March 9, 2026 — Faculty at UMass Dartmouth’s School for Marine Science and Technology (SMAST) have received a series of competitive research grants supporting projects that address some of the most pressing challenges facing modern fisheries. The awards fund work on innovative fishing technologies, climate-informed fisheries management, and collaborative scallop research programs that connect scientists with the commercial fishing industry.
SMAST Dean Kevin Stokesbury receives $550K grant from the Schmidt Family Foundation
UMass Dartmouth Chancellor Professor and SMAST Dean Kevin Stokesbury received a research grant from the Schmidt Family Foundation and Marine Technology Partners to evaluate the Katchi Net System, an innovative, low-impact fishing technology, against traditional commercial trawls on U.S. fishing grounds. Developed to reduce bycatch and seafloor damage, the Katchi net uses cutting-edge sensors and design to improve sustainability in commercial fishing. Stokesbury and his team will test the net’s effectiveness in collaboration with industry partners, aiming to provide data that supports more responsible harvesting practices.
Stokesbury also secured research awards totaling $403K and $350K for video trawl surveys that use a trawl-net-mounted camera to identify fish as they enter the net.