MA H3981

Establishes a 5-year pilot program to assess and mitigate economic impacts of regulations on high-impact fisheries, specifically lobster and groundfish industries

Requires the Division of Marine Fisheries to identify fisheries disproportionately affected by regulatory changes within the past 5 years and conduct economic impact analyses

Mandates comprehensive economic impact statements with 60-day public comment periods before finalizing any regulations affecting the Massachusetts fishing industry

Creates the High-Impact Fisheries Mitigation Fund to compensate qualifying fishers, funded through legislative appropriations, federal grants, and donations

Requires annual reports to the legislature by December 31 on program findings, mitigation strategies, and partnerships established; program automatically sunsets after 5 years