Martha's Vineyard Coastal Conference
October 6, 2026
9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
The conference will be held at
Martha's Vineyard Film Center
79 Beach Rd
Vineyard Haven, Mass. 02568
Cost: Free
Contact
Rachael Hamilton, WHOI Sea Grant and Cape Cod Cooperative Extension
Registration deadline
October 2, 2026
AGENDA
9:00 a.m. - Welcome and Check In
Coffee and pastries served in the lobby
KEYNOTE
9:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
As Our Harvest Evolves, 'Small Boats Big Taste' Has Responded
Seth Rolbein, senior policy advisor, Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen's Alliance
Session I: Coastal Processes, Geology, & Community
10:15 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.
Sea Level Rise
Dr. Chris Piecuch, associate scientist, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Coastal Geology and the Science of Storms, Sediment Transport, and Coastal Evolution on Martha’s Vineyard
Dr. Mark Borrelli, Shoreline and Seafloor Mapping Program director, Center for Coastal Studies
Aquinnah Cliffs Project
Dr. Farshid Vahedifard, professor, Tufts University
Lunch Break
11:45 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Lunch on your own. Check out this list of nearby restaurants and cafes.
Reminder: Session II begins promptly at 1 p.m.
Session II: Emergency Response & Socioeconomics of Island Storm Recovery
1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Island Supply Chain Resilience
Sakiko Isomichi, climate resilience planner, Martha's Vineyard Commission
Social Resilience and the Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness 2.0 Process
Meghan Gombos, Sea Change Consulting
Dukes County Regional Emergency Plan
Martina Thornton, county manager, Dukes County Regional Government
Session III: Fins and Habitat
2:15 p.m. - 3:35 p.m.
2026 Port Profiles on the Vineyard
Story Reed, deputy director, Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries
Pond Water Quality and Watershed Management
Sheri Caseau, water resource planner, Martha's Vineyard Commission
Sustainable Fisheries
Dr. Maria Abate, research marine biologist, Natural Resources Department, The Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah)
Eelgrass Restoration
Emma Green-Beach, director and shellfish biologist, Martha's Vineyard Shellfish Group
Session IV: Salt Marsh Restoration
3:45 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Salt Marsh Restoration Framework
Dr. Sara Grady, senior coastal ecologist, Mass Audubon
Chappy Marsh Restoration Project
Alejandra Narvaez, coastal project manager, The Trustees
Vineyard Marsh Stewards
Sakiko Isomichi, climate resilience planner, Martha's Vineyard Commission
The lobby will remain open until 5 p.m. for informal conversation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Location Map
Please note: There are a limited number of parking spots on sight. Please refer to this parking map to ensure you don't get towed: https://mvfilmsociety.com/about-us/parking/. We strongly encourage carpooling, biking, or taking the bus. There is no parking allowed in neighboring lots.
Sponsoring Organizations
