Maine Sea Grant welcomes new Lobster Research and Extension Coordinator

Maine Sea Grant is pleased to announce that Michelle Brown has joined the team as the Lobster Research and Extension Coordinator. In her new role, Brown will be working on the American Lobster Initiative (ALI), helping to lead the Regional Lobster Research Program with Northeast Sea Grant members, and connecting harvesters, scientists, and managers in the Gulf of Maine around research and management priorities across the lobster industry. 

“I am so excited about deep diving into the current and past ALI projects, understanding the current challenges and priorities within the lobster industry, and meeting all of the regional partners,” says Brown. “As the wife of a commercial lobsterman, I am personally invested in the lobstering community. I understand that there are many challenges facing the industry and look forward to navigating these challenges with them.”

Brown graduated in 2005 with a bachelor’s degree from Tufts University, where she majored in anthropology and environmental studies. In 2010, she earned her master’s in environmental management from the Nicholas School of the Environment at Duke University.

Before joining Maine Sea Grant, Brown worked at the Gulf of Maine Research Institute on their Community team, with a wide range of responsibilities that included providing technical assistance to the groundfish industry, communicating about collaborative research projects, and developing sustainable seafood programming. More recently, she worked as a clerk for the Waterfront Alliance of Portland and South Portland, where she still serves on their Executive Committee, as well as on the board of the Maine Fishermen’s Forum. 

“We are thrilled to welcome Michelle to the Maine Sea Grant team as our new Lobster Research and Extension Coordinator,” says Maine Sea Grant Director Gayle Zydlewski. “Her work will help strengthen connections with everyone from researchers and municipal leaders to folks out on the water, ensuring that research and management priorities across the lobster industry are effectively addressed. We’re excited to have Michelle on board and look forward to the impactful work she’ll be doing with our team.”

In her free time, Brown enjoys getting out on the water and helping her husband haul traps. She is also an aspiring kelp farmer, having completed both the Aquaculture in Shared Waters program and Aquaculture Bootcamp.

Posted 18 February 2025