The Lobster Institute at UMaine names Christina Cash as new executive director
New England Council member, the University of Maine has named Maine native and UMaine graduate Christina Cash to head up its Lobster Institute. Cash served as the interim director since last summer, succeeding previous executive director Richard Wahle, who retired. Cash has been with the Institute since 2021, serving as assistant director of communication and outreach before coming into the interim role.
Cash previously served as an advancement officer at the Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences and as program and development director at the Frances Perkins Center. She expressed her goals for the Lobster Institute, which include expanding student opportunities and programs at the Darling Marine Entrance in Walpole.
“It is an honor to be in this position as a liaison between industry and the university,” Cash said. “There’s so much going on in the lobster world right now and I look forward to collaborating with partners from industry, management and academia on research that can help the fishery.”
Established in 1987, the Lobster Institute has sought to be a center for discovery, innovation, and outreach for the University of Maine regarding the sustainability of the vital American lobster fishery for the US and Canada. Various research projects over the years have included an analysis of how rapid Arctic change has impacted fisheries and fishing communities, supporting research into lobster byproducts, and a study for how commercial lobstering data can be used to inform offshore wind farm developments. Serving as UMaine’s laboratory for marine research, Darling has undergone a $5.2 million waterfront infrastructure improvement project to enhance its research and business incubator projects.
The New England Council would like to congratulate Cash and the University of Maine on their efforts to improve and better understand New England’s Lobster industry.
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