April 13, 2026 — Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) Sea Grant has awarded $1.6 million to four new research projects targeting pressing challenges facing Massachusetts’ aquaculture and fisheries industries, including soft-shell clams, oysters, and black sea bass.
“Each of these projects addresses a question we’re hearing directly from those working on the water: how to keep shellfish beds open, how to manage emerging fisheries, how to improve aquaculture practices, and how to restore oyster reefs more effectively,” said WHOI Sea Grant Director Matt Charette. “This is science driven by real needs, with outcomes that will directly benefit coastal communities.”