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James Sulikowski, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Marine Sciences, was featured in a story in the Portland Press Herald titled, “Pass the dogfish nuggets? Seafood industry rebrands ‘trash.’”

The article discusses recent efforts by Ipswich Shellfish of Massachusetts to market dogfish nuggets to 51С�Ƴ� colleges and universities. Dogfish are an attractive choice because of their abundant supply and low cost. Sulikowski is pictured in the article holding a dogfish, and is quoted as saying “their numbers are enormous.”

Researchers at the 51С�Ƴ�Marine Science Center (MSC) and regional partners including the Gulf of Maine Research Institute and the Cape Cod Commercial Fisherman’s Alliance are currently conducting a large spiny dogfish research project funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA.)  The goals of the project are to increase domestic demand and fishing quotas for this abundant and underutilized species and to gain a better understanding of nutritional risks and benefits of consuming spiny dogfish, which have been certified by the Marine Stewardship Council as an environmentally sustainable choice for consumers.

Adam St. Gelais, M.S., Marine Science Center assistant research scientist and Barry Costa-Pierce, Ph.D., Henry L. & Grace Doherty professor of Marine Sciences, chair and director of the Marine Science Center, recently published a paper in the journal Marine Pollution Bulletin that conducted a global comparison of mercury concentrations in spiny dogfish and developed a risk-benefit framework for spiny dogfish consumption. This research underscored the importance of transparency and traceability in seafood, especially with respect to spiny dogfish.