Milestones

The City of Gloucester celebrated the opening of Ocean Alliance’s new headquarters at the former Tarr and Wonson Paint Manufactory. The site is home to Ocean Alliance’s offices,a cutting-edge green chemistry lab, a robotics lab ,a community center , and a marine mammal and ocean resource library. The Ocean Alliance situation room will also feature live video feeds from marine research projects across the world.

Ocean Alliance robotics display Photo:  Donna Ardizzoni

“Ocean Alliance’s oceanographic research and education center will support new generations of New England and Gloucester men and women who rely on the sea for sustenance,”said Iain Kerr, CEOof Ocean Alliance.

Gloucester Mayor Carolyn A.Kirk represented the City at a ribbon-cutting ceremony commemorating  the opening of Ocean Alliance’s first restored building. “The City is proud to celebrate the restoration of this historic site,”said Mayor Kirk. “Ocean Alliance’s new headquarters will advance the community’s vision for a diversified working waterfront.”

Ocean Alliance has invested more than $3.25 million in the restoration of the site, which it purchased with the help ofa grant from the Annenberg Foundation. In the years to come,a total of five buildings will be restored. The facility has been closed and in decay for more than 30 years. Ocean Alliance strives to increase public awareness of the importance of whale and ocean health through research and public education. Ocean Alliance works with scientific partners to collect a broad spectrum of data on whales and ocean life. Ocean Alliance uses this data to advise educators, policymakers, and the general public on wise stewardship o the oceans to mitigate pollution, prevent the collapse of marine mammal populations,and promote ocean and human health.