Massachusetts
Shellfish dying, lobster leaving: Mass. marine ecosystem faces hotter, harsher future as climate warms – The Boston Globe
The Boston Research Advisory Group report found that deadly hot marine heat waves — once extremely rare — could become commonplace. Scientists warn that those and other impacts are only going to get worse if the climate continues to warm with dire and possibly irreversible impacts on the ocean.
If the planet does not stop emitting planet-warming greenhouse gasses, marine heat waves could occur off the coast of Massachusetts once every decade if the planet reaches 2 degrees Celsius of warming and perhaps every other year with 3 degrees of warming. The vast majority of excess heat generated by anthropogenic warming is absorbed by the planet’s oceans.
“The possible impacts described in this report are not pleasant,” said Paul Kirshen, a professor of climate adaptation at the University of Massachusetts Boston and an author of the report. “We need to get to net zero emissions and below as soon as possible.”
Unlike on land, where humans can build a seawall to protect from coastal flooding, for example, there is very little that can be done to help ecosystems adapt to warmer water and higher acidity, experts said. The trends noted in the report will be “very difficult” to respond to, Kirshen said.
The report was created to answer questions posed by leaders of coastal Massachusetts towns and cities about what communities could expect over the next few decades as the climate continues to warm. Many of those towns have local economies that are at least in part dependent on commercial fishing, an industry that is likely to be dramatically changed by a warmer and more acidic Massachusetts Bay.
Native fish populations will likely continue their decline off of Massachusetts’ coast, while species from further south will move in, scientists found. The bay will continue to get acidic and inhospitable for the many fish, plants, and shellfish that live there now.
Oceans absorb about 30 percent of the carbon dioxide that’s released into the atmosphere. When absorbed, carbon dioxide makes sea water more acidic through chemical reactions, putting the entire food web in the marine ecosystem at risk, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
One example: Higher acidity causes shells to deteriorate, which kills shellfish. That will be an early marker of a shift in fishing ecology in Massachusetts Bay, the Boston-area researchers warned.
“Shell fisheries should be monitored … for warning signs,” the report said. As acidity increases, there are fewer carbonate ions in the water, an essential ingredient to build shells.
Meanwhile, the Atlantic Cod’s numbers have already declined and the American lobster population is moving north. Scientists further expect populations of winter flounder, silver hake, and Atlantic herring to decline as well.
As others move out, species more suited to warmer temperatures are expected to move in, such as summer flounder, black sea bass, blue crab, and butterfish among them.
Jason Krumholz, an oceanographer and associate professor at the University of Connecticut, said that when he started graduate school in 2005, only very rarely did he catch blue crabs in nets. Now, more than half the crabs he catches are blue crabs, he said.
“I’m not that old yet, and this is a change that I’ve seen just in my career,” said Krumholz, one of the authors of the report. “It’s pretty fast.”
The fishing industry could likely adapt to this change by convincing buyers to push different offerings on the menu, Krumholz said. “We may have a lot more flags outside of restaurants with blue crabs on them instead of lobsters in 20 years.”
Scientists have also observed that the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation is slowing down. It’s one of the planet’s most prominent and powerful ocean currents and helps to moderate the climate at sea and on land near the shore.
That’s a wild card for ocean temperatures, said Bruce Anderson, an oceanographer and professor at Boston University and one of the lead authors of the report. The phenomenon could weaken and broaden the Gulf Stream, which brings warm tropical waters to the region.
“It’s really unclear what the Gulf Stream is going to do and how that change is going to affect things like the fisheries or even our climate here in Massachusetts,” Anderson said.
If the Gulf Stream slowdown continues, the water offshore of Massachusetts could see “substantial” warming as subtropical waters diffuse northward into the region, scientists found, further compounding the problems.
Another area of uncertainty: How President-elect Donald Trump’s administration could impact the trajectory of offshore ecosystems.
