Maine Sea Grant

David Fields Senior Research Scientist Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences The Gulf of Maine is warming at a rapid rate, with unknown consequences for marine life, including commercially and culturally important species such as American lobster and soft-shell clams. Previous work by Bigelow and UMaine scientists provided some of the first indication that temperature is […]

Whitley Gilbert School of Marine Sciences University of Maine According to the U.S. Census, Portland, Maine is one of the fastest growing cities in New England. More people typically means changes in land use, such as more pavement and more wastewater, both of which affect coastal water quality. Excess nutrients in estuaries can cause eutrophication […]

Christopher Johnson Sipayik Environmental Department Passamaquoddy Tribe Perry, Maine The Sipayik Environmental Department at Pleasant Point is expanding focus on American eel (Anguilla rostrata), which have been vital to Wabanaki culture and survival for thousands of years. Efforts to maintain and enhance eel populations in the ancestral homeland are critical to the continued sustainability of […]

Joshua Stoll School of Marine Sciences University of Maine Maine’s commercial fishing sector has had a long history of participating in fisheries management. Communication between harvesters and policymakers has been instrumental in the development of rules and regulations that have helped to sustain the region’s coastal fisheries. Fishermen have deep understanding of the natural environment. […]

Gayle Zydlewski School of Marine Sciences University of Maine Since 2012, Gayle Zydlewski has been leading a team of students and local partners to assess the effects of tidal power development on fish presence, behavior, and distribution, with a goal of informing decisions about the industry’s future in eastern Maine and beyond. However, many factors […]

Cary Friedman Assistant Professor of Marine Science Maine Maritime Academy Castine, ME Persistent organic pollutants are pervasive throughout the world’s oceans, and they are present in the Penobscot River and Bay. One type of pollutant, a polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) used as flame retardant on a wide variety of products, can be toxic to people […]

Ian Bricknell School of Marine Sciences University of Maine The European green crab, Carcinus maenas, is an invasive species on the East Coast of the United States as well as many other regions around the world, and threatens important seafood species in Maine. There are no significant natural predators of green crabs on the coast […]

Bob Twilley President, Coastal & Estuarine Research Federation Seattle, WA The mission of the Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation is to advance understanding and stewardship of estuarine and coastal ecosystems worldwide through promoting research supporting education, and facilitating communication among scientists, government, and the public. The Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation is the only scientific […]