Maine Sea Grant Newsletter
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Message From the Director
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Wow! It has been quite a spring, starting on February 28th with a termination notice for our program to today learning that FY25 funds to other Sea Grant programs are starting to be approved. We can breathe again and continue our work with all of you and because of your amazing support. This whole experience has shined a light on the impact Sea Grant programs nationwide make in their coastal communities! Our whole team thanks you for your support, partnership, and collaboration…
– Gayle Zydlewski
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Public comments are sought for Maine Sea Grant review – The public comment period ends June 11, 2025. Maine Sea Grant will undergo a federal program evaluation on June 23-26, 2025, as part of the NOAA National Sea Grant College Program. The National Sea Grant office will convene a virtual review team as part of a routine federal evaluation process that is statutorily required under our federal authorization. This process occurs every four years.
The review will be conducted virtually and will consider all aspects of the Maine Sea Grant program, including management and organization, performance, engagement, and collaborative activities, including those with various offices of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
This notice invites you to participate in our review by emailing your comments about Maine Sea Grant to oar.sg-feedback@noaa.gov. Kindly send your comments at your earliest convenience–the comment period will end on June 11, 2025. Please put “Maine Sea Grant site review” in the email subject line. Thank you for assisting us by letting the review team hear from you!
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Meet our 2025 Sea-Run Fish Interns
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2025 Marine Debris Workshop
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The Spring 2025 Workshop for Maine’s Marine Debris Challenge Project was held on March 31st at the University of Maine. Funded by NOAA’s National Sea Grant Program and coordinated by Maine Sea Grant, the project aims to reduce marine debris by replacing plastics with sustainable materials from forests and oceans, and by exploring reusable food packaging.
The hybrid workshop brought together stakeholders from food service, hospitality, aquaculture, packaging, shipping, and coastal communities to share project updates and discuss challenges and opportunities in tackling marine debris. Visit Maine’s Marine Debris Challenge Project site to learn more.
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Maine Sea Grant supports scientific research that is relevant to the issues and needs of coastal communities. In 2022, Bigelow researcher Christoph Aeppli received a two-year Maine Sea Grant Biennial Research Award to study the composition and transport of “forever chemicals” (PFAS) in Maine’s estuaries. Aeppli’s Maine Sea Grant-funded research is filling critical data gaps and building a collaborative network to inform decision making. Read about his research here.
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Education and Workforce Development
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Learning the Ropes: Inside Maine’s First Aquaculture Bootcamp – Salty Talks
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Maine Sea Grant plays a key role in Maine’s first aquaculture boot camp, providing expertise and resources to support participants in hands-on, sustainable aquaculture training. Produced by Corinne Noufi of the Aquaculture Research Institute, podcast “Salty Talks” highlights this collaboration and the program’s impact on the region’s growing aquaculture industry — listen in here.
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Meet Kara Chuang: 2025 Knauss Fellow
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With a strong foundation in aquaculture and marine science, Maine Knauss Fellow Kara Chuang has been contributing to NOAA’s Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP) in Silver Spring, Maryland, since beginning her fellowship in February. Learn more about her journey and ongoing work in her featured story on NOAA’s website.
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2025 Wrap Up: Signs of the Seasons
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This spring, Maine Sea Grant’s Signs of the Seasons program trained over 100 community scientists to observe and record phenology—the study of seasonal changes in plants and animals. The program aims to boost climate literacy and collect valuable data that helps researchers and resource managers understand how climate change is affecting Maine’s ecosystems. The in-person trainings, led by Maine Sea Grant staff, were held at locations across the state in collaboration with Maine Audubon, Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve, Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, and the University of Maine at Augusta.
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Educators Workshop: Investigating Phenology with Youth
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Maine Sea Grant and partners delivered an in-person phenology workshop for 30 educators to explore Maine species, their life cycles, and seasonal changes. Observing phenology allows students opportunities for hands-on, outdoor learning experiences that build deeper connections to their local environment. Participants practiced making phenology observations, and left with the tools and knowledge needed to implement activities in their school/community.
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Extension and Community Engagement
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Strengthening Community Resilience in Lincoln County
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The Lincoln County Social Resilience Project engaged residents and service providers to understand the impacts of the 2023–2024 winter storms and explore how communities can better prepare for future events. Through interviews, focus groups, and outreach, the project identified key challenges and opportunities to strengthen local partnerships and support those most affected. Read the executive summary for insights and actions shaping a more resilient Lincoln County.
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Wrap-up of Storm Convenings
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Over the last four months, a series of public forums aimed at preparing communities for future extreme weather, were held along the coast of Maine from Lubec to Kittery. These meetings brought together local officials, emergency personnel, fishermen, and waterfront businesses to discuss storm response and preparedness and share resources. The forums provided a valuable opportunity for neighboring communities to exchange best practices and coordinate efforts to address the challenges of storms intensified by climate change. Links to the documents related to the convenings can be found on our website.
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- Fox ABC Maine featured Keri Kaczor, Environmental Literacy and Workforce Development Program Manager at Maine Sea Grant, discussing the “Bringing the Sea to Inland and Rural Youth” initiative. This program connects rural students with Maine’s marine ecosystems through hands-on learning experiences.
- The Portland Press Herald covered Maine lobstermen witnessing a demonstration of ropeless fishing gear in action for the first time.
- Jaclyn Robidoux discussed Maine Sea Grant’s support for Maine’s seaweed harvest and its role in fostering sustainable aquaculture during the seventh annual Seaweed Week, as reported by the Penobscot Bay Pilot.
- In a report published by WMTW, small oyster farmers shared their perspectives on the importance of Maine Sea Grant’s programs and the potential impact of funding cuts.
- Bangor Daily News published an article highlighting Maine Sea Grant’s vital role in supporting Maine’s coastal communities and marine economy through initiatives like aquaculture training and fisheries research.
- The Maine Morning Star announced that Maine Sea Grant program has had its federal funding restored after a brief cancellation, allowing it to continue supporting coastal research, education, and workforce development initiatives.
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Tune in to WERU Community Radio (89.9 FM in Blue Hill and streaming online at WERU.org) from 4:00 to 4:30 PM the fourth Friday of each month for Coastal Conversations, a public affairs program hosted by Marine Extension Program Leader Natalie Springuel that explores current issues facing Maine’s coastal communities through conversations with people who live, work, and play on our coast. Coastal Conversations is supported by Maine Sea Grant, in partnership with Schoodic Institute and The First Coast.
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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.
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Please do not reply directly to thie email. This was sent from an address that cannot accept responses. For question or assistance, please contact the office.
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Maine Sea Grant 5741 Libby Hall, Orono, ME, 04469
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Maine Sea Grant is a federal-state partnership program based at the University of Maine and one of 34 NOAA Sea Grant programs throughout the coastal and Great Lakes states. We receive funding from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which is matched by the state of Maine and other non-federal sources. Since 1971, we have promoted science and education for the sustainable development, management, and stewardship of Maine’s marine and coastal resources. We continue this mission today by supporting marine and coastal research, education, and outreach via a marine extension team with individuals located in coastal communities from Wells to Eastport.
Maine Sea Grant’s work across Maine, from the Piscataqua River to Passamaquoddy Bay, is carried out on the lands and waters of the Wabanaki people. We thank the Wabanaki, people of the Dawn Land, for their stewardship and continued strength and resilience in protecting it. We support all efforts for healing and protecting the land and water we share.
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Maine Sea Grant