Our goal is to create opportunities among the UMass system campuses to build novel research, technology, and economic development approaches to strengthen the seafood economy, in partnership with seafood system stakeholders. These efforts will produce innovative solutions with multiple benefits to the seafood system.
MULTI-CAMPUS TRANSDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH TEAM
Faculty and researchers from across UMass campuses with diverse expertise related to seafood systems joined the research team and are collaborating in efforts to tackle the diverse challenges facing the Commonwealth’s seafood system.
New partnerships with volunteer groups of expert stakeholders from the seafood sector provide opportunities for knowledge exchange, technical expertise, and advice on local seafood-related issues, expanding the capacity and impacts of the study.
COLLABORATIVE PROJECTS AND PARTNERS
Graduate internships connecting students, researchers, and faculty across UMass campuses with seafood system partners across Massachusetts provide students with opportunities to address real-world needs.
Seafood industry internship hosts for the first series of internships include Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen's Alliance, Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries, Massachusetts Seafood Marketing Program, Red's Best, Wellfleet Shellfish Company, Integrated Monitoring, and Massachusetts Seafood Collaborative. Internship projects are focused on seafood-related issues identified by local stakeholders were led by graduate students from UMass Amherst, Boston, and Dartmouth campuses.
Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen's Alliance
Project highlights: The internship project objective was to explore markets for a seafood chowder product developed during COVID 19 to keep fishermen working.
Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries, Massachusetts Seafood Marketing Program
Project highlights: the internship project objectives were to survey permitted seafood retailers outlets and to explore the impacts of COVID 19 on their distribution strategies.
Wellfleet Shellfish Company
Project highlights: the internship project objective was to explore opportunities to diversify markets for shellfish.
Integrated Monitoring
Project highlights: the internship project objectives were to work with video system analysis for species recognition, support educational programs targeting commercial fishermen, and develop software and AI models, and explore new technologies for seafood traceability and catch reporting applications.
Massachusetts Lobstermen's Association
Project highlights: the internship project objectives were to plan and implement a marketing campaign to promote MA lobster fisheries, and to investigate challenges and opportunities facing the lobster industry during and after the pandemics
Massachusetts Seafood Collaborative
Project highlights: the internship project objectives were to develop a strategic plan for the MSC, including business model and market segment analysis, and to develop outreach and educational material, including the creation of a website
Gloucester Marine Station
Project highlights: the internship project objective was to work on the management and maintenance of the Gloucester Marine Station website.