2026 Northeast Cooperative Research Summit

POSTPONED

Due to ongoing power outages and dangerous travel conditions in the Northeast, we are postponing the Summit.

New Date: April 2, 2026

The Northeast Cooperative Research Summit brings together scientists, fishermen, managers, and fishing community representatives to share new cooperative research projects, identify opportunities for enhanced collaboration, and discuss best practices for applying cooperative research results to fisheries science and management. We are thrilled to partner with Cornell Cooperative Extension Program to host this year's Summit on February 26, 2026 in Riverhead, New York.

Our Cooperative Research Branch Chief, Dr. Anna Mercer, will facilitate this one-day event that aims to:

• Share the approaches and results of new cooperative research projects or those that have recently been concluded
• Identify opportunities for expanding the contributions of the fishing industry to research
• Facilitate regional coordination of cooperative research
• Develop new partnerships between the fishing and science communities
• Identify priorities for near-term science and management challenges that can be addressed by cooperative research

Registration for this event has closed. If you would like to add your name to the waitlist, please do so here. If space opens up you will be contacted before the event date.

Presentations 

We invite submissions for presentations focusing on new or recently completed cooperative research projects. Both scientists (including graduate students and early career scientists) and members of the fishing community are encouraged to submit presentations. Questions and reflections from fishing industry members will be prioritized after each presentation.

Breakout Discussions

There will be breakout sessions featuring experts from the fishing and science communities to discuss priority topics identified during past Northeast Cooperative Research Summits and other regional events.

Research Prioritization Exercise

There will be a research prioritization exercise to identify the top research priorities for cooperative research in the Northeast. Each attendee will vote on the research topics that they identify as top research priorities.

Industry Highlight

Members of the fishing community that have been engaged in cooperative research will provide remarks and reflections about their experiences and recommendations for the future.

Networking and Partnership Development

There will be ample time for networking between the fishing and science communities, through structured and unstructured interactions. Research institutions actively engaged in cooperative research in the Northeast will have informational booths for participants to learn more about their research portfolios and partnership opportunities.

Agenda

More details to come!

Morning (Start 9am)

• Research and Industry Presentations
• Breakout Discussion Sessions
• Research Priority Exercise
• Networking and Partnership Development Opportunities

Lunch 
Afternoon (End 5pm)

• Breakout Discussion Sessions
• Industry Highlight
• Research Priority Exercise
• Networking and Partnership Development Opportunities
• Reception

Registration–Closed

Registration for this event has closed. If you would like to add your name to the waitlist, please do so here. If space opens up you will be contacted before the event date.

Abstract Submission–Closed

If you have questions relating to a previously submitted abstract, please contact Maura Flynn at maura.flynn@noaa.gov

Important Information

• History of Northeast Cooperative Research Summits