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 […]
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The 2025 Presidential Awards recognize outstanding teachers in microbiology and marine biology; applied research in creative blind and low vision technologies; engagement with Maine’s youth through outdoor education; innovation in shellfish cultivation; and extraordinary impact on economic enhancement and collaboration across Maine. Gayle Kraus, professor of marine ecology at the University of Maine at Machias, […]
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A new study from the University of Maine’s Aquaculture Research Institute (ARI) and Darling Marine Center is helping to refine best practices for growing Atlantic sea scallops (Placopecten magellanicus), a species of increasing interest to Maine’s aquaculture sector. Published in the academic journal Aquaculture, the research compares two scallop farming methods, ear-hanging and lantern net […]
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University of Maine faculty and students will present at several events during the Maine Science Festival, a program of the Maine Discovery Museum in Bangor that will include more than 70 events and activities from March 18-23. The five-day celebration will showcase science and technology happening in Maine in the format of an arts or […]
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For an article titled “Once a form of currency, quahogs remain a steady source of cash,” The Harpswell Anchor interviewed Brian Beal, professor of marine ecology at the University of Maine at Machias, on the decline in soft shell clams. “There’s no mystery,” said Beal, also director of the Downeast Institute. “The whole thing comes […]
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WFVX (FOX 22/ABC 7 in Bangor) interviewed Kari Kaczor, the environmental literacy and workforce development program manager at Maine Sea Grant, on the “Bringing the Sea to Inland and Rural Youth” initiative, an effort to engage K-12 learners from inland and rural communities in ocean exploration.
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Three University of Maine faculty — Heather Leslie, Sydne Record and Brenda Hall — spoke at the annual meeting for the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) on Feb. 14. AAAS is the world’s largest multidisciplinary scientific society and a leading publisher of cutting-edge research. Leslie, professor of marine science who was named […]
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News Center Maine, WABI (Channel 5) and Spectrum News Maine covered the 2025 U.S.-Canada Lobster Town Meeting in Bar