The conception of the Massachusetts Marine Fisheries Institute (MFI) goes back to 1994, when three large marine protected areas were established to protect groundfish stock, resulting in the closing of historic scallop grounds. Scallop stocks were believed to be very dense in these areas, so closing them to protect the over-fished groundfish stock brought the New England sea scallop fishery to near bankruptcy by 1997.

Bobby Bruno and Malvin Kvilhaug, two scallop fishermen from New Bedford and both leaders of the Fisheries Survival Fund, approached the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth School for Marine Science and Technology Dean, Dr. Brian Rothschild, to request help from the scientists at the University.

Dr. Rothschild, current Co-Director of the MFI, brought together a coalition involving the School for Marine Science and Technology, the Fisheries Survival Fund, the National Marine Fisheries Service and the Virginia Institute of Marine Science and launched a commercial dredge survey of one of the closed fishing areas. The survey found a huge abundance of sea scallops, but questions were raised regarding the method of capture and the 'true' number of scallops on the sea floor. Concerns were also raised about the environmental impact of scallop dredging. Because managers require an estimate of the scallop biomass on the sea floor to set the allowable harvest, Dr. Rothschild began to search for a new, innovative way to assess the scallop populations.

Dr. Kevin Stokesbury of the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth School for Marine Science and Technology, together with New Bedford fishermen, developed a video survey system to count and measure scallops without disturbing their habitat. Additionally, this technique enabled Dr. Stokesbury, his colleagues, and cooperating fishermen to map the sea floor and track habitat changes over time.

This unique cooperative video survey found a surprisingly large scallop biomass and enabled the National Marine Fisheries Service to open previously closed areas to short-term, limited fishing in 1999 and 2000. A catch worth over $55 million rejuvenated the fishing industry and gave the hard-fished open areas a reprieve. These openings were incorporated into the ongoing management of the Atlantic sea scallop resource, and the video survey continues to provide critical data ensuring that the fishermen and seafood consumers of the region enjoy an abundant and sustainable harvest of sea scallops.