Massachusetts Marine Fisheries Institute

The Massachusetts Marine Fisheries Institute (MFI), a cooperative venture between UMass Dartmouth’s School for Marine Science & Technology (SMAST) and the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF), promotes sustainable fisheries by providing timely information needed to protect, conserve, and manage Massachusetts marine and coastal resources in a manner that balances the economic, environmental, and cultural interests of the citizens of the Commonwealth.

Information is gathered through interdisciplinary research that examines the interaction between marine organisms and their environments. These application-oriented studies enable scientists to understand the underlying processes and implement timely solutions.

The Institute focuses on addressing critical issues related to Massachusetts fisheries and fishing communities, including fostering a cooperative working relationship among scientists, government, fishermen, and environmentalists. Marine Fisheries Institute researchers are highly productive in a variety of areas.

Current research initiatives

The MFI’s research program has been supported by both state and federal agencies and includes: 

Surveys

• scallop video survey
• open cod-end video trawl survey
• industry-based groundfish survey

Population dynamics

• cod reproduction
• groundfish discard mortality
• scallop life history
• fish stock assessment
• shark population assessment

Ocean planning and ecosystem science

• climate change
• habitat conservation and mapping
• offshore wind energy

Education

The MFI Education Program supports the MFI mission by recruiting and training graduate students to develop innovative and practical fisheries management applications.  Students are firmly grounded with a hands-on understanding of, and experience with, the Commonwealth’s fishing industry, including its current and historical importance, as well as the problems that can be addressed and resolved through better science and management approaches.  Graduate students have the opportunity to study applied fisheries research in the top-valued port in the nation with the collaboration of the fishing industry and the Commonwealth’s fisheries management agency.  

DMF partially funds the Education Program Director to enhance the graduate education program and provide technical expertise to better accomplish DMF’s research and management goals, serve as advisor to DMF graduate students, coordinate adjunct faculty status for DMF employees, and provide expertise in stock assessment, statistics, fisheries biology, and experimental design to DMF program staff.  MFI-funded research projects also fund graduate students so they can contribute as part of their graduate research. 

Executive Committee

Advisory Committee