- Division of Marine Fisheries
Comings
The Division welcomed Leah Crowe to DMF’s Protected Species Program in January 2025 in the new role of Protected Species Science and Monitoring Lead. Positioned in the New Bedford office, she will oversee the Division’s monitoring and research programs for large whales and sea turtles. This will include aerial and acoustic surveillance efforts, as well as managing and analyzing protected species data to inform management and policy decisions. Leah has a B.S. from Ohio University and recently returned to New England after living abroad in New Zealand where she attended the University of Otago as a Ph.D. student (she defended her thesis early this summer). With over 15 years of experience in research on whales, dolphins, and sea turtles, including a range of field and analytical methods, Leah is well-positioned to help the Division fulfill its expanding role in protected species monitoring, conservation, and management.
David Gauld joined DMF’s Fisheries Research and Monitoring Project in January 2025. Working out of the Gloucester office, David is responsible for supporting the agency’s port and sea sampling efforts, and other field studies. Armed with an undergraduate degree from the University of Maine and graduate degree from UMass Dartmouth, David has gained valuable experience employed as an at-sea fisheries monitoring, working as a research assistant supporting the offshore wind farm lease bottom trawl survey, and completing a thesis on fish attraction to light using underwater imaging sonar. David’s fisheries knowledge and on the water sampling proficiency will be a great complement to the rest of the team.
The Division welcomed Sean Terrill to DMF’s Fisheries Habitat Program in February 2025. Sean comes to DMF from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers where he worked as a Marine Ecologist, responsible for conducting benthic ecological research and field studies on both marine and freshwater habitats. He has an M.S. in Marine Science and Technology from UMass Boston and a B.S. in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation from UMass Amherst and brings extensive knowledge and hands-on field experience with aquatic habitat restoration and monitoring in the New England region. In his new role as a DMF Habitat Restoration Specialist stationed in Gloucester, Sean will be working closely with Habitat and Shellfish Program staff on planning, permitting, and monitoring collaborative restoration projects in Massachusetts.
Bradlie Morgan joined DMF’s Policy and Management Program as a Communications and Policy Administration Specialist in February 2025. Bradlie brings with her a B.S. in Biology from Boston College, an M.S. in Marine Biology from Northeastern University, and experience gained in various marine research, monitoring, and public engagement positions during her academic career, including prior work as a fisheries technician for DMF’s Diadromous Fisheries Project. In her new role, Bradlie will help to bolster our communications capacity and better tell the stories of all the great work the agency does, while simultaneously supporting our Management and Policy Team, particularly with regards to the administration of our various public bodies.
The Division welcomed Ashley “Peach” Bueche, as our new Dive Safety Offer working out of the New Bedford office in March 2025. In addition to having almost 10 years of experience as a Diving Safety Officer at the Catalina Island Marine Institute, she has a background in both marine research and education. She served as a Co-PI on a kelp restoration project the past several years, and previously taught students from elementary school through high school as a marine science instructor. With degrees from Boston College in both Environmental Geoscience and Early Childhood Education, Peach will be lending a hand on everything from habitat restoration projects to angler education programs in addition to the usual Dive Safety Officer duty.
Kate McGoldrick joined DMF’s Permitting and Statistics Program in March 2025. She has primarily been working in agriculture for the last twelve years, including the start-up and operation of a small farm producing culinary and medicinal herbs, specialty vegetables, and flowers the past five years. Her business experience has brought Kate to appreciate the importance of good data and record keeping, skills well-attuned to her new position with DMF.
The Division welcomed Catherine Barba to the Diadromous Fish Project in June 2025 as an Aquatic Biologist. Cathy is no stranger to DMF having been a three-time seasonal technician for the project. She comes to us with a Bachelors of Science from UMass Amherst that included an independent study on river restoration and diadromous fish. As part of the DMF Fishway Crew, Cathy will put her passion for diadromous fish into supporting these fishes’ migratory behaviors, focusing on fishway fabrication and repair.
Sarah Ferrara joined the DMF team in June 2025 as the Administration and Operations Manager working out of the Gloucester office. In this role, Sarah will help manage the day-to-day operations at the Annisquam River field station, including fiscal management, budgeting, capital planning, and general office logistics. Sarah earned her Masters in Public Administration from Suffolk University, and brings years of experience working as a legislative aide, research director, and most recently, as the Chief of Staff and Budget & Policy Director for former State Representative Sarah Peake. Sarah also served as the legislative proxy for Representative Peake on the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, so she has plenty of experience working with our fisheries management team.
Goings
Ivy Guyotte, a Permitting Clerk in Gloucester, parted ways with the Division in February. Ivy is planning on going back to graduate school to earn her Masters. During her time here she helped many fishermen through the permitting process and contributed to a variety of projects. Prior to joining the Division’s permitting staff in 2023 she had also worked as an MRIP interviewer and completed a B.S. in Biology from Plymouth State University. We wish her the best in her future endeavors!
After more than four decades working for the Division of Marine Fisheries, Vincent Malkoski retired in February 2025. Vin began his career in 1981 as a Conservation Helper conducting assessments on the impact of power plant operations on local marine finfish and invertebrates in Cape Cod Bay. From there he advanced to the role of Senior Fisheries Biologist for DMF, often getting new projects off the ground, mentoring new employees to take over, then moving on to the next project that needed a leader. He was a staunch advocate for the marine environment and served on various ASMFC and NEFMC committees and Plan Development Teams. In addition to all his other assignments, Vin also served as DMF’s Dive Safety Officer where he excelled at training countless biologists in SCUBA and scientific diving. A very accomplished instructor, Vin was recognized on the global level a few years ago when he was inducted into the NAUI Hall of Fame for outstanding contributions on the development of diving education. Vin’s dedication, knowledge, and experience will be greatly missed, but we know he will enjoy retirement as he continues to travel the world with family and friends, and as he dives into new adventures both on and under the water.
In March 2025, Darlene Pari retired from DMF after almost 44 years of service. Darlene began her career with the Division in 1981 as an administrative assistant in the Boston Office. In this role, she was a stenographer, a typist, a licensing clerk, and began working in accounts payable. She assisted many programs over the years and was elevated to the head of accounts payable in 1995. Darlene was the backbone of DMF’s accounting program for decades and was held in high regard for her work ethic and work performance by both her colleagues and management. She was the recipient of the Commonwealth’s Pride and Performance Award three times and was on a team that received the prestigious Carballo Award for Excellence for her tremendous work on the CARES Act Relief Program during COVID in 2021. Darlene served as a mentor to many employees over the years, and her willingness to help and incredible understanding of state finance will be sorely missed. We wish Darlene all the best in retirement as she spends time travelling to remote destinations and enjoying time with her family and friends.
Staff Transitions
Brad Schondolmeier, formerly of the Fisheries Research and Monitoring Project, took on a new role as DMF’s Offshore Wind Analyst within the Fisheries Management and Policy Program in January 2025, bringing with him almost 20 years of experience working with the commercial fishing industry in various capacities and conducting fishery dependent and independent data collection and analysis.
