Maine Sea Grant

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 […]

James T. Carlton The Maritime Studies Program of Williams College and Mystic Seaport 75 Greenmanville Ave Mystic, CT 06355 860.572.5359 Since 2001, three new species of invasive shrimp (one from Asia and two from Europe) have appeared and spread along the U.S. East Coast. A fourth species in the same genus (Palaemon) with no previous […]

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 […]

Aaron Pastor Macro Maine, Inc. PO Box 11266 Portland, Maine 04104 Seeing a timely need to create awareness of the Maine seaweed/aquaculture industries and the benefits for human health, economy, and ocean ecology, the Maine Seaweed Festival, http://www.seaweedfest.com/, was created as a free outdoor festival that promotes and highlights Maine seaweed and aquaculture innovation. Local artists, entertainers, […]