Tracey Dalton

Professor and Director of Rhode Island Sea Grant
Department of Marine Affairs
Phone: 401.874.6802
Email: dalton@uri.edu
Office Location: Coastal Institute Kingston 115A; Coastal Institute Bay Campus 127C

Biography

My research covers a variety of topics, all involving human interactions with marine and coastal environments. I’m particularly interested in public participation, spatial planning & management, shellfish aquaculture, and governance of linked social and ecological systems. Most of my research takes place in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, the broader New England region, and in the Caribbean. My most recent projects have explored spatial patterns of use in RI coastal waters, impacts of the Block Island Wind Farm on human activities, public perceptions of shellfish aquaculture in RI, and public understanding of ocean plastics and water quality.

I am the Director of the RI Sea Grant, a program committed to improving the understanding and management of RI’s coastal and marine ecosystems and associated human communities.

I have taught undergraduate and graduate courses at URI on human use & management of the marine environment, management of marine protected areas, and coastal zone management. I advise students as they develop and carry out their own research projects.

Curriculum vitae

Research Abstracts

Assessing Impacts of the Block Island Wind Farm on Recreational Saltwater Fishing - David Bidwell, T. Smythe, Tracey Dalton, and J. Livermore
This study uses qualitative and quantitative data to assess effects of the Block Island Wind Farm on recreational saltwater angling.
Assessing Societal Impacts of Harmful Macroalgae Blooms in the Caribbean - Tracey Dalton, Carlos Garcia-Quijano, Di Jin, Peter Freeman, Ken Hamel, Patricia Valentin-Llorens. This study explores how Sargassum events and management strategies impact people who live and work in the Caribbean region.
Attitudinal Factors and Personal Characteristics Influence Support for Shellfish Aquaculture in Rhode Island (US) Coastal Waters - Tracey Dalton, Di Jin
This study explores public interests associated with shellfish aquaculture development in coastal waters of Rhode Island (US).
Fishers’ Knowledge and Perceptions of the Emerging Southern New England Jonah Crab Fishery - Corinne Truesdale, Tracey Dalton, Conor McManus
To directly assess data gaps and address perspectives on the species and its fishery, we collected fishers’ knowledge by interviewing 15 participants in the southern New England Jonah crab commercial fishery.
Investigation of Users’ Preferences for and Values of Recreational Boating Activities Associated with the Block Island Wind Farm - Tracey Dalton, J. Livermore, J. Opaluch, Rob Thompson
Investigation of on-the-water users’ preferences for recreational boating trips associated with off-shore wind farms in and around Rhode Island waters.
Marine resource management and conservation in the Anthropocene - Aswani, S., X. Baurto, S. Ferse, M. Glaser, L. Campbell, J. Cinner , T. Dalton, L. Jenkins, M. Miller, R. Pollnac, I. Vaccaro, P. Christie
In this subject review, we summarize key ways in which the environmental social sciences can better inform fisheries management policy and practice and marine conservation in the Anthropocene.
Public Perceptions of Aquaculture Development in Southern New England - Tracey Dalton (URI), Callan Yanoff (URI), Di Jin (WHOI), Mike Weir (WHOI), Gianna Lourenco (URI), Emma Janson (URI). We are conducting a study to learn more about how people who live in Rhode Island and Massachusetts think about aquaculture farms.
Understanding Marine Resource User Response to Ecological Impacts of Offshore Wind Energy: A Case Study of the Block Island Wind Farm - J. Livermore, J. McNamee and Tracey Dalton
This interdisciplinary project investigates how the Block Island Wind Farm and its corresponding electricity transmission system to the mainland will impact the local marine ecosystem and how marine resource users will be affected by these impacts.
Using normative evaluations to plan for and manage shellfish aquaculture development in Rhode Island coastal waters - Tracey Dalton, Di Jin, Robert Thompson, Allison Katzanek
This study uses data from a mail survey to (1) examine Rhode Islanders’ support for aquaculture in general and in RI waters; (2) investigate how different features of an aquaculture farm influence normative evaluations; and (3) explore areas of agreement and disagreement among stakeholder groups for social carrying capacities associated with aquaculture in RI coastal waters.

