Maine Sea Grant

Sarah Gladu Damariscotta River Association 110 Belvedere Road Damariscotta, ME 04543 207.563.1393 Ocean acidification, driven by greenhouse gas emissions, has been observed worldwide. The trend can be enhanced in coastal waters where nutrient runoff causes overproduction of organic matter, which then decomposes, consuming dissolved oxygen and producing carbon dioxide. Impacted coastal locations may show decreasing […]

Erin Meyer Interim Executive Director Herring Gut Learning Center 207.372.8677 The Port Clyde Fisheries Project envisions the creation of an interactive map of places that are meaningful to the maritime history of the region. This project aims to connect and preserve this history and engage local students, elders, industry, tourism, and technology through creation of […]

Jeremy C. Nettleton Assistant Professor of Marine Biology University of Maine at Machias 207.255.1206 Aquaculture, specifically kelp culture, will be studied in this project as a possible way to address declines in the Downeast region’s marine resource-based economy. Sugar kelp, Saccharina latissima, a highly valued edible seaweed, can be used in a variety of economically […]

Jason Goldstein Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve 342 Laudholm Farm Rd Wells ME 04090 In recent decades, landings of Jonah crab have more than quadrupled in New England. During harvesting, it is a common practice for fishermen to remove the claws of freshly caught Jonah crabs and subsequently return them to their environment. The biological […]

Robert Steneck University of Maine School of Marine Sciences Thew Suskiewicz Université Laval Filippo Ferrario Université Laval Doug Rasher University of Maine Maine’s coastal ecosystem changed profoundly during the 1990s, with the collapse of nearshore sea urchin populations. The loss of this important grazer led to increased abundance of Irish moss (Chondrus crispus), kelp and […]

Alison Sirois Shellfish Growing Area Supervisor Maine Department of Marine Resources Bureau of Public Health 207.633.9401 In order to protect people from consuming potentially dangerous shellfish, European Union countries are required to monitor for all harmful algal bloom (HAB) species and have extensive identification protocols and programs. In the U.S., the Food and Drug Administration […]

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 […]