Jill Carr
Current Job: Coastal Scientist, MassBays National Estuary Partnership
Current Project: Eelgrass research, mapping and monitoring
State(s) working in: Massachusetts
Where are you from: Massachusetts (born and raised NJ!)
What do you think is the main reason we should protect SAV?
If I had to pick just one of the many ecosystem services that make SAV worthy of protection, it would be the nursery habitat it provides for myriad aquatic species. Without it, numerous recreational and commercial fisheries would be diminished.
How do you feel your research will make a difference in the SAV community?
My research attempts to tackles pressing management issues: how to balance SAV and aquaculture interactions, how to address inaccuracies in mapping methods, and best practices in mitigation and restoration. By making sound science available, managers and practitioners can improve SAV protections.
What is one of your best memories working with SAV?
I love a good zen moment in an eelgrass bed - just taking time to passively watch and appreciate the habitat and its inhabitants. A particularly fond memory was a visit from a large sand tiger shark while filming colleagues conducting a phenology survey. Camera was in the right place at the right time!
What keeps you motivated to keep caring about the future of SAV?
I am motivated because we have some solvable problems in front of us. Through public awareness and conducting relevant science, we can improve the management, stewardship and outlook for SAV. I am also encouraged and motivated by my colleagues doing brilliant work and collaborating toward common goals. It's an amazing community!
More about Jill’s story
I received my bachelors degree at UConn in the Coastal Studies program, after which I worked in environmental consulting doing wetland delineations for a few years and found it wasn't my jam. I left corporate life for an internship in the Virgin Islands with TNC doing coral reef surveys and spiny lobster assessments. After coming back to the mainland, I landed a job at MA Division of Marine Fisheries doing at-sea fisheries sampling. After a couple years of that, around 2012, I transitioned to a position in DMF's habitat program where I learned all the joys of planting, mapping and monitoring eelgrass with a wonderful team of dedicated eelgrass enthusiasts.
I went back to school for my masters in GIS and Remote Sensing at Salem State University while working, and focused my interests on the various techniques of subtidal habitat mapping. In 2019, I left DMF for an opportunity at MassBays, an EPA Estuary Program. I brought my love for SAV to the organization and now lead their various mapping, monitoring, research and restoration projects. I consider myself very lucky to do this work, especially alongside so many talented colleagues, and have no plans to change course!