Environmental advocates are worried that the incoming Trump administration will try to slash budgets for federal environmental agencies, which could both slow the energy transition from fossil fuels to clean energy and affect efforts to clean up marine pollution.
Many federal grants finance beach cleanups, water quality testing, and other programs to manage the marine environment, said Jeff Watters, vice president of external affairs of the Ocean Conservancy, a nonprofit organization.
“I think they’re more at risk now than they were under the first [Trump] administration,” Watters said, because Congress was able to block some of those defunding efforts last time. “Pollution could absolutely go up; that’s a real possibility.”
Those fears come as marshes and coastal ecosystems are already threatened by plastic and pharmaceutical pollution, and runoff pollution is expected to increase due to stronger storms and an increase in coastal populations, according to the new report.
The pollution in Massachusetts Bay is affected by the behavior of people: What they buy, where they fish, how they recreate, and where they live, said Anderson of Boston University.
Yet, perhaps in that relationship lies a glimmer of hope: Towns, cities, and individuals can prevent further pollutants from entering the ecosystem. “This is a very sensitive environment to everyday decisions,” Anderson said.
Erin Douglas can be reached at erin.douglas@globe.com. Follow her @erinmdouglas23.
Massachusetts
In Massachusetts governor’s race, it’s the economy, stupid. For Healey, it’s abortion, too. – The Boston Globe
In a Globe interview, the first-term Democrat said preserving access to abortion is not just a social issue, but also an economic one, a framing that appears intended to tap into residents’ deep-seated concerns about being able to afford to live in a state that’s simultaneously emerged as a major national provider of abortion care.
“Make no mistake about it, abortion is economic, and the ability to access abortion care or not has real consequences for women across this country,” she said. “It has consequences in terms of their health — sometimes consequences are life or death — and it does have economic consequences.”
Healey is facing pressure to find ways to help ease Massachusetts’ high costs. Residents are leaving the state, some in search of lower-cost locales; energy bills are reaching new highs; homeownership is out of reach for many; and child care costs here are among the nation’s highest.
“Lowering costs should be the focus of every elected official in America,” Healey said during her State of the Commonwealth address in January. “It’s certainly mine.”
Scott Ferson, a Massachusetts-based Democratic political strategist, said Healey is “most comfortable” discussing protections for reproductive health care because of her background as a former attorney general who sued the Trump administration over access.
“There’s enough crises here to occupy voters’ . . . time,” Ferson said of fears over both abortion access and the economy. “And so she’s right to talk about both.”
Healey has long argued for increased access to abortion.
The state stockpiled 15,000 doses of mifepristone in 2023 amid an early legal challenge to the drug, and Healey issued an executive order in 2024 confirming access to emergency abortion care in the state. Last year, she signed a bill that bolstered protections for doctors providing reproductive health care from legal repercussions in other states.
Jane Rayburn, a Massachusetts-based pollster who has worked with New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Maine US Senate candidate Graham Platner, agreed that access to abortion has economic consequences, as people consider whether they can afford to have a child.
“Restricting economic freedom, removing folks’ autonomy from making these choices on how they build their family and their family’s future, cuts right at the heart of the cost of living and affordability issues that we’re all experiencing firsthand,” Rayburn said.
Healey has tried to bring her work on reproductive rights into sharper focus this year as two Republicans battle each other for their party’s nomination.
Brian Shortsleeve, who led the MBTA under former governor Charlie Baker, said he supports the US Supreme Court’s decision to maintain, at least temporarily, access to mifepristone through the mail. He also said he supports abortion rights, including the state’s “current law as it is.”
“I wouldn’t change it,” he said.
Mike Minogue, who won the Mass. GOP’s gubernatorial endorsement last month, has described himself as a “pro-life” Catholic.
He runs a nearly $23 million family foundation with his wife, Renee Minogue, that has donated to groups that have touted pro-life stances, including $8,000 between 2018 and 2024 to Prager University, a conservative media organization whose founder, Dennis Prager, has said most abortions are not moral.
