Maine Sea Grant

New Developments in the Law Affecting the Seashore: Access, Ownership, and Seaweed The age-old question of who can get to the beach will be examined through a discussion of the legal principles governing public access vs. private property rights and responsibilities with respect to beaches. Public prescriptive easements, the public trust doctrine and other legal […]

Aquaculture Engagement Round Table Aquaculture represents an increasingly significant share of the global supply of freshwater and marine resources. Worldwide aquaculture production for human consumption now accounts for 44% of fish supply and is expected to surpass wild-caught fish capture by 2025. Maine is arguably becoming one of the ‘hotspots’ of aquaculture development in the […]

Sea Level Rise The causes of Sea Level Rise (SLR) are seemingly simple and yet the issue is almost incomprehensible to digest. Join this session to gain an understanding of the data behind as well as the present realities of High Tide Flooding, Storm Surge Height, as well as the need and challenges of SLR […]

Improving Coastal Water Quality As a recurring topic from previous conferences, this session aims to update the audience on the state-of-the-science regarding fecal source tracking efforts in coastal environments. Speakers will cover information on traditional and innovative approaches to fecal source tracking, as well as the successes and challenges with these approaches in specific watersheds […]

Dynamic Coasts: Using Science to Inform Forecasts, Management, and Policy Two significant forces shape the coastline: nature and human society. Where these two forces intersect is often the site of conflict. This session will explore the nature of coastal processes at several locations along the Northeast Atlantic Coast where this conflict results in management challenges. […]

A Tale of Conflict: Wildlife Interactions Along Our Coast Beaches, coasts, and our near shore are bustling places of activity. These areas are home to roughly 1/3 (39%) of the US population and support a myriad of shorebirds, invertebrates, whales, and more. As population increase so do potential conflicts with wildlife. These conflicts are not […]

Awareness to Action: Local Communities Building Resilience From working waterfronts to beach-side properties to wetlands, our coastline will be impacted by sea level rise in complex and critical ways. As each community grapples with resilience strategies best suited for their needs, they’ll also be learning and developing key strategies that may be implemented elsewhere. Join us […]

Collaboration to Monitor the Coast The beaches and coasts of Maine and New Hampshire cover a lot of mileage, and it can be difficult to determine if changes observed in one location can be generalized across the region. This session highlights three programs using innovative collaborations and methods that can easily be translated from one […]

Sea Level Rise, Chronic Flooding, and Property Values Sea level is rising and high-tide flooding is becoming more prevalent.  FEMAs Flood Insurance Rate Maps depict flood-prone areas that require flood insurance as a condition of a loan in the floodplains.  Does this increased cost, both financially and the flood risk, affect the value of property?  […]

Undercurrents: Navigating the Human Dynamics of Coastal Adaptations The University of New Hampshire’s PowerPlay Interactive Development program has developed a unique style of training that utilizes professional actors who perform highly researched scripts, and an exciting method of audience interaction that is engaging and impactful, but also enjoyable and comfortable. Participants are given the opportunity […]