News 2015: $450,000 in state funding of cooperative fisheries research at UMass Dartmouth holds promise of better habitat management

News 2015: $450,000 in state funding of cooperative fisheries research at UMass Dartmouth holds promise of better habitat management
$450,000 in state funding of cooperative fisheries research at UMass Dartmouth holds promise of better habitat management

Massachusetts House of Representatives adopts amendment to further support fisheries research

UMass Dartmouth Chancellor Divina Grossman and officials from the University's School for Marine Science & Technology (SMAST) praised legislators in the Massachusetts House of Representatives today for their continued commitment to invest in cooperative fisheries research that engages scientists and fishermen in the pursuit of accurate data. An amendment, filed by State Representative Antonio F.D. Cabral, would provide $450,000 for the Division of Marine Fisheries in collaboration with UMass Dartmouth to assess the biomass of fish. 

"I want to thank Chairman Cabral and his House colleagues who have demonstrated how valuable this funding is to the important collaborative research at SMAST," said Chancellor Grossman. "UMass Dartmouth is fully committed to research that strengthens the scientific basis for fisheries management, which is critical to the social and economic development of the region." 

"SMAST is an innovative leader for fisheries research and I'm proud to have won state funds for SMAST to continue its independent research on groundfish populations," said Rep. Antonio F.D. Cabral (D-New Bedford). "At a time when the commercial fishing industry is experiencing unprecedented consolidation, these funds couldn't be more important." 

The SMAST/ Division of Marine Fisheries partnership, known as the Marine Fisheries Institute (MFI) seeks to develop scientifically-based innovative and practical fisheries management applications contributing to the understanding, management, economic growth and sustainability of our oceans and the communities that border the ocean. 

The focus at SMAST is on interdisciplinary basic-to-applied marine sciences and the development of related innovative technologies. In addition to the scholarly marine science and technology communities, the SMAST mission also emphasizes interaction with regional industry, and government and non-governmental agencies on compelling regional marine-related issues and technological development. 

UMass Dartmouth distinguishes itself as a vibrant, public research university dedicated to engaged learning and innovative research resulting in personal and lifelong student success. The University serves as an intellectual catalyst for economic, social, and cultural transformation on a global, national, and regional scale.