News
New lab at SMAST focuses on fishing communities and manta ray conservation
UMass Dartmouth’s School for Marine Science and Technology (SMAST) is pleased to welcome Melissa Cronin, PhD, as an assistant professor in the Department of Fisheries Oceanography. Cronin leads the newly established Shared Seas Lab, which investigates how industrial fisheries interact with marine ecosystems and coastal communities. Her work centers on two main topics: reducing the impacts of industrial tuna fishing on threatened shark and ray species and developing collaborative solutions surrounding the impact of industrial fishing on small-scale fishing communities.
Lindsay Graff PhD ’27: Shark conservation research
SMAST PhD student shares what it’s like to study sharks all over the world.
The Current: October
ICES Annual Science Conference
SMAST staff and students, past and present, traveled to Klaipeda, Lithuania for the 2025 ICES Annual Science Conference! Former Cadrin Lab PhD student, Cole Carrano, and current M.S. Candidate, Sierra Richardson, both presented their research during the poster session!
The Current: SMAST Newsletter Volume 1
Collaborative science, offshore wind, and the future of fisheries
SMAST scientists examine the effects of offshore wind development on fish species and the local fishing industry
Jessica Kittel PhD ’24: Diving into discovery
PhD student and 100-ton captain Jessica Kittel is using climate data to better understand fish stocks
New Bedford teens explore marine science at UMassD
SMAST hosts high school interns from New Bedford High School to expose them to marine science careers. The Cadrin Lab hosted intern Destiny Mendes who focused her internship on science communication.
Student Spotlight: Alison Frey
