championed state programs to support fishermen and their families.  “The extraordinary researchers at SMAST have been an invaluable resource for this industry, and this latest grant funding will help our fishermen maximize their time while out at sea.”

“We are excited that the Healey-Driscoll administration has continued its support for our fishing industry here in New Bedford,” said State Representative Chris Hendricks (D-New Bedford). “This ARPA money for SMAST will provide additional support to our fisheries and give them accurate real-time information that will help New Bedford remain the most profitable fishing port in the United States.”

The Massachusetts Environmental Economic Innovation and Resiliency in Marine Fisheries Grant Program awards up to $100,000 per project.

School of Marine Science and Technology, UMass-Dartmouth, New Bedford: $99,290 to create a system that will give fishermen real-time information of the fish entering their net so that they can terminate a trawl immediately if they encounter fish they wish to avoid catching.”-Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game.

Advocates push legislation to ban barbaric practice following statewide bans in Maryland and New York.

“On Monday, animal welfare advocates took to the State House to push for legislation filed by Senator Mark Montigny (D-New Bedford) to ban inhumane cat declawing in Massachusetts. Montigny has filed the legislation since 2019, and since then Maryland and New York have enacted statewide bans. This latest effort is supported by numerous animal welfare organizations including the Animal Rescue League of Boston, the Humane Society of the United States, the Animal Legal Defense Fund, the Paw Project, the Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association, and the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

“Declawing is an abhorrent practice that most veterinarians view as inhumane,” said Senator Mark Montigny (D-New Bedford), a longtime legislative leader for the humane treatment of animals. “Massachusetts has an opportunity to be a leader in animal cruelty issues by joining Maryland and New York in implementing a statewide ban. This procedure is barbaric, and we have done far too little on Beacon Hill to punish heartless abusers and to pushback against a weak court system that has too often failed to hold these monsters accountable. Any further delay in enacting this legislation will only harm more innocent animals.”

Advocates testified in support of S190, An Act prohibiting inhumane feline declawing before the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure. The bill would prohibit declawing and tendonectomy, unless for the medical need of the feline. Declawing a cat involves amputating the last bone of each toe, which if performed on a human would be equivalent to cutting off each finger at the last knuckle.

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, the physical side effects from declawing include both acute and chronic pain, improperly healed wounds, sudden loss of blood, and impaired immune response. Behavioral side effects include biting and an increased likelihood of urinating or defecating outside of the litter box.

“A declaw is not just a nail trim, it is amputation. Declawed cats suffer from pain and behavioral problems that severely decrease their quality of life,” said Allison Blanck, Director of Advocacy at the Animal Rescue League of Boston. “There are a number of steps cat owners can take to deter unwanted scratching, such as offering scratching posts, cutting a cat’s nails, and using plastic nail caps.”

The Joint Committee has twice reported the bill favorably. A decision for this year’s legislation is expected later this summer.”

“This morning our firefighters responded to a rollover motor vehicle crash with injuries on Route 195 east bound. After dealing with the crash, they found that the vehicle had gone through a roadside memorial where another person had lost their life a few years ago.

Our duty crew took it upon themselves to bring the cross back to the fire station, make the necessary repairs to get the cross back together, repair the lettering and clean it up.

They also went through the woods on site to find as many of the memorial peices as possible, like a teddy bear and other religious items to get the memorial back together. The cross was returned, secured in the ground with as many items as we could placed back with it.

**Please note that this act of kindness was not going to be posted, but due to the amount of distracted drivers filming us this morning working on the roadside, we didn’t want the family to see one of the videos with us carrying away their memorial in peices but to know that we brought it back all fixed up.**”-Mattapoisett Fire Rescue.

All photos by Mattapoisett Fire Rescue:

“This coyote pup was seen desperately trying to get a plastic container off his head for two days.

Yesterday Billerica & Tewksbury Animal Control were called. It was clear this pup was going to need some immediate help. Animal control called us in along with Environmental Police Officer Taylor.

With all of us working together, we were able to find him, capture him and remove the container from his head.

The young pup was clearly in shock. His gums were pale. He was a bit disoriented and dehydrated so we brought him back to the rescue for care.

This morning he is feeling much better. The finder told us the pup’s parents are still around and where to find them, so he will be reunited with his family today.

