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Women's History Month: Talking with Megan Amico

March 21, 2024

Celebrating Women’s History Month with fish biologist Megan Amico—her science journey, what she loves about her job, what advice she has for the next generation of women scientists, and more!

Megan Amico stands next to her painting at the World Fisheries Congress 2024 conference. The painting is an under and above water scene. Above the water, the sky is bright orange with some yellow clouds. There is a commercial lobster boat hauling up a lobster pot. Below the water is a North Atlantic right whale mother calf pair swimming under the boat.

Megan Amico is the gear researcher and fish biologist for our science center’s Risk Assessment and Mitigation Branch. She collaborates with commercial fishermen to explore and evaluate on-demand gear that could reduce North Atlantic right whale entanglements and help ensure the survival of local fishing industries. She also works on evaluating the use of a low-profile gillnet to reduce sea turtle bycatch and assists white shark research through passive acoustics. Her home base is at our Woods Hole Lab in Woods Hole, Massachusetts.

Can you tell us a little about yourself—where you grew up, how you got interested in science, where you went to college?

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A young child wearing jean shorts, a red shirt, and blue tennis shoes squats down on a beach near the water’s edge.
My first time in Maine was spent playing with the snails and hermit crabs on the beach. Credit: Lorene Amico

When I was a toddler, my parents took me to SeaWorld and I fell in love with killer whales and all things ocean. I grew up about 20 minutes west of Boston, Massachusetts. My younger brother, sister, and I were very lucky to spend a lot of time on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and in Maine. So, I was exposed to the ocean from a very early age.

Instead of building sandcastles or splashing in the waves, I was poking around tide pools looking for sea creatures. I feel extremely fortunate to have known that this is the path I want to be on for pretty much my whole life. To actually be able to say that I am a marine biologist—I know that isn’t the case for a lot of people.

I attended the University of Maine in Orono and graduated in 2019 with a bachelor’s degree in marine science. Last year, I completed my master’s degree through Unity Environmental University studying the conservation of marine predators. I partnered with the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy for my master’s research on great white sharks off the coast of Cape Cod… which is still super surreal to me since I grew up watching Greg Skomal and the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy on Shark Week.

Megan Amico wears a black graduation cap and gown, with a gold hood while holding a graduation certificate. She’s standing outside in a landscaped garden and is looking down at her graduation certificate.
Megan graduated with my master’s degree from Unity Environmental University in May of 2023. Credit: Sarah McCollom

What do you love most about your job or your career?

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Megan Amico wears a gray hoodie, knit cap, sunglasses, and a life vest while standing near the side of a boat. In front of her are two yellow cages, one with two orange floats on top. In the background is water and a shoreline off in the distance.
Megan Amico trains fishermen on how to use on-demand fishing gear. Getting out on the water is a great part of the job! Credit: NOAA Fisheries/Brian Galvez

I love knowing that my work is making a direct impact on reducing protected species bycatch in fisheries as well as protecting one of the world’s most endangered species— the North Atlantic right whale. But I also love being able to advocate for fishermen and coastal communities to ensure their longevity. Working waterfronts are critical for local and state economies. I’m proud of the work my team and I are doing to provide industry members with an opportunity to fish within closed areas and maintain their livelihoods.

What advice do you have for the next generation of women scientists about a career in fisheries and/or marine science?

It’s normal if your path into your field isn’t linear! My career with the science center started after some time working in other areas. I worked as a Northeast fisheries observer, at Starbucks, and even as a microbiologist before starting at NOAA. Keep making connections and pursuing the field you are passionate about. Don’t give up… your time will come!

Last updated by Northeast Fisheries Science Center on July 05, 2024