Department of Fisheries Oceanography research
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has awarded SMAST $956,000 under the 2014-2015 Saltonstall-Kennedy (S-K) Grant Program for six projects that help build and maintain sustainable fisheries.
Saltonstall-Kennedy grants, administered by the U.S. Department of Commerce, fund projects that address the needs of fishing communities. Continue reading
New Bedford Mayor John Mitchell and State Senator Mark Montigny visited SMAST on June 17 for a press conference to announce the release of the final “Groundfish Port Recovery and Revitalization Plan for the Port of New Bedford/Fairhaven.”
The study was conducted by an SMAST-led research team fronted by Prof. Dan Georgianna (Economics/SMAST). The report documents the recent decline of the regional groundfishery, assesses its effects on shoreside businesses, and makes recommendations for the revitalization of the fishery and improvements to the port.
“New Bedford is the nation’s number one fishing port,” said Mayor Mitchell, “and we intend to keep it that way for the next hundred years. … To do that, we need the best science in stock surveys and assessments—that is critical for both scallops and groundfish.”
“I applaud the work of Dan Georgianna and his colleagues at the School for Marine Science and Technology at the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth, in compiling this report,” said Senator Montigny, who was instrumental in securing funds for the study through the state legislature. “We must do all we can to maintain New Bedford’s economic contribution as the highest value catch port in the U.S.”
An SMAST-led research team unveiled a “Groundfish Port Recovery and Revitalization Plan” for New Bedford and Fairhaven at a workshop on Friday, February 27, at the School for Marine Science and Technology. UMassD Chancellor Divina Grossman welcomed participants to the workshop, and New Bedford Mayor John Mitchell provided the introduction.
Led by SMAST economist Dan Georgianna, the research team has been conducting interviews and gathering data since November. The draft report quantifies the status and trends in the groundfish fishery and the effects on the economic health of the port.
Economist and former UMassD Arts & Sciences Dean Bill Hogan discussed the decline of the groundfish fishery, and Prof. Georgianna reported on the effects on shore-side businesses. The report’s recommendations for recovery and revitalization were presented by Steve Cadrin (SMAST, improvements in stock assessment), Kevin Stokesbury (SMAST, improvements in data collection), Kate Kramer (Center for Sustainable Fisheries, reauthorization of the Magnuson Act) and Jeff Stieb (Harbor Development Commission, improvements to the port).
A final report is expected in about a month.