The Metro Boston region includes 11 coastal communities stretching from Saugus to Weymouth, and including eight embayments. In the Metro Boston region, the regional coordinator develops priorities for work in its region through consultation with diverse stakeholders. The current priority focus areas for the Metro Boston region relate to coastal habitat health and protection, estuarine impacts from urbanization (stormwater and wastewater management), and the current and projected impacts of climate change – particularly sea level rise.
Regional Coordination
MassBays' Metro Boston Regional Service Provider is Northeastern University's Marine Science Center. This marine research and education facility in Nahant houses classroom, office, and laboratory space, a state-of-the-art seawater delivery system to supply experimental tanks and aquaria with seawater, a 1,400 sq. ft. greenhouse, an experimental tank farm, and an ocean acidification array. Faculty, technicians, program staff, and graduate and undergraduate students provide deep support to MassBays' efforts in Metro Boston.
Regional Coordinator Torrie Hanley is an Associate Researcher at the Marine Science Center. She completed post-Doctoral research on diversity in sea grass and salt marsh habitats.
Torrie convenes the Boston Harbor Ecosystem Network (BHEN), which serves the Local Governance Committee for the region, which is made up of representatives from government (municipal, state, federal), academic, non-profit, and private sector interests. Consider subscribing to the BHEN monthly e-newsletter for news, milestones, events, and other opportunities within the region.
Additional Resources
Contact
Jonathan Grabowski, Ph.D.
Interim MassBays Metro Boston Regional Coordinator
Northeastern University Marine Science Center
430 Nahant Road, Nahant, MA 01908
j.grabowski@northeastern.edu