TNCMaine_Summer26 - Flipbook - Page 11
Sunrise from a 昀椀shing vessel in the
Gulf of Maine © Geoff Smith/TNC
We are thrilled to announce
A temperature sensor is
installed on 昀椀shing gear
to support oceanographic
modeling. © Geoff Smith/TNC
that Marine Program Director Geoff Smith
was honored this week with a Visionary Award
from the Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine
Environment. Visionary Awards are extended
to organizations and individuals in recognition
of their outstanding innovation, creativity and
commitment to protecting natural resources
within the Gulf of Maine.
Geoff was recognized for almost 20 years of
outstanding contributions toward environmental
stewardship in the Gulf of Maine. His tireless
and dedicated work has resulted in trusted
partnerships with the 昀椀shing community,
advancements in marine science innovation
and improved ocean and coastal policies at
the state, regional and national levels.
The Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine
Environment was established by the
Governments of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick,
Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts
to foster cooperative actions within the
Gulf watershed and maintain and enhance
environmental quality in the Gulf of Maine to
allow for sustainable resource use by existing
and future generations. Clearly, this mission
aligns with Geoff’s work every day.
Regional Association of Coastal Ocean Observing Systems is applying
it to its web-based mapping tools called the Mariner’s Dashboard.
Even the U.S. Coast Guard is using it to improve the ocean
circulation models they use to guide search and rescue missions.
“We are really excited to partner with 昀椀shermen who are collecting
valuable temperature data that helps them and the broader climate
science community in the Gulf of Maine,” says Geoff Smith, TNC in
Maine’s Marine Program Director. “Nobody knows these waters
better or covers more ground than the 昀椀shermen who make their
living on the ocean.”
Because we have seen how this effort is complementing the NMFS
Northeast Cooperative Research Branch’s e-Molt Program and
other initiatives, TNC is providing additional funding to get even
more sensors in the water, whether they be on 昀椀shing boats in
Massachusetts and Rhode Island or on aquaculture farms in Maine
through a partnership with Maine Aquaculture Innovation Center.
“The more we know about how the ocean is changing,” adds Smith,
“the better equipped we are to adaptively manage the 昀椀sheries that
support our coastal communities and a way of life in the Gulf of Maine.”
Geoff Smith, TNC in Maine’s Marine Program Director,
昀椀shing in the Gulf. © Alexander Fisher
Maine Roots | Summer 2026 | 11
