Sustainable Fisheries & Seafood
Gloucester is the birthplace of commercial fishing in the United States, which is deeply woven into the region’s culture and economy. Rapid warming and changes to the ocean ecosystem impact fish populations. That means changes to the entire fisheries system, the local fishing industry, and the livelihoods who depend on it.
Blue Economy & Regional Economic Development
Regional economies are part of the biological and social ecosystems that support them. By exploring and building upon our regional strengths, we are creating an economic platform to advance the North Shore’s regional resilience.
At GMS, we are working to uncover potential areas of growth for a resilient regional economy. Partnerships across business, civic leadership, academia, nonprofits, and government agencies are needed to advance coordinated, comprehensive regional strategies.
Salt Marsh Systems
A team of UMass faculty and advisors across state, federal, nonprofit and university partners are establishing a long-term (~20 years) salt marsh monitoring program to guide conservation efforts directed at maintaining the Commonwealth’s salt marshes, the biodiversity they support, and the ecosystem services they provide.
Marine Ecology & Conservation
Cape Ann lies in the southern Gulf of Maine, where ocean waters are rapidly warming. Offering exceptional accessibility to these marine habitats, GMS is poised as an ideal platform for immersive research and teaching in the lab, on the coast, and in the ocean.
