MVPC’s Marine Invader Monitoring and Information Collaborative (MIMIC) was back in action for the summer season! This program, part of a larger initiative coordinated by the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM), brings together volunteers, nonprofits, and agencies across New England to keep an eye on invasive marine species.

Each year, warmer summer waters create ideal conditions for non-native species to thrive—and that’s where MIMIC steps in. MVPC is responsible for monitoring docks in Gloucester, Ipswich, Essex, and Rockport, where invasive species like Golden Star Tunicates, European Sea Squirts, Japanese Skeleton Shrimp, and many more, can attach to native organisms and man-made structures, disrupting local ecosystems. Invasive species can outcompete native ones by taking over habitats and food sources, and because non-natives have no natural predators in these areas, it is hard to get rid of them!

By regularly checking these sites, MVPC and its partners are helping to track the spread of marine invaders, raise awareness, and support long-term efforts to protect our coastal habitats.

Helping out with this effort, and others in the Environmental Program this summer is our Seasonal Field Technician, Maria Nikolakopoulos. Maria is from Georgetown, Massachusetts, and is studying Environmental Studies and Marine Science at Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Florida. She is interested in coral reefs, marine mammals, and hopes to do conservation work in the future!