Springuel to share stories from the sea Nov. 2

The Senator George J. Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions at the University of Maine will host a talk on stories from the sea and what they reveal about today’s Maine fishing communities 3–4 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 2. 

 Scattered among Maine’s coastal communities in historical societies, museums, libraries, community radio stations and schools, the voices of Maine’s fishing communities have been recorded for posterity. With climate change and other factors driving ecological shifts, the local fisheries knowledge contained in Maine’s rich oral history archives is a critical source of information about coastal communities and ecological change. Marine Extension Associate Natalie Springuel will talk about bringing life back to these stories so they can be useful for decision-making, community development and cultural heritage today. 

 Springuel has been a marine extension associate with Maine Sea Grant since 2000. Her extension programs address working waterfronts and coastal access, fisheries heritage and sustainable tourism planning. She coordinates the Downeast Fisheries Trail, is a founder of the National Working Waterfront Network and hosts the award-winning public affairs radio show “Coastal Conversations.”

 The talk is free and available via Zoom; registration is required. To register and receive connection information, see the event webpage. To request a reasonable accommodation, contact Ruth Hallsworth, 207.581.3196 or hallsworth@maine.edu.