The foundation also gave $5,000 in 2015 to the Massachusetts Family Institute, an antiabortion “pro-family” advocacy group, and $55,000 between 2023 and 2024 to Taylor University, an Indiana-based Christian institution that promotes a “sanctity of life statement.”
Minogue did not respond to questions about the donations, but said Healey ”and the liberal media will try to weaponize” abortion politics.
“I cannot change the Massachusetts abortion law. Politicians approach this issue to drive hate and divisiveness,” he said in a statement to the Globe. “As a leader with faith, I have compassion and will support women with counseling, financial aid, and medical care.”
Healey cast both Republicans as threats to access here, arguing that neither will proactively stand up for reproductive rights.
“I’m going to be there to protect abortion access, and my opponents are not, and that’s demonstrated by their actions, their words, their records,” she said.
Healey’s campaign has capitalized on the abortion-related court rulings in fund-raising emails, casting a federal appeals court decision restricting medication abortion by mail as “dangerous.” (The US Supreme Court later issued a ruling preserving access to the drug.)
The Massachusetts Democratic Party has also targeted Minogue directly, dubbing him “Anti-Abortion Mike Minogue” because of his “pro-life” beliefs.
Claire Teylouni, interim executive director of Reproductive Equity Now, an abortion rights group, said voters have a lot on their minds this election cycle and accused the Trump administration of “creating chaos and uncertainty” on a range of issues, including reproductive rights.
“It might not be that abortion is the only issue shaping this race,” she said, “but we do really believe it will be a significant one.”
Voters, too, say that the Massachusetts economy is a top issue, and likely Democratic voters said cost of living should be Healey’s top focus, according to an April Suffolk University/Boston Globe poll.
But they also have mounting concerns about the future of abortion access. A UMass Amherst/WCVB survey from 2025 found a decrease in the number of people – from 70 percent in October 2024 to 62 percent in February 2025 – who believed abortion would remain “safe, legal, and accessible” in Massachusetts following the US Supreme Court’s decision to end the constitutional right to an abortion in 2022 by overturning the landmark Roe v. Wade ruling.
Erin O’Brien, a political science professor at the University of Massachusetts Boston, said abortion, at the very least, is a good “wedge issue” for Healey. But she said the gubernatorial race will largely focus on affordability.
“Having [abortion] there helps her for turnout,” O’Brien said, “and to prevent people from going to the GOP.”
Chris Van Buskirk can be reached at chris.vanb@globe.com. Follow him on X @byChrisVan
There are few things we Boston sports fans love more than a hometown hero story. The latest report coming out of the Boston Celtics camp indicates that general manager Brad Stevens and the Celtics front office have taken particular interest in one Massachusetts-born prospect.
Alex Karaban is a legendary University of Connecticut player in his own right. The 6-foot-7 forward was a key piece of the Huskies back-to-back National Championship-winning squads. Nobody in the history of college basketball won more tournament games than Karaban.
In addition to national collegiate records, Karaban’s name is all over the UConn record books. Karaban holds the university record for games played (151), starts (150), three-pointers made (292) and most minutes played (4,909).
The 23-year-old was born in Southerborough, Mass. He attended St. Peter-Marian High School, Algonquin Regional and North Hampton School in New Hampshire.
Karaban is currently on the fringe of being a first-round draft pick with a consensus prospect ranking in the low 30s.
He is a perimeter scorer in nature, taking more than five threes a game during his four-year college career. He is praised for his basketball IQ and passing ability, which is to be expected from the face of Dan Hurley’s team.
Karaban is knocked for his defensive ability and pure athleticism. He is not a day-one starter for many, if any, teams in the league, but has a chance to carve out a role if he’s able to hit shots over NBA defenders.
