Coastal Conversations Radio Program: Shellfish Harvesting for the Future (Shellfish Focus Day #1)
Coastal Conversations show: February 26, 2021
WERU 89.9 in Blue Hill and 99.9 in Bangor
Host: Natalie Springuel, Maine Sea Grant
Listen to the show on WERU archives
Announcing a three-episode Coastal Conversations series focused on Maine shellfish
In non-COVID times, the first day of the annual Maine Fishermen’s Forum is dedicated to Maine shellfish. The event normally offers a rare opportunity for shellfish harvesters, shellfish wardens, municipal officials, non-profit groups, researchers, and others to meet and talk about issues facing the shellfish industry and how to conduct applied shellfish research and other projects to strengthen the fishery. Not wanting to miss out on this valuable event after cancellation of this year’s in-person Forum, a diverse group of volunteers have put together three webinar/radio programs that will focus on important topics in Maine’s shellfish fisheries.
The next three episodes of Coastal Conversations (February, March, and April 2021) will be dedicated to rebroadcasting these webinars focused on Maine shellfish.
Radio broadcasts will occur over the next three months, featuring:
February 26, 2021: Shellfish Harvesting for the Future (Shellfish Focus Day #1)
March 26, 2021: What’s Changing on the Mudflats (Shellfish Focus Day #2)
April 23, 2021: Shellfish Markets and the Seafood Supply Chain (Shellfish Focus Day #3)
Shellfish Focus Day #1: Shellfish Harvesting for the Future
The first event will feature a conversation among shellfish harvesters, shellfish wardens, municipal officials, marine resource committee members, and organizations that collaborate with towns (specifically Harpswell, Brunswick, and Gouldsboro). We’ll ask who is restoring shellfish populations and intertidal mudflats and how are they protecting the future of shellfish harvesting as a livelihood?
Through informal conversation and stories, people working on shellfish restoration projects now will tell stories and share information about what they have learned along the way. The topics will focus on efforts to grow clam seed, using equipment like upwellers and lobster pounds, connections to water quality issues, and how people are working together to restore shellfish and mudflats.
How to tune in: webinar and/or radio
The first Coastal Conversations episode in the series (set to air on February 26, 2021) will focus on topics raised during the companion webinar entitled: “Shellfish harvesting for the future: A conversation featuring stories and lessons learned in town shellfish conservation projects.” The webinar will occur on Monday February 22, at 4 pm. Use this link to join the webinar event. A recording of this event will be broadcast on WERU on February 26th at 4 PM and be available for podcasting thereafter.
Please keep an eye out for the next two programs which will be aired in March and April!
Special thanks to Jessica Joyce from Tidal Bay Consulting for helping plan these events.
Guests
The panelists for this first event are all working on projects to grow shellfish and restore intertidal mudflats in southern and Downeast Maine, including:
David Wilson, Chair, Marine Resources Committee, Harpswell;
Scott Moody Jr., Vice Chair, Marine Resources Committee, Harpswell;
Dan Devereaux, Coastal Resource Manager, Brunswick;
Mike Pinkham, Shellfish Warden, Gouldsboro;
Sarah Hooper, Education Specialist, Schoodic Institute; and
Bill Zoellick, Education Research Director Emeritus, Schoodic Institute.
The webinar will be co-hosted by Dr. Bridie McGreavy, Associate Professor in the Dept. of Communication and Journalism and the Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions at the University of Maine, and Natalie Springuel, Maine Sea Grant.
Listen to the show on WERU archives
More information about Coastal Conversations Radio Program