Brian Beal Soft-shell clams are a culturally important fishery. Yet, over the past 40 years, commercial clam landings have declined by 75%, due in part to declines in standing stock and clam population size based on recent changes in their ecosystems. Predators, such as the invasive green crab (Carcinus maenas) and native milky ribbon worms […]
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Dr. Mikhail Zuykov Laurentian University In August 2019, a pathogenic green algae, Coccomyxa spp. was found in mytilid mussels, Mytilus spp. in Jonesport, Maine and the surrounding area. Previous reports have documented the algae in Canadian coastal provinces and European waters, but this may be the first record of it in the Gulf of Maine. […]
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Morgan Cuthbert Yarmouth Schools Aquaculture is one of the fastest growing food producing sectors in the world, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). In Maine, aquaculture is becoming a prominent industry and is serving as a means for commercial fishermen to diversify their efforts. Furthermore, the National Oceanic and […]
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Dr. Chris Petersen College of the Atlantic According to the Maine Department of Marine Resources, lobster landings have been increasing since 1985, with over 132 million pounds landed in Maine during 2016. The lobster fishery has historically remained viable, even when other local fisheries have not. This is likely the result of the strong conservation […]
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Caitlin Cleaver, PhD Candidate University of Maine Maine coastal communities depend on the viability of the American lobster (Homarus americanus) fishery. However, as the Gulf of Maine changes, some lobstermen are diversifying their efforts to include oyster, mussel, seaweed, and salmon farming. The objective of this research is to understand the characteristics of fishermen-farmers based […]
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Ken Sparta and Rick Milliard Spartan Sea Farms/Hamilton Supply Company Researchers have identified Maine’s coasts as a suitable location for kelp cultivation. Current growing methods include the use of single, submerged longlines on which a seeded line of kelp can be placed. These lines can weigh upwards of 11,000 lbs per 1,000 feet and it […]
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Dr. Steven Jury Saint Joseph’s College of Maine Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus) is the preferred bait for the American lobster (Homarus americanus) fishery. In an effort to increase herring recruitment and spawning stock biomass, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission has reduced commercial landings, spurring interest in finding and testing alternative bait attractants for the […]
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Dr. Sean Todd College of the Atlantic Perfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) and phthalates are persistent organic pollutants, toxic chemicals that are mostly resistant to degradation and can accumulate over periods of time in an environment. The effects of these toxins are unknown for marine mammals, but have been linked to developmental problems and immunosuppression in […]
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Dr. David Fields Bigelow Laboratory Increasing concentrations of marine plastics and microplastics have been documented in the Gulf of Maine, due to an array of plastic pollution sources. Marine plastics and microplastics are known to be ingested by marine invertebrate species, including lobster, a commercially important species in Maine. Previous research on other invertebrate larvae […]
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University of Maine Parker Gassett Ocean acidification refers to a decrease in the pH of seawater due to the absorption of CO2 from the atmosphere. An increase in atmospheric CO2 levels results in an increase of CO2 absorption and more acidic water. Shellfish, which contribute $56.0 million to the economy and 1,500 jobs for Maine […]
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