Northeast Consortium, University of New Hampshire, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, University of Maine, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
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Resource Library

Outreach Program

The Northeast Consortium has extensive outreach capacity to reach fishermen and industry groups, scientists, legislators, and managers. Outreach efforts over the years have contributed to the recognized achievements of collaborative research activities in New England. As the program matures, the outreach strategy stays abreast with needs and opportunities. Most recently, outreach has been targeted on conveying the value and impact of the program and the importance of continued program funding.

Significant outreach efforts, beyond what is possible by Northeast Consortium staff, are needed to ensure that opportunities for collaborative research are available to as many people as possible. The Northeast Consortium seeks to attract new commercial fishermen to collaborative research, assisting them in preparing competitive proposals, and matching fishermen and scientists with similar interests. Based on the recommendations of the Advisory Committee, the following organizations have contracted in the past with the Northeast Consortium to conduct outreach. The program may contract with these or other organizations again in the future.

Outreach in Maine

The Gulf of Maine Research Institute (GMRI) has hosted meetings and training sessions with local fishing associations to increase the number of commercial fishermen who participate in collaborative research efforts. GMRI has actively raised awareness of the Northeast Consortium's proposal review process, helped project participants strategize on leveraging of funds, and worked out the logistics of conducting scientific research on fishing vessels.

Outreach in Massachusetts

The Massachusetts Fishermen's Partnership (MFP): has provided information directly to commercial fishermen about collaborative research opportunities, worked to increase the number of fishermen who submit research proposals, and conducted meetings for fishermen and scientists to discuss current research goals and challenges. MFP has helped fishermen and scientists through the proposal review processes and with the logistics of conducting collaborative research in a successful manner.

Outreach in New Hampshire

The Portsmouth Fishermen's Cooperative and the Yankee Fishermen's Cooperative have communicated with fishermen about the proposal review process and research results, provided the use of their facilities for collaborative research-related activities, and served as liaisons between fishermen, scientists, and the Northeast Consortium.

Collaborations

The collaborative research newsletter, Collaborations, is published by the Northwest Atlantic Marine Alliance in Saco, Maine.  There is great interest within the region for this newsletter as a means of disseminating information on collaborative research (beyond just the Northeast Consortium).  Annually, ten issues are published and distributed to a list of over 1,000 individuals, organizations, and institutions.