More NBA: Celtics Predicted To Add ‘Fast-Rising Center’ Who Could Elevate Frontcourt Next To Jayson Tatum
Massachusetts
Massachusetts’ Charming Town Just Outside Worcester Is A Peaceful Escape With A Beautiful Lake And Garden – Islands
Central Massachusetts is a land of small towns and rolling forests, and if you have time to get off the highway, there’s a lot to see. Many road trippers treat the Bay State’s heartland as drive-through country, racing down Interstate 90 at 75 miles per hour and stopping only long enough to fill their gas tanks. Tourists assume that there’s nothing important between Boston and the Berkshires, depriving themselves of 14 scenic byways and hundreds of rural communities.
Case in point: Boylston, a town of nearly 5,000 just northeast of Worcester. Like the famous Boylston Street in Boston, the town is named after a prominent early-American merchant family; unlike that busy motorway, this Boylston is a quiet rough rectangle of land that overlaps with the Wachusett Reservoir. This beautiful lake is a major reason to visit as it’s the second largest body of freshwater in Massachusetts, and local anglers come here to cast their lines from the shore. Just as attractive is Boylston’s New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill, a 200-acre property with roots dating back to 1842. You could easily add the garden to a list of the most unforgettably unique summer vacation activities in New England.
Things to do in and around Boylston
The Worcester Horticultural Society was founded during the Antebellum period, and it organized regular exhibitions of flowers and plants from its headquarters in downtown Worcester. Finally, the Society purchased its own permanent space in 1986, and the New England Botanic Society was born. The traditional farm has been gradually converted into a multi-structure greenhouse and visitor center. Today, this estate has become a popular destination in Central Massachusetts; more than 250,000 people have visited in a single year.
The indoor exhibits are open year-round; during the warmer months, flora enthusiasts can explore the expansive flower gardens, orchards, and walking paths. The water features and numerous pavilions lend themselves to weddings and events, but more casual patrons may come to browse gifts and tools at the on-site Garden Shop. Adult admission is $24 in advance or $26 at the door; at the time of writing, some renovations have been underway, and the Lawn Center is temporarily closed.
The Botanic Garden is just a stone’s throw from the Wachusett Reservoir, which covers an impressive 6.5 square miles. The reservoir would be the state’s biggest lake, if not for Lake Quinsigamond, Massachusetts’ gorgeous getaway with beaches, fishing, and cozy cabins. The 37 miles of shoreline incorporate parks and walking trails, including an easy two-mile hike through the woods of Sawyer Bluff; halfway through the loop, a beachy peninsula sticks out into the water. While boating and swimming are not permitted to preserve the quality of the reservoir’s drinking water, fishing, long walks, and cross-country skiing are common pastimes along its periphery. Perhaps the most picturesque landmark is the Old Stone Church, a Gothic-looking structure first opened in the 1890s and largely rebuilt in 1977.
Getting to Boylston and where to stay
The only realistic way to get to Boylston is by car; there’s no mass transit out here, not even a suburban bus line. Driving will enable hikers to circle the reservoir and pick from several trailheads. The Botanical Garden is only about an hour’s drive from Boston, and from there you’re just about 35 minutes from the Wachusett Mountain Ski Area, a satisfying outdoor destination all year round; the hiking trail and observation tower at the summit of Wachusett offer one of the best panoramas in Massachusetts.
Boylston is pretty active for a small town, but you won’t find many traditional accommodations here. Luckily, Worcester is the second-largest city in New England (right after Boston), and it’s right around the corner: You can drive downtown in only 20 minutes from the reservoir and pick from one of several hotels. Although Worcester has seen better days — and it’s an unusual destination for tourists — the downtown area has a good number of restaurants and a handful of landmarks and museums.
Note that a hotel room in the middle of town can cost well over $200 per night; cheaper, generic chains are located a few miles south in the suburb of Auburn. If you’re on a budget and brought your own tent, consider staying at Sutton Falls Camping Area, Massachusetts’ camping escape with hiking, pond fun, and serene vibes, located just a half-hour south of the Botanical Garden.
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