A big thank you to dedicated Animal Control officer Casey Smith, my favorite environmental police officer Dewayne Taylor and my incredible fiancé, Jonny.

It took a village, but this guy’s life was saved because of it. ❤️❤️❤️”-Newhouse Wildlife Rescue.

Newhouse Wildlife Rescue photo.

Newhouse Wildlife Rescue photo.

Newhouse Wildlife Rescue photo.

Newhouse Wildlife Rescue photo.

“Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), chair of the Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Clean Air, Climate, and Nuclear Safety, and Representative Lisa Blunt Rochester (DE) today announced the reintroduction of the Technology Assessment for Air Quality Management Act, legislation that would authorize $55 million over five years for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to update and expand its tools and technologies for monitoring air quality, while ensuring that these tools are integrated with environmental justice mapping and screening to better measure and manage unhealthy levels of air pollution across the United States, particularly in frontline environmental justice communities where Black, Brown, Indigenous and low-income residents are disproportionately likely to be harmed.

In the United States, more than 35 percent of people live in places with unhealthy levels of ozone or particle pollution. Current air quality monitoring methods fail to capture block-by-block differences, hiding pollution burdens that accumulate in environmental justice communities, including communities of color, which are 50 percent more likely to be affected by poor air quality. Next-generation air quality monitoring technologies have found that air pollution can be up to eight times worse on one end of a city block than another. Dirty air can be harmful to health, leading to more frequent asthma attacks, heart attacks, strokes, premature births, and even early death.

The Nation photo.

“No one should have to breathe unhealthy, toxic pollution in their neighborhood,” said Senator Markey. “We can’t manage what we don’t measure, which is why Congress must take steps to improve our air quality monitoring so that we can improve public health in the communities that have suffered most from environmental injustice. The Technology Assessment for Air Quality Management Act will give the EPA the resources they need to fight toxic air pollution and keep communities healthy, no matter their ZIP code.”

“Air pollution is a matter of public health and environmental justice,” said Representative Blunt Rochester. “That’s why I’m so proud to lead the reintroduction of the bicameral Technology Assessment for Air Quality Management Act – legislation that was championed by the late Representative Donald McEachin of Virginia – to strengthen the EPA’s ability to continue the fight against toxic air pollution impacting communities across the country, especially our environmental justice and frontline communities, helping make our communities healthier, safer, and stronger.”

A copy of the legislation can be found HERE.

Specifically, the Technology Assessment for Air Quality Management Act would:

• Authorize $55 million over five years for the EPA to:

1. Annually update and expand its online air quality toolbox with best-available monitor technologies, methods, and associated uses of data,
2. Connect its toolbox with environmental justice mapping and screening tools,
3. Create eight full-time equivalent positions to support the work,

• Establish a working group consisting of representatives from EPA regional offices, air agencies, environmental justice networks, data science, and public health science to develop templates for integrated monitoring systems and,

• Direct the EPA and the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to conduct an inventory of the locations and operation statuses of air monitors, existing data infrastructure, high-priority areas for monitoring deployment in environmental justice communities, and workforce needs to improve air quality management across scales.

Cosponsors in the Senate include Senators Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.).

The Technology Assessment for Air Quality Management Act is endorsed by Environmental Defense Fund, Clean Air Task Force, and Moms Clean Air Force.

“Accurately monitoring air quality is a key component in protecting communities from the health harms of air pollution, particularly those that have long borne the worst burden of unhealthy air. Technology is ever evolving and understanding how to better integrate new and hyperlocal methods of monitoring into better informing the public is an innovative way to protect health from air pollution. In addition to funding for regulatory monitors and bold action from EPA on cleaning up sources of pollution, this legislation will help us ensure clean air for all,” said Harold Wimmer, President and CEO of the American Lung Association.

“Everyone has the right to clean air, but far too many people live in communities overburdened with air pollution,” said Sarah Vogel, Senior Vice President for Healthy Communities at Environmental Defense Fund. “With the Technology Assessment for Air Quality Management Act, Senator Markey and the bill’s cosponsors recognize the need for better data on local sources of air pollution and health outcomes and the ability to integrate this data into decision-making. This bill will provide needed tools to better understand air pollution and protect health.”

