Northshore magazine showcases the best that the North Shore of Boston, MA has to offer.
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NORTHSHOREMAG.COM 62 APRIL 2019 To the left stands a fish market, and a stack of seaworn lobster traps stands guard near the top of the parking lot. Across a narrow channel, boats pull in and out of the state fish pier that juts into Gloucester Harbor. And amidst these icons of traditional Gloucester sits the new home of the Gloucester Marine Genomics Institute's (GMGI) research labs, an endeavor that many hope will help the city forge a distinctly new maritime future. e institute's mission is threefold: to train people to join the biotechnology labor force, to con- duct innovative research, and to help foster the scientific community in Gloucester. "e idea is to bring new economic opportunity while still staying true to the maritime heritage," says Andrea Bodnar, the institute's science director. For nearly 400 years, fishing has been the economic and cultural heart of Gloucester. In recent decades, however, the industry has been on the decline, as regulations intended to prevent overfishing have put tight limits on the number of fish that can be taken each year. Ten years ago, a group of scientists, com- munity leaders, and local businesspeople began discussing ways to reimagine the Gloucester waterfront as a center of marine science and innovation. e result was the 2013 launch of the genomics institute, known as GMGI. "GMGI is a world-class research institute that will enhance economic develop- ment in Gloucester for years to come," says The laboratory conducts innovative research that hopes to forge a distinctly new marine future for Gloucester. Below, Andrea Bodner is the institute's science director. I N - D E P T H