News

2026 Salt Marsh Science Symposium, in partnership with the Massachusetts Salt Marsh Working Group, brought together 80 salt marsh researchers, practitioners, and regulators from Northeast states in Newton, MA on April 2, 2026. 

In partnership with the MA Division of Marine Fisheries, GMS will conduct integrative, interdisciplinary research to address critical black sea bass knowledge gaps and support sustainable management in Massachusetts. 

REGISTER HERE Free to attend. Registration required. Build upon the work of the Northeast Massachusetts Climatetech Consortium to leverage regional strengths and to increase equitable, sustainable and innovative economic competitiveness.

On April 2, 2026, the Salt Marsh Working Group & MassMarsh partnered to host the third annual Salt Marsh Science Symposium. Held at the UMass Amherst Charles River campus in Newton, 80 salt marsh researchers, restoration practitioners, and regulators gathered to learn more about MassMarsh, test drive data tools, learn from panel discussions, and network with colleagues across Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine, Rhode Island and Connecticut.

Grounded in partnership, local food systems, and community leadership, the project will pilot a Food is Medicine model through a Gloucester food pantry, offering healthy, culturally relevant meal kits featuring local seafood and locally grown produce. The work, which builds on community-driven efforts like Fish to Plate and the New Entry Sustainable Farming Project, will be led by Jynessa Dutka-Gianelli, UMass extension assistant professor of sustainable fisheries and seafood in the Department of Environmental Conservation in the College of Natural Sciences (CNS), and Kelseanna Hollis-Hansen

The Gloucester Marine Station was one of eight UMass Amherst teams awarded joint seed funding to explore collaborative research opportunities between UMass Amherst (USA) and Hokkaido University (Japan). Faculty will host three HU faculty Nov 9-14 for a workshop in Gloucester and Amherst with a range of faculty to explore shared research priorities impacting marine and coastal ecosystems and communities. 

Removal of broken concrete behind the marine station will begin by July 14. I Access the property at your own risk, paying close attention to safety signage, fenced-off construction areas, and increased presence of vehicles in to and out of the property. Thank you for your cooperation during this exciting time of property improvements!

The MassMarsh Program, co-led by GMS, received $1M to continue work on the state's first salt marsh monitoring program. The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), recognizing the need for a statewide strategy to monitor, assess, and restore salt marshes, awarded MassMarsh funds to support the collaborative and technical aspects of establishing a long-term Resilient Salt Marsh Research & Monitoring Plan for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. DEP anticipates a multi-decadal investment in this work.  

Our planned construction will begin on June 30. Please check back here regularly for continued updates.