Current URI Courses

In Coastal Zone Management (MAF 461), we explore how policies to manage human activities at the coast are developed, carried out, and evaluated. Key concepts in the coastal policy process, such as adaptive management, stakeholder process, the integration of science and policy, program evaluation and others, are examined. While examples from the United States, the Caribbean, Africa, and other locations are used to illustrate the concepts, considerable attention is given to the US Coastal Zone Management Program.

In Management of Marine Protected Areas (MAF 526), we investigate the political, social, cultural, legal and economic factors related to the design, management and evaluation of MPAs. While we review current research on the natural science of MPAs, this course emphasizes the human dimensions associated with MPAs.

Current students

Nikol Damato
Program: Master of Arts in Marine Affairs
Research topic: Interactions between marine mammals and recreational boaters

Emma Janson
Program: Master of Arts in Marine Affairs
Research topic: Marine debris action planning in southern New England

Ken Hamel
Program: PhD in Marine Affairs
Research topic: Social Impacts of Sargassum events on Caribbean Communities

Julia Livermore Sheehan
Program: PhD in Marine Affairs
Research topic: Fisheries management in New England

Completed graduate students as of May 2022

Callan Yanoff
Program: Master of Arts in Marine Affairs (2022)
Research topic: Aquaculture Development in Southern New England: Public Perceptions and Social Barriers

Erfa Canisthya Fachroni
Program: Master of Marine Affairs (2022)
Research topic: How is Integrated Ocean Management working in practice?

Kayla Williams
Program: Master of Arts in Marine Affairs (2021)
Research topic: Effectiveness of the National Marine Sanctuary Program in Managing Ocean Noise and Marine Mammals

Lauren Farnsworth
Program: Master of Arts in Marine Affairs (2021)
Research topic: Know Before You Go: Understanding Boaters’ Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behaviors Associated with The No Discharge Zone and Marine Pump-out Facilities in Rhode Island

Kim Ohnemus
Program: Masters of Arts in Marine Affairs (2020)
Research topic: The (en)Tangled Web They Weave: Stakeholder Perceptions of the Large Whale Take Reduction Plan Process

Leah Feldman
Program: Masters of Arts in Marine Affairs (2019)
Research topic: Coastal Zone Access and The Pell Elementary School Sail Newport Program: Experiential Education Outcomes in Newport, Rhode Island

Larynn Cutshaw
Program: Masters of Arts in Marine Affairs (2019)
Research topic: Assessing Consumer Preferences for Sustainability, Equity, And Welfare in the Aquarium Trade

Katie Rubstello
Program: Masters of Arts in Marine Affairs (2019)
Research topic: The Social Acceptability of Shellfish Aquaculture in Washington

Talya ten Brink
Program: PhD in Marine Affairs (2019)
Research topic: How Landscape Change Affects Commercial and Recreational Fishermen’s Perceptions and Place Meanings

Amy Wirts
Program: Master of Marine Affairs (2019)
Research topic: The National Coastal Zone Management Program: a legislative and legal foundation for interjurisdictional holistic ocean planning

Corinne Truesdale
Program: Master of Marine Affairs & Master of Science in Oceanography (2018)
Research topic: Collecting fishers’ knowledge to inform Jonah crab research and management in Southern New England

Nelle D'Aversa
Program: Master of Arts in Marine Affairs & Masters of Environmental Science and Management (2017)
Research topic: Perspectives on Emerging Monitoring Technologies: Understanding Factors that Affect Adoption

Amanda Ingram
Program: Master of Marine Affairs (2017)
Research topic: Shark Conservation Efforts Incentivize and Perpetuate Illegal, Unregulated and Unreported Fishing

Cathrine Denman
Program: Master of Arts in Marine Affairs (2017)
Research topic: Perceptions of Those Involved in the NOAA National Marine Sanctuary Nomination Process: A Case Study of Mallows Bay

Heather Kinney
Program: Master of Arts in Marine Affairs (2017)
Research topic: Perceptions of Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) of pilot study participants in Maine

Laura Hansen
Program: Master of Arts in Marine Affairs (2016)
Research topic: Examining Stakeholder Perceptions: Benefits and Limitations of Shellfish Aquaculture Management Regimes in Rhode Island and Massachusetts

Maria Vasta
Program: Master of Arts in Marine Affairs (2015)
Research topic: Shellfish farms as agritourism destinations: The growers’ perspective

Lena Weiss
Program: Master of Arts in Marine Affairs (2015)
Research topic: Modeling participation in citizen science

