The picture is becoming clearer of which Massachusetts fishing stakeholders will share in the $8.3 million contained in the second phase of federal fishery disaster funding.

Following a meeting last Friday in Gloucester, the state and a working group of stakeholders are close to finalizing a plan that largely would assist permit holders that did not qualify for the first $6.5 million currently being distributed in the initial phase of funding.

“We’re proposing that the largest portion of the groundfish disaster funds in Phase 2 go to commercial groundfish permit holders not covered in Phase 1,” said Mary B. Griffin, commissioner of the Department of Fish & Game. “After that, we’re trying to get money out to the other people affected by the groundfish disaster.”

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