Sherman is based at the University of Maine Cooperative Extension office in Waldoboro and works locally, statewide, and regionally on commercial fisheries and aquaculture projects. Sherm works with fishermen, scientists, and regulators to increase the capacity of local fishermen's groups and government agencies to practice sustainable fisheries management. His projects often involve collaborative fisheries management initiatives, including co-management and community-based management, with fishermen directly involved in managing their local fisheries.

Sherm's capacity-building work with the lobster fishery has included developing a local lobster zone newsletter, facilitating conflict reduction work sessions, promoting the lobster zone governance process, and helping to incorporate research information into governance. Working with the sea urchin fishery, he has facilitated productive meetings and organized an annual sea urchin "summit" where industry can help make management decisions based on research findings. Sherm worked for two years with fishermen and selectmen from five municipalities in the midcoast area of the state to create a regional clam management program with clammers managing their fishery.