NSF awards $15 million to boost New England fishing technology and processing

A coalition of commercial fishing advocates, oceanographic scientists and tech firms received a $15 million NSF grant to enhance New England’s seafood sector from catch to processing. University of Massachusetts Dartmouth researchers will develop a “third-eye” camera that streams footage from fishing nets to a deck display, helping captains avoid regulated bycatch. The Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen’s Alliance will design autonomous robots to sense environmental stressors like high temperatures and hypoxic pockets that can cause lobster traps to return dead catches.

The funding also backs analysis of the region’s declining processing industry, which has seen over 150 jobs disappear since 2023, with the aim of identifying ways to bring processing back to the area. Jake Kritzer, executive director of the Northeastern Regional Association of Coastal Ocean Observing Systems, said the project seeks to create an innovation ecosystem for a traditionally risk-averse industry. The initiative reflects a broader effort to modernize fishing practices while supporting local employment.