Hilary Lohmann
Program: Master of Arts in Marine Affairs (2015)
Research topic: Measuring social vulnerability and adaptive capacity to climate variability in coastal communities of the Dominican Republic

Alyson Pitts
Program: Master of Marine Affairs (2015)
Research topic: An analysis with management implications of the public participation process for the redesign of MPAs in the North Central Coast of California Study Region

Roy Bergstrom
Program: Master of Marine Affairs (2015)
Research topic: An Investigation of the Use of Video Production as a Tool To Learn and Communicate Environmental Science

S. Emily Scott
Program: Master of Arts in Marine Affairs (2014)
Research topic: The evolution of social networks and stakeholder perceptions in the initial stages of the RI Beach SAMP

Mary Hudson
Program: Master of Arts in Marine Affairs (2014)
Research topic: Fishermen perceptions of fishermen-scientist relations in the Maine lobster and scallop fisheries

Nicole DeAngelis
Program: Master of Arts in Marine Affairs (2013)
Research topic: Rhode Island shellfish aquaculturists’ perceptions of eco-labeling certification programs

Leigh Habegger
Program: Master of Arts in Marine Affairs (2013)
Research topic: Managing conflict and compatibility of use: a case study of stakeholder groups associate with blue crabs (callinectes sapidus) in coastal North Carolina

Michael Beck
Program: Master of Arts in Marine Affairs (2013)
Research topic: An examination of factors impacting property owners’ participation rates in the National Flood Insurance Program

Leslie Straker
Program: Ph.D. in Marine Affairs (2012)
Research Topic: Measuring the effectiveness of coastal zone management organizations in St. Vincent and the Grenadines

Anthony Bresnan
Program: Master of Arts in Marine Affairs (2012)
Research topic: The Atlantic Butterfish: Investigating the decline of a stock

Christine Patrick
Program: Master of Arts in Marine Affairs (2012)
Research topic: How the history, changing goals, and performance of Georges Bank and Western Gulf of Maine fishery closure areas could affect their future

Margaret Meehan
Program: Master of Marine Affairs (2011)
Research topic: Improving mariner regulatory compliance within North Atlantic Right whale seasonal and dynamic management areas

Elizabeth Buendia
Program: Master of Marine Affairs (2011)
Research topic: An evaluation of recreational boater compliance with the Florida manatee conservation zones

Karin Jakubowski
Program: Master of Marine Affairs (2011)
Research topic: Coral reef management strategies for dive and snorkel tourism and their application in three marine protected areas in the Caribbean

Jennifer Goebel
Program: Master of Marine Affairs (2011)
Research topic: Paying for protection: An examination of funding sources and delivery mechanisms for financing marine conservation

Christopher McGuire
Program: Master of Marine Affairs (2011)
Research topic: Communicating the ‘best available science’ in marine policymaking

Matthew Nixon
Program: Master of Arts in Marine Affairs (2008)
Research topic: An examination of the relationships among access, community characteristics, and income pertaining to recreational boating in Rhode Island

Karen Palmigiano
Program: Master of Arts in Marine Affairs (2007)
Research topic: Evaluating community member perceptions of the management of marine reserves in Belize and Honduras

Andrew Sulock
Program: Master of Arts in Marine Affairs (2007)
Research topic: Investigating the role of the recreational dive industry in marine reserve performance in Belize and Honduras

Felicia Olmeta
Program: Master of Arts in Marine Affairs (2006)
Research topic: The International Mediterranean Sea Cetacean Sanctuary: prospects for an effective sanctuary agreement

Catherine McNally
Program: Master of Arts in Marine Affairs (2006)
Research topic: An analysis of the governance factors that contribute to the overall success of water quality trading programs

Mary Kate Stubljar
Program: Master of Arts in Marine Affairs (2005)
Research topic: An examination of marine protected areas (MPAs) as a possible tool for coordinating efforts of US coastal zone and fisheries managers

Kelly McCrum
Program: Master of Arts in Marine Affairs (2005)
Research topic: The Western Gulf of Maine closure

Jennifer Collier
Program: Master of Arts in Marine Affairs (2004)
Research topic: The Marine Mammal Protection Act and active marine mammal tourism

Stephanie Martin
Program: Master in Marine Affairs (2004)
Research topic: People, places, and wildlife: examination of tourism management of the Sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia