From the Executive Director
Dear ROSA Community:
2026 is bringing progress and productivity here at ROSA!
Our staff has been busy putting the finishing touches on our new FINsights (Fishing Industry Insights) platform, finalizing our Research Gaps Analysis report, and advancing the Data Governance program.
I was fortunate to attend the International Partnering Forum hosted by Oceantic in NYC last month. It was great to see so many familiar faces along with meeting many new ones. I had the opportunity to network and learn from notable attendees, and I’m looking forward to strengthening existing collaborations and developing new partnerships through this year and beyond.
In this newsletter, you’ll find exciting program announcements along with registration for the March 19th Advisory Council Meeting, 2026 ROSA state membership sponsorship updates, a link to view our recent new projects webinar, and more.
As spring brings longer days and renewed energy to the natural world, it also reminds us that progress in science grows through steady collaboration and shared commitment. Just as ecosystems awaken and evolve with the season, our work continues to build momentum through advancing research, strengthening partnerships, and expanding knowledge that supports resilient fisheries and a sustainable ocean.
I look forward to the discoveries and collaborations ahead as this season of growth unfolds.
Warm regards,
| | 2026 State Membership Update | | | | |
We extend a warm welcome to our recent 2026 state members who annually support ROSA's operations. Their financial contributions and partnerships are vital in advancing ocean research and strengthening our ability to scale coordination of regional science.
Many thanks to the states of Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York for their continued commitments, and to our newest state supporter, Maine. With the collective financial support of states, our ability to convene stakeholders and drive collaboration grows stronger.
| | ROSA is grateful to all our past and current sponsors. Learn more about sponsorship opportunities here. | | ROSA Launches New Fishing Industry Insights Platform: FINsights | | If you’re working on the water, you see things most researchers don't. ROSA is now providing a way to receive this input through an online reporting platform. | |
ROSA's FINsights platform is an open channel for fishers, captains, and industry members to share observations, concerns, and working knowledge about offshore development and its interactions with fisheries. Whether it’s changes in fish behavior, encountering new challenges near new infrastructure, or ideas about what research questions most need answering, we want to hear from you.
|
Your input helps shape researech priorities, identify knowledge gaps, and support science that reflects the realities of working on the water. Have an insight? Provide it here. We look forward to sharing the input received.
| | The ROSA Research Gaps Analysis Final Report is Here! | | |
We are pleased to share the Final Report for the ROSA Fish and Fisheries Offshore Wind Research Gaps Analysis, a comprehensive, peer-reviewed assessment of where offshore wind fisheries science stands today and where critical knowledge gaps remain along the U.S. Atlantic Coast.
This analysis systematically maps 240 research and monitoring projects against 70 Summarized Research Needs across 11 research categories, drawing on input from a 15-member interdisciplinary peer review panel representing academia, federal agencies, fishing industry advocates, and consulting firms.
| | ROSA will hold a webinar diving into the Final Report: Progress and Gaps in Offshore Wind Fisheries Research on April 8 at 10AM. Click here to register. | | |
Next Steps
Webinar Series: The State of Offshore Wind Fisheries Science on the U.S. Atlantic Coast
The Research Gaps Analysis identifies where research exists and what research needs are being addressed, but it does not capture what that research has found to date. With over half of the projects in FishFORWRD scheduled to be completed by the end of 2025, research and monitoring results are beginning to accumulate. ROSA is excited to launch a webinar series designed to bridge that gap by synthesizing and sharing findings from completed and mature projects mapped to research needs important to the ROSA Community.
ROSA is requesting your input to let us know which research topics or results you would most like to hear about in the webinar series by completing this form by Friday, April 10th.
| | ROSA Science Scholar Summer Internship Opportunity: Apply by March 27th | | |
ROSA’s Science Scholar internship provides an opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to our mission to provide for and advance regional scientific research, monitoring and understanding of fisheries and the interactions with blue economy activities.
Current graduate students with a strong interest in marine science or environmental studies are encouraged to apply by sending a cover letter and resume by March 27th to info@rosascience.org. This is a part-time, 10 week remote position. Interviews of selected candidates will be held during early April and the internship is expected to begin in early May. Read more about this exciting opportunity here.
| | Below Photo L to R: ROSA Intern Nusrat Noor (2024), Research Program Manager, Tricia Perez, Research Director Mike Pol, Executive Director Reneé Reilly, Intern Delaney McBride (2024) | | View Now: Atlantic Offshore Research New Projects Webinar, Part II | | On February 23rd, during the Blizzard of '26, over 70 participants attended the second webinar in a series cohosted by ROSA and RWSC for the research community, funders of Atlantic offshore research, and interested members of the public to learn of new, recently-funded offshore research and monitoring. | | | | |
Presenters included project teams launching research under three different themes: eDNA, whales and oceanography, and fisheries engagement. You can view the webinar playback and slides here.
ROSA and RWSC continue to play a central role in coordinating funders and project teams across the region as dozens of new research efforts get underway.
| | In September of 2025, the organizations hosted Part I of the webinar series to showcase our coordination activities and invite researchers launching new or ongoing projects to share plans and opportunities for collaboration. Click here to view the Part I at the funder coordination working group dropdown. | | |
March Advisory Council Meeting
Thursday, March 19th
1:00 to 3:00 pm EST
View the agenda here. Click here to register.
You can view previous meeting materials on the Advisory Council Meeting Page.
As a reminder, all Advisory Council meetings are open to the public; please plan to join us!
Save the Date: The next Advisory Council Meeting will be held Monday, June 22nd
| | |
NYSERDA State of the Science
Poster Symposium, Presentation, and Panel
| |
|
|
2026 State of the Science
Building on a Strong Foundation:
Deepening Knowledge and Finding Collaborative Solutions
ROSA is co-hosting a special poster symposium with the RWSC featuring the 12 projects the regional science entities are administering (funds provided by the Empire Wind 1 project via NYSERDA). Learn about the 10 projects administered by ROSA here.
| | | | ROSA staff were proud to serve on the Scientific Planning Committee and will be making an oral presentation and participating in an exciting panel session. We hope to see you there! | | We invite you to follow ROSA on LinkedIn and Instagram for the latest updates and information on ocean development & offshore wind fisheries research, and monitoring along the East Coast. | | | | |
