Researchers from the Coonamessett Farm Foundation (CFF) recently documented an unexpected concentration of juvenile haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) during the November 2025 RSA Seasonal Scallop Survey conducted aboard the F/V Vigilance. This finding stands out because haddock are rarely caught in significant numbers in scallop survey gear, and such concentrations have not been observed in this area in prior surveys...

Check out this behind the scenes look into our recent exploratory squid jigging trip in the Northwest Atlantic! 

Our primary objective was to target squid species that are unmanaged and much to our excitement predominantly caught neon flying squid,  a large body of commercially important species internationally which is not currently targeted in the US.

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We recently returned from an exciting exploratory squid jigging trip in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean where we encountered many shortfin (Illex illecebrosus) and neon flying squid (Ommastrephes bartramii) as well as a longfin inshore squid (Doryteuthis pealeii) and a diamond squid (Thysanoteuthis rhombus).

Stay tuned for more highlights and insights from this noteworthy cruise!

We have completed the second field season of our project to reduce seabird bycatch in the spiny dogfish fishery operating out of Chatham, MA. Working with our partners from the Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen’s Alliance, we completed 40 trips aboard five gillnet vessels to look at the impacts of different baiting methods on seabird bycatch and target dogfish catch. Bycatch of Great Shearwaters in the gillnet fishery has been high in years past when fishermen baited their nets to maximize dogfish catch during sets that were time-limited by a sandbar that made passage in and out of the cove by the Chatham fish pier impossible during low tides...

From the initial sighting to the release of a tagged turtle, this is how we conduct sea turtle research at sea. The process begins with visual surveys from atop the vessel’s wheelhouse. Once a turtle is spotted, a small crew deploys via a secondary boat and, using walkie talkies to communicate with the turtle spotter on board, locates the animal...

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We’re excited to introduce CFF’s new Sea Turtle Sponsorship Program. Your symbolic sponsorship directly supports our independent research and community education, protecting sea turtles and their habitats for generations to come.

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We were honored to take part in Massachusetts’ Seafood Day at the State House last month! The event was a wonderful opportunity to join fellow organizations in celebrating the Commonwealth’s vibrant seafood sector and coastal heritage. Thank you to all the legislators and staff who took the time to visit our table to learn more about our mission and the key issues affecting our coastal communities.

During our August seasonal survey cruise, we observed key stages in the early life cycles of some marine organisms in the southern flank of closed area II. 

We spotted some juvenile scallops, also known as spat, settling on the shells of larger adults. This settlement phase is a critical part of their life cycle, when free-swimming larvae attach to hard surfaces and begin their transition from pelagic larvae to benthic adults...

During the Seasonal Survey trips on Georges Bank, CFF scientists deployed a cover net to capture the smaller scallops, fish, and invertebrates that typically escape commercial dredges. This method provides a unique window into the early life stages of scallops and helps track broader ecosystem dynamics...

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