Marine Archives - Maine Agricultural and Forest Experiment Station

Marine

UMaine oceanographer trains future scientists on North Atlantic voyage Darling Marine Center documents local shellfish harvesting trends, changes

By studying the Damariscotta and Medomak River estuaries, University of Maine researchers have formally documented shifts in shellfish populations, from soft shell clams to oysters. Because Maine’s intertidal mudflats, such as those found in these estuaries, are difficult to study, this work filled an important gap in information about shellfish harvesting. Research documented how tidal […]

American lobster population, habitat preferences shifting, study finds

American lobsters along Maine’s coast have relocated to new habitats, while the population simultaneously shrunk in abundance and grew older, according to a new study by University of Maine researchers. For decades, the vast majority of adult lobsters resided in boulder shelter habitats. This knowledge helped inform longtime conservation efforts and regulations within the more […]

Shellfish lovers invited to sample mussels at UMaine on June 28

June 26, 2023 Food scientists at the University of Maine are seeking taste testers for a new mussel recipe on Wednesday, June 28. Sarah Gundermann, a Master’s of Food Science student in the lab of Professor Denise Skonberg, developed a new marinating and cooking process to prepare ready-to-eat mussels. Testers will spend 15–20 minutes tasting […]

UMaine Ph.D. candidate’s new tool helps predict pollution vulnerability in coastal waters statewide

A University of Maine Ph.D. candidate has created a new mapping tool that can help scientists and resource managers better predict how vulnerable different coastal estuary settings in Maine are to pollution. Pollution vulnerability in estuaries and bays can be determined by the source of contamination, how it is transported to coastal waters and how […]

The pathobiology and disease ecology of aquatic pathogens in Maine

Aquaculture remains the fastest-growing agricultural sector and has seen an annual growth rate grow of 4% to 7% year on year over the last decade. If Maine aquaculture is to remain economically viable, the industry must stay at the forefront of aquatic animal health and develop an improved understanding of the ecology and control of […]

Improved hatchery and grow-out methods for Maine’s shellfish culture industry

The shellfish culture industry in Maine has seen steady growth since its inception 30 years ago. During this time, industry growth had been primarily fueled by the increased production of blue mussels and eastern oysters. Recent disease outbreaks and increases in the abundance and distribution of pathogens and other pest species, however, have highlighted how […]

Contaminant effects on Maine finfish

Arsenic contamination of watersheds is particularly problematic in Maine with its high levels of arsenic in underlying bedrock that contaminate groundwater at levels that often exceed EPA allowable safe limits (10 ppb). Relatively little, however, is known about the effects of arsenic at these low levels of exposure. Fish may be particularly vulnerable as they […]

Environmental and pathogen impacts on immune development in commercial aquaculture species

The aquaculture industry in the U.S. has the potential to alleviate the chronic stress being placed on wild fisheries by supplying the considerable demand for seafood within the US and beyond. The position and strength of the aquaculture industry within Maine indicates that it can be a significant player in this industry. Health issues will […]

Anthropogenic impacts on reproduction and development in fish and shellfish in Maine

Aquaculture Is the fastest growing agricultural sector, and continues to grow at a rate of 8% to 10% per year. If Maine aquacultural producers are to keep pace with global demand, they must understand the impacts and implications anthropogenic pollutants have in their aquatic systems, and understand the causes of adverse production outcomes. In addition, […]

Developing value-added products for the lobster industry

Lobster is the icon for Maine. In fact, over 70% of the lobsters landed in the U.S. are landed in Maine, and the only lobster-processing facilities in the U.S. are in Maine. There are nearly 6,000 lobster licenses issued in Maine each year, with about 4,300 commercially active. While the lobster fishery in Maine has […]

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