Small Boats. Big Science.
Small Boats. Big Science. series brings together our community, researchers, and commercial fishermen to discuss the latest scientific advancements and how they relate to our fleet, our environment, and our coastal communities.
Our organization has been empowered not only by what staff learns on the water, and from commercial fishermen who make their living on the sea, but also in meeting rooms with scientists.
With changing oceanographic conditions and shifting populations, it’s essential to raise our level of awareness and our literacy when it comes to the ocean because what makes Cape Cod special is the quality of our marine environment and our relationship to it.
The policy issues we work on, as well as the regulations commercial fishermen work under, are profoundly shaped by the health of our oceans. Fishermen often help power the scientific research that happens off our shore, the results of which helps sustain their businesses.
2026 Presentations:
Summer (TBD) – Climate Resilient Working Waterfronts
March 5, 2026 – River Herring Restoration: Is Cape Cod Ready for Limited Harvests?
Panelists: Mike Palmer, Association to Preserve Cape; Cod Stephanie Ridenour Department of Natural Resources, Town of Harwich; Aubrey Church, Fishermen’s Alliance
Moderator: Mindy Todd, WCAI
Guests learned about restoring the Cape’s fish passages, how to assess the health of herring runs, and how fishing regulations for vessels 100 miles offshore impact river herring. Panelists discussed the pros and cons of allowing harvest of river herring on Cape Cod, with a focus on the proposed opening of the Harwich run.
Concrete steps you can take to support river herring: River Herring Hero – Call to Action
Join us in thanking those who make Small Boat. Big Science. possible:
2026 events are made possible by a grant from the Massachusetts Environmental Trust
You can easily contribute to MET’s important environmental initiatives by choosing one of their four license plates when you purchase or lease a new car, or renew your registration.
Visit www.mass.gov/eea/met
Over the past 30 years, MET has invested more than $25 million into nearly 1,000 conservation projects led by over 300 organizations.
A heartfelt thank you to all drivers displaying an MET license plate!
For the small boat fisheries to thrive, and the Cape’s unique community to succeed, everyone must learn about and discuss the risks and possibilities associated with a changing ocean.
Small Boats Big Science. is meant as an opportunity to bring everyone together to learn so we can better address the challenges that lie ahead.
The series is a next step from Meet the Fleet, an educational event that features fishermen talking about their catch and Cape chefs preparing it so attendees can enjoy local fare and learn how to make it at home.
Watch videos of previous Small Boats. Big Science. talks
PAST PRESENTATIONS
Offshore Wind Economic Impacts on Fishing – July 2024
Guests learned about how scientists at NOAA are using study-fleet data from the Northeast Fishery Science Center (NEFSC) to estimate the economic exposure of the summer flounder fishery to offshore wind farms.
Speaker Meghna Marjadi Ph. D. obtained her Ph.D. in Organismic and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. Her dissertation observed the effects of climate change on migration patterns and population dynamics in anadromous river herring and how these biological changes may impact larger ecosystems and global food chains. Now, Meghna works at NOAA (National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Association) doing research using high-resolution fishery dependent data from Northeast Fishery Science Center (NEFSC) to better understand how offshore wind installation may impact various fisheries. By using fleet-specific analyses, including longfin squid and summer flounder, she is working to improve estimates of economic impact in areas exposed to offshore wind developments.
Black Sea Bass Surge – July 2023
Guests learned about the influx of black sea bass and how fishermen are helping to improve our understanding of this tasty newcomer.
Speaker: Hannah Verkamp, is a fisheries research biologist with the Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation. She works collaboratively with fishermen to conduct research on a wide range of fishery topics and species and is also passionate about science education and outreach. Her current research is: Empowering Fishermen to Fill Data Gaps for a Rapidly Changing Fishery: A Case Study on Northern Black Sea Bass.
The Ecology Around Us – October 2022
Guests learned about the importance of marine ecosystems and how they impact our local Cape Cod communities.
Speakers: Dr. Dave Wiley from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary is an award-winning marine ecologist. Dr. Wiley’s research focuses on the ecology and intersection between large whales, seabirds, and forage fish. His presentation will highlight why we should care about the ecology surrounding our Cape Cod communities.
Jill Thompson-Grim is a Ph.D. student at the University of South Florida-College of Marine Science. Her research focuses on how fish populations have responded to changes in the Gulf of Mexico. Jill’s presentation will focus on concepts that are considered in fisheries modeling, and she’ll discuss a case study on how the Gulf of Mexico ecosystem is predicted to respond to a Category 5 hurricane. This study highlights how hurricanes can initiate cascading effects in marine ecosystems through flooding and infrastructure damage.
From The Arctic to You – August 2022
Through engaging presentations, we learned how changes in ocean currents and weather happening as far away as the Arctic impact our Cape Cod communities today.
Speakers: Dr. Jennifer Francis from the Woodwell Climate Research Center has extensive experience in the Arctic. Dr. Francis says, “The Arctic seems very far away, but the momentous changes occurring there affect us all. Warming waters, sea-level rise, tropical storms, and extreme weather events are all connected to the rapidly melting Arctic.”
Dr. Glen Gawarkiewicz from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution specializes in New England oceanography. Glen discussed changes in the ocean circulation and temperature/salinity around Cape Cod in recent years. There have been significant changes in the Gulf Stream as well as the continental shelf and slope. He also described how ocean technology is making a difference in understanding the changes in the ocean.
Captain Eric Hesse fishes in the Gulf of Maine for groundfish and dogfish using benthic longlines aboard the F/V Tenacious II.