“The efforts outlined in this bill would help optimize resource use by providing the means, materials and motivation to characterize community scale air quality. The required assessment of current capabilities, and the opportunities to integrate emerging technologies of low-cost sensors and recently deployed satellites, will empower communities to identify air quality concerns and facilitate more effective air quality management to benefit the health of our citizens and the environment,” said John Graham, Senior Scientist at Clean Air Task Force.

“Everyone deserves to breathe clean air, and having good data from high-quality air monitors is an important first step towards improving the health and safety of the communities where families live, work, and play. We thank Senator Markey for introducing the Technology Assessment for Air Quality Management Act, and for his steadfast commitment to clean air and public health,” said Melody Reis, Senior Legislative and Regulatory Policy Manager at Moms Clean Air Force.

In March, Senator Markey and Representatives Blunt Rochester and Nanette Barragán (CA-44) led their colleagues in a letter to EPA Administrator Michael Regan urging the EPA to strengthen its proposed air quality standards to reduce fine particulate matter pollution, also known as soot pollution, and protect communities from its related health issues, including cardiovascular and respiratory disease, infant mortality, and premature death. In July 2021, Senator Markey introduced his Environmental Justice Air Quality Monitoring Act, which would authorize $100 million annually for EPA to establish a five-year pilot program for hyperlocal air quality monitoring systems in environmental justice communities.

The Inflation Reduction Act included $3 million for air quality sensors in low-income and disadvantaged communities, as called for in the Environmental Justice Air Quality Monitoring Act, as well as $117.5 million for air pollution monitoring, $50 million for multipollutant monitoring, $60 million for diesel emissions reductions, $40 million for air pollution permitting resources, $25 million for Clean Air Act (CAA) grants, and $15 million to reduce emissions from wood heaters.”-Senator Markey’s Office.

“The Dartmouth Fire Department was working a motor vehicle accident with entrapment this morning. Last night it was an auto versus a pole with rollover, last evening. Its been a busy couple of days for our team.”

All photos by the Dartmouth Fire Department:

“Earlier this spring, members of the New Bedford, Fall River, and Somerset Fire Departments attended a sixteen hour training program for the use of drones for public safety and preparation for the FAA Part 107 Remote Airman Certification.

There are currently five members of the NBFD who have obtained this certification along with NFPA 2400 Drones for Public Safety training program. The Department recently used federal funding to procure three drones for public safety use. These missions include but are not limited to structural damage assessment, fire cause and origin, search and rescue on land or sea, hazardous materials incidents, and assisting with the placement of hose lines and master streams at large fires when vision is obscured by large volumes of smoke.

With the assistance Of Firefighter/Paramedic Kory Koster of 329 Marketing and FF Travis Rebello, the NBFD is not only able to utilize drones on scene, but to also live stream the drone footage directly to the communications/dispatch center which enables the dispatchers to view the scene in real time. The footage is viewed on a 24” smart TV and then sent via WIFI or via a WIFI hotspot to the dispatch center. The system adaptable to be utilized by any agency when needed. This increases the situational awareness of the communications personnel.

The photos in this post depict Marine 38 conducting training in Clarks Cove. The footage can be viewed in a split screen showing a regular view along with thermal imaging. The footage is high definition without any latency. Each drone is supplied with four batteries which allows for continuous flying at longer duration incidents.

We also recognize the City of New Bedford MIS for their assistance.”-New Bedford Fire Department.

All photos by the New Bedord Fire Department:

“Today, on World Sea Turtle Day, Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas) announced the reintroduction of the Sea Turtle Rescue Assistance Act, bipartisan and bicameral legislation to establish a new $30 million grant program at the Department of Commerce to fund institutions in Massachusetts and across the United States in their efforts to rescue, rehabilitate, and research stranded sea turtles. Congressman Bill Keating (MA-09) has introduced companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.

All recognized species of sea turtles found within the United States are considered threatened or endangered. In 2000, 49 sea turtles were stranded and found on the beaches of Cape Cod, and in 2022, that number skyrocketed to 866. Current rescue efforts are predominantly volunteer and underfunded, but sea turtles face increasing risks that make strandings more likely, including temperature changes, red tide events, and entanglement in marine debris.

