The Coonamessett Farm Foundation (CFF) Seasonal Survey team, Luisa Garcia, Natalie Jennings, Farrell Davis, and Liese Siemann, has completed the final report for the 2024 Sea Scallop Research Set-Aside Program. The project, Seasonal Survey for the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery on the Eastern Part of Georges Bank, builds on more than a decade of collaborative, industry-based research designed to provide critical seasonal insights into the dynamics of one of the nation’s most valuable fisheries.
Over six research trips conducted during the 2024-2025 survey year, the team examined how scallop biomass shifts across life stages (pre-recruits to adults) while also documenting seasonal patterns in spawning, meat yield, and overall scallop health. Beyond scallops, the project evaluates the broader ecosystem context in which the fishery operates...
Press Feature: Inside 'Sea Turtle Biology and Behavoir'
CFF’s Mid-Atlantic sea turtle research was recently highlighted in an article by Gabriel Stephenson (SERC/ACT Network). The article explores how the project has evolved from reducing sea turtle bycatch in the offshore scallop fishery into a highly collaborative research effort using telemetry, biological sampling, and...
2/10
Good News for our Coastlines!
We’re excited to share that CFF has received a funding award from MA Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) to support a shoreline marine debris removal project! This project will focus on removing abandoned, lost, and discarded fishing gear such as monofilament line, rope, nets, and trap components that may pose ongoing risks to coastal habitats and wildlife...
2/03
Bongo Net Deployment Field Test Aboard FV Temptress
Earlier this fall, CFF partnered with the FV Temptress to conduct a one-day field test of bongo net deployment aboard a commercial scallop vessel. The trip allowed the team to practice and refine deployment and retrieval procedures for the dual-net system...
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2/10
Our feature film, Sustaining Sea Scallops, is now available online! Watch the full documentary to learn how the collaborative research model embraced by CFF helped a flagging scallop fishing industry rebound.
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