Spring 2023 Newsletter

June 9, 2023 Newsletters
Gayle Zydlewski on a rocky shore in front of evergreens under a blue sky

Message from the Director

As spring returns, along with the salmon, alewife, and other sea-run fish, the Maine Sea Grant team is excited to lean into an important value of our program, connectedness. We embrace the complex relationships between land and sea, humans and healthy ecosystems, and we continue our work with all of you to address these linkages. You will find below some examples of the ways we are connecting with new and old partners to bring Marine Science to Maine People through research, extension, and educational opportunities!


—Gayle Zydlewski

Program Updates

Welcoming new staff

Please join us in welcoming Annie Fagan, Maine Aquaculture Hub Coordinator, and Jessica Brunacini, Coastal Community Resilience Extension Associate, to our Maine Sea Grant team. We’re so excited to have them both on board!  

Research

New projects to address marine debris in Maine

Maine Sea Grant, University of Maine researchers and partners throughout the state will collectively receive $3.5M in funding from NOAA Sea Grant for three projects that address the prevention and removal of marine debris in the Gulf of Maine and beyond. Read more.

a rocky shoreline with gathered trash and a black trashbag

How warming waters impact lobster reproduction

A new StoryMap from the Sea Grant American Lobster Initiative (ALI) shares information about four research projects studying lobster reproduction along the east coast. Read more.

Maine Sea Grant co-hosts international acoustics symposium

Scientists from 30 countries convened in Portland, Maine for the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) Fisheries and Plankton Acoustics Symposium, a designated United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development event. Read more.

Two graduate students measuring among rockweed

Study investigates the impact of rockweed harvest 

Maine Sea Grant-supported researcher Amanda Klemmer found that rockweed harvest has less of an impact on ecosystems than some researchers had thought. The study, which was published in the Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, documented that biomass recovers faster than height after harvest. Read more.

Seaweed farmers haul in lines of sugar kelp onto their boat. The algae sways in the winter air.

Extension and Community Engagement

National Seaweed Symposium comes to Maine and aligns with Seaweed Week 

Hundreds of industry members and academics arrived in Maine for the National Seaweed Symposium, which coincided with Seaweed Week, a food and drink festival celebrating Maine’s kelp harvest. Read more about the symposium, hosted by Maine Sea Grant, and keep an eye out for a post-symposium summary on the Maine Sea Grant webpage. Read more about the festival on the Seaweed Week website.

Maine Sea Grant co-hosts lobster research and extension summit

The Sea Grant American Lobster Initiative (ALI) held the Regional Lobster Research and Outreach Summit bringing together scientists, graduate students, educators, extension agents, and fishermen. Read more. 

“Signs of the Seasons” phenology trainings offered in-person and recorded

Maine Sea Grant and the University of Maine Cooperative Extension collaborated once again to provide a series of five free in-person trainings to become community scientists by observing the signs of spring. The team will be hosting additional trainings and events over the summer and fall. See details here.

Maine Fishermen’s Forum recognizes Marine Extension Team members

Six Marine Extension Team members received 2023 Distinguished Service awards for their contributions to the Forum, particularly during the pandemic, when the event went virtual. Read more.

Eight people stand with awards at the 2023 Maine Fishermen's Forum

Education and Workforce Development

Graduate students receive Sea Grant fellowships 

University of Maine graduate student Krissa Davis received the Maine Sea Grant-Native American Programs Collaborative Research Assistantship. 

University of New England graduate student Cara Blaine received the 2022 Maine Sea Grant Graduate Research Assistantship. 

Rockweed press by John Ewen

Seaweed inspires art: Q&A with John Ewen 

Maine-based artist John Ewen created 12 digital pieces highlighting seaweeds common to Maine’s coastal waters. Our communications specialist connected with Ewen to learn more about his inspirations and process for creating his art. Read more.

In the News

WMTW News 8 Portland and the Climate Daily covered the 2023 National Seaweed Symposium, which took place in Portland, Maine, this April. 

Beth Bisson discussed how climate change is affecting nature’s cycles on Maine Calling and Maine Monitor. 

MaineBiz and Maine Public Radio covered Amanda Klemmer’s study on rockweed harvesting.

The Portland Press Herald wrote about the Casco Bay shell midden project, which received Maine Sea Grant program development funds to help sort and catalog clam shells from middens. 

MaineBiz, Fox22 Bangor, and the Bangor Daily News shared information about the three Maine-based marine debris projects funded by NOAA Sea Grant.

In an article about the difference between spiny and Maine lobster meat, Tasting Table cited information from the Maine Sea Grant website about Maine lobster.

Mark Your Calendars

Want to Connect?

Maine Sea Grant supports the responsible use and conservation of coastal resources to sustain diverse, thriving coastal communities and ecosystems. Our work requires building partnerships and collaborations with organizations and individuals across the coast and beyond. If you have questions or ideas, or if you’d like to connect, please feel free to reach out to anyone on our team.