“We can’t leave our sea turtles stranded,” said Senator Markey. “Organizations and volunteers across the United States have rallied to help protect threatened and endangered sea turtles—now, it’s our turn to rally behind them. I am proud to introduce this bipartisan and bicameral legislation to provide much-needed financial support for invaluable sea turtle rescue efforts.”

“The waters off of the Texas Gulf Coast are home to several species of sea turtles which are crucial to the health of our diverse marine ecosystem,” said Senator Cornyn. “This legislation will support the rescue and recovery efforts of today while also investing in research to better protect the future of America’s sea turtle population.”

The federal government must step up to support sea turtle rescue and rehabilitation before it is too late,” said Congressman Keating. “Passage of the Sea Turtle Rescue Assistance Act will reduce the strain on non-profit organizations doing the vital work to save these endangered animals, including the hundreds rescued on Cape Cod annually. I am proud to work with Senator Markey and the bipartisan group of co-sponsors committed to supporting sea turtle rescue efforts.”

“Sea turtles are critical to our marine ecosystems and face serious threats to their survival. Conservation partners like the National Aquarium in Baltimore do important work to protect them – but these organizations need more support. This legislation will unlock more federal resources for their rescue and rehabilitation to support the sea turtle population and the overall health of our ocean life,” said Senator Van Hollen.

A copy of the legislation can be found HERE.

Cosponsors include Senators Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.).

Specifically, the Sea Turtle Rescue Assistance Act would:

1. Create a new grant program to fund rescue, recovery and research of sea turtles in the U.S., and authorize $5 million annually from 2024 through 2029 in new funding;

2. Require that the Secretary, in consultation with the Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, provide opportunities for engagement with stakeholders; and,

3. Direct the Secretary of Commerce to prioritize applicants with an established record of rescuing, recovering, rehabilitating, transporting, or releasing stranded marine turtles or conducting scientific research pertinent to the causes of strandings.

“Successfully rescuing and rehabilitating hundreds of endangered sea turtles from the shores of New England each year involves a large network of partners across the country. Government funding assistance would have a significant impact on the continuation of this collaborative conservation work and the resulting research to solve ocean challenges. We thank Senator Markey and Representative Keating for their commitment to ensure the recovery and survival of these ocean animals,” said Vikki N. Spruill, President and CEO of the New England Aquarium.

“Sea turtles have the power to connect us all, and we see that every day in our aquariums through the eyes of our guests. Sea turtles are a pathway to conservation action, and their stories inspire everyone — regardless of where you live or political affiliation — to work toward a sustainable future for their sake, and our own. Witnessing our guests’ visceral reactions to sea turtles undergo rehabilitation within our aquariums only amplifies the importance of the Sea Turtle Rescue Assistance Act, and its goal to build a federal funding stream to continue saving sea turtles and inspiring conservation of the natural world for generations to come,” said Kevin Mills, President and CEO of the South Carolina Aquarium.

“The National Aquarium applauds Senators Markey, Van Hollen and Cornyn and Representatives Keating and González-Colón for introducing the bicameral, bipartisan Sea Turtle Rescue Assistance Act of 2023. We are proud to be part of the nationwide network of organizations engaged in sea turtle conservation and in educating the public on the challenges facing these threatened and endangered species. Sea turtle strandings are on the rise as are the expenses related to rescuing, rehabilitating and releasing them back to their ocean home. The level of voluntary contribution from stranding network partners is not sustainable. We thank Congressional champions for their leadership in creating a much-needed federal grant program to support this important work,” said John Racanelli, President and CEO of the National Aquarium.”-Senator Edward J. Markey.

“Governor Maura Healey, Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll, Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Secretary Rebecca Tepper, and officials from the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) joined together to send off 11 state wildland firefighters to Quebec, Canada to help battle some of the more than 124 wildfires that have burned since the beginning of June.

“Over the last several years we have seen the impacts of the climate crisis here at home and around the world, in the forms of extreme weather and increasingly severe wildfires that continue to ravage our forests,” said Governor Maura Healey. “We are proud of these 11 Massachusetts wildland firefighters who are heading up to assist our Canadian partners in battling these intense wildfires.”

Mass.gov photo.

“We feel the effects of the climate crisis every day from the extreme heat to droughts to the smoke polluting our air,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “We appreciate the men and women from Massachusetts that will join the team fighting wildfires in Quebec and making our environment safer for all of us.”

“Firefighters are on the frontlines of the climate crisis, risking their lives to save others,” said Energy & Environmental Affairs Secretary Tepper. “I was grateful for the opportunity to thank them directly this morning and we will keep them in our thoughts as we forge ahead to a clean energy future. The clean energy transition is about people, and we see that today.”

“DCR is committed to doing everything we can to protecting our natural lands for generations to come and today’s deployment of these 11 DCR firefighters to help our friends and partners in Quebec is part of that commitment,” said DCR Commissioner Brian Arrigo. “These are extremely well-trained and dedicated firefighters whose skills are much needed, and whose help, we know is enormously appreciated.”

The officials gathered this morning to send off the firefighter crew at DCR’s Bureau of Forestry and Fire Control headquarters in Carlisle.

The deployment is in response to a request DCR received last week from the Northeast Forest Fire Protection Commission and the Northeastern Interagency Coordination Center at the White Mountain National Forest in Campden, NH. The firefighters will travel to La Touque, where they will be assigned to one of many ongoing fire incidents throughout the province. The crew, which is also referred to as a “Wildfire Suppression Module,” will engage in direct fire suppression, working on the fire line for about 14 days – building fire breaks, securing fire perimeters, containing fires, and protecting structures.

Rising temperatures, drier conditions due to years long droughts, and a lack of rain and snowfall, all caused by climate change, are fueling increased fire activity, making fire season last longer and its effects more severe. These conditions have made wildfires over the last few years more extreme and active than in the past. Climate change is also affecting wildlife in forested areas including an increase in insect activity which affects tree mortality and can create more fuel for fires to feed off. So far this year in Massachusetts, over 820 wildfires have burned 1,500 acres.

The Quebec situation is just the latest in an ongoing wildfire issue across Canada this year, including British Columbia, Alberta, and most recently Nova Scotia, and has resulted in major smoke impacts across the northeastern United States. The Northeast Forest Fire Protection Commission is a compact comprised of the six New England states, New York and four eastern Canadian provinces, including Quebec. Massachusetts is one of the original members of the compact, which was formed in 1949 to provide interstate and international wildland fire mutual aid assistance. 

Since 1985, partnering with the U.S. Forest Service and the Northeast Forest Fire Protection Commission, DCR’s Bureau of Forest Fire Control has sent crews to fight fires in areas of the western and Rocky Mountain states, as well as Alaska, Florida, Virginia and Quebec. 

All firefighters are federally certified, having passed a 40-hour federal wildland firefighting class and physical fitness test.

The responding DCR firefighters are as follows:

• Benjamin Jennell of West Newbury
• Robert Armstrong of Conway
• George Kleczka of Plainville
• James Kontoules of Salem
• Eryn Donohoe of Sagamore Beach
• Charles Uchendu of Oak Bluffs
• Jacob O’Donnell of Millis
• Anders Anderson of Carver
• Derick Valovcin of Holliston
• Tyler Desautels of Milbury
• Alex Desrochers of Plymouth”-Mass.gov.

“The New Bedford Fire Department is proud to present our newly acquired equipment and vehicles. These items were acquired with the assistance of local and federal funding. The NBFD thanks Mayor Mitchell and the City Council for their support.

Featured in the following video are the following items:

• Lithium-ion battery fire mitigation equipment.
• MobileDetect Fentanyl & Xylazine Test Strips for rapid on scene identification
• Emergency-Plug electric vehicle disabling device for all EVs including Tesla.
• Three drones, including one mini drone and all associated equipment.
• Twenty-two (22) Zoll AEDs which replace older Philips model AEDs. These are compatible with NBEMS’ Zoll cardiac monitors and streamline cardiac arrest care and increase the chance of ROSC.
• Mobile breathing air system trailer. This unit is equipped with an air compressor, generator, light tower and air tool connections. It also has the capability to fill SCUBA cylinders.
• Two administrative Chevrolet Tahoes
• Two Ford F-150 Command Units
• Two Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Fire Investigator Units”-New Bedford Fire Department.

All photos by the New Bedford Fire Department: