Community-Based Participatory Research with Coastal Fishing Communities
We are working with partners and creating community-engaged research partnerships and experiential learning opportunities to improve our understanding of the local fisheries and seafood systems issues and the complex set of challenges up and down the seafood supply chain.
Fish to Plate: Feasibility Study for Distribution of Local Seafood to Underserved Communities
We collaborate with the Massachusetts Department of Marine Fisheries, the Seafood Marketing Program, and fishing industry to bring Cape Ann communities greater access to locally sourced, sustainably harvested, and often overlooked local seafood. By working directly with fishermen, seafood businesses, and community organizations, we’re helping elevate undervalued species like hake, flounders, and redfish. These efforts support the local economy, reduce waste, and introduce more nutritious, locally sourced seafood to the community.
Lobster Bait Alternatives
Researchers from UMass Amherst's Department of Food Science and Department of Environmental Conservation have teamed up with Gloucester-based company Neptune’s Harvest, the Massachusetts’ Lobstermen’s Association, and local lobstermen to explore alternatives to reduce waste and increase revenue for the lobster fishery. This project is funded by the NOAA Sea Grant American Lobster Initiative Program.
Building Sustainable, Equitable, and Inclusive Seafood Marketing in Massachusetts
Coastal communities are facing job and revenue declines in the traditional seafood economy. These are multicultural communities with generations of people dependent on the seafood economy for their livelihoods. This study is focused on partnerships to provide science-based solutions to support the seafood system. The project includes the design of educational and outreach materials in different languages—English, Spanish, and Portuguese—in order to spread the word about sustainable practices, traditions, and cultural values from these seafood-dependent communities. This project is in partnership with the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries Seafood Marketing Program.
Striped Bass, River Herring, Winter Flounder
This long term monitoring project includes work around the economically and culturally important fish populations. It is supported through a partnership with the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries.
Mapping UMass Seafood System Expertise
We are mapping seafood system expertise across UMass’s five campuses (Amherst, Boston, Lowell, Dartmouth, and Chan Medical School) to assess our coordinated capacity and identify the partnerships needed to tackle priority research questions.
The project was sponsored by the Massachusetts Seaport Economic Council and builds upon previous work with the UMass Boston Urban Harbors Institute to engage researchers and local stakeholders within the Commonwealth’s seafood system.
