Maine Sea Grant

Jennifer Couture Phillips University of Maine School of Marine Sciences The soft-shell clam fishery on the coast of Maine has significant economic and cultural value to the state. In recent years, community fishery managers in areas where clam populations have declined have taken to seeding hatchery-raised juvenile clams onto mud flats to bolster populations. One threat […]

Heather Leslie University of Maine School of Marine Sciences Kathleen Thornton University of Maine School of Marine Sciences The estuaries and coastal waters of Maine are complex ecosystems, influenced by salt water from the Gulf of Maine and freshwater entering from rivers and streams. They provide essential habitat for wildlife including seafood species. They are […]

Yong Chen University of Maine Katherine Thompson Maine DMR The Gulf of Maine northern shrimp (Pandalus borealis) supports an important fishery in Maine. Since 2010, however, the stock has declined precipitously, and the fishery has been closed since 2013. It is believed that changes in shrimp habitat as well as high fishing pressure are to […]

Lucille Zipf Boston University Climate change is projected to result in a continued and amplified rise in sea level, putting at risk salt marsh ecosystems that developed during times of relatively stable seas. Coastal communities are interested in exploring ways to preserve their salt marshes and the many benefits they provide, such as protection during […]

In July 2015, Maine Maritime Museum opened Lobstering and the Maine Coast, a renovated and expanded permanent exhibit showcasing the Maine lobster industry’s history, current operations, and future. It is the largest and most extensive exhibit of its kind in Maine. Much has changed in the world of Maine lobster since the Museum first created […]

David Carlon Bowdoin College The Benthic Ecology Meeting is an international conference that convenes scientists, stakeholders, managers, and citizens in a unique and structured environment. The format of the meeting and associated events provides a forum for the exchange of ideas, dissemination of information, and building of professional relationships. The 2016 meeting took place in […]

Ruth Hallsworth Senator George J. Mitchell Center University of Maine Email Ruth Hallsworth Maine has a wealth of water resources with 5,800 lakes, 32,000 miles of scenic and industrial rivers, and significant estuaries and coastline. Lakes cover almost 5% of the total state area. Together, forested wetlands and freshwater wetlands comprise almost 25% of the […]

Kate Dickerson 207.478.9548 mainesciencefestival.org Maine is a rural state with a small, dispersed population, where many residents feel the loss of traditional industries and are struggling economically. The state is exceptionally rich in natural resources, however, and its beauty has attracted and held generations of highly creative citizens who have adapted to the remote and […]