It’s jobs, careers, and opportunities that exist because of our proximity to the water, because of our landscape.
— Katy Acheson, Executive Director, Blue Economy Foundation
Cape Careers Take to the Water
High school students from Plymouth and Cape Cod dip their toes in the waters of the "Blue Economy"
Click on image to watch the video news short
14 January 2026 – WEST BARNSTABLE, MA – High school juniors and seniors from Plymouth and Cape Cod met a range of “Blue Economy” professionals for a career building day called WaterWorks. The day highlights another side of Cape Cod, where STEM, environmental, marine, and water-based careers thrive – and invites students, as well as potential adult career changers, to explore these options.
What is the “Blue Economy”?
“The blue economy is all businesses related to water,” said Katy Acheson, executive director of the Blue Economy Foundation and VP of community impact for the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce, organizers of the January event.
That includes not only oceans and the marine environment, she said, but ponds, lakes and even cranberry bogs. In short, it embraces all careers that touch upon water in all of its many forms.
Does Cape Cod have a Blue Economy?
Cape Cod practically defines the Blue Economy, with a myriad of STEM, environmental, marine, and other water-related career paths.
More than 50 organizations participated in the event, ranging from stalwarts such as WHOI, the Army Corps of Engineers, the Cape Cod National Seashore and the Center for Coastal Studies, to environmentally focused groups like the Cape Light Compact and CARE for the Cape and Islands, to water-focused industry like local marinas.
“It’s jobs, careers, and opportunities that exist because of our proximity to the water, because of our landscape,” said Acheson.
What happens at WaterWorks?
Now in its seventh year, WaterWorks helps connect the dots between high school students and the eternal question – what do I want to do when I grow up?
Through one-on-one conversations and a job-fair like exhibition area to multiple presentation panels, the day connected students and organizations while introducing career options on the Cape.
After the students left, the event remained open through late afternoon and welcomed adults interested in the Blue Economy, including people seeking work or looking to change careers.
“Once the students leave around 1 pm, we open the space up from 1:30 to 3:30 for anyone in the public who wants to attend for free. Those are folks who are looking for part-time work or looking for skills or training advancement, or they are ready to take a leap from one career to another,” said Acheson. “I think that WaterWorks is an opportunity for us all to just take a step back and realize how spectacular Cape Cod is.”
