SMAST Seminar - DFO - March 4, 2026 - "From Genomic Data to Sustainable Seas: Improving Fisheries Assessment" by: Tim O'Donnell
Seminar Announcement
Department of Fisheries Oceanography
"From Genomic Data to Sustainable Seas: Improving Fisheries Assessment"
Tim O'Donnell
Research Scientist, Gloucester Marine Genomics Institute Inc.
Wednesday, March 4, 2026
3:00 - 4:00 pm
SMAST E 101-103 and via Zoom
Abstract:
The Sustainable Fisheries Team at Gloucester Marine Genomic Institute conducts applied genomics research to generate deliverables with the potential to advance fisheries management, regulation, and conservation. The research uses population genomics, environmental DNA (eDNA), and innovative tool development techniques to resolve stock structure, monitor species distributions, and improve stock assessment accuracy. This seminar will feature projects from each of these focus areas that are dedicated to filling fisheries data gaps associated with effective regulation and stock assessment. Examples include identifying cryptic seasonal spawning populations of Atlantic cod using population genomics to further refine the stock assessment process, providing more refined spatiotemporal distribution patterns of winter flounder in Cape Cod embayments using eDNA to inform dredging regulations, addressing data gaps associated with gear bias in traditional fisheries surveys with eDNA metabarcoding, and providing accurate age information for fish using epigenetics to support stock assessment. Together, these efforts demonstrate how high-resolution genomic tools can fill critical data gaps, strengthen decision-making, and promote resilient, sustainable fisheries at regional and broader scales.
Join Meeting
https://umassd.zoom.us/j/93758230260
Note: Meeting ID and passcode required. Email contact to obtain
For additional information, please contact Callie Rumbut at c.rumbut@umassd.edu
SMAST East 101-103
: 836 S. Rodney French Boulevard, New Bedford MA 02744
Callie Rumbut
c.rumbut@umassd.edu
https://umassd.zoom.us/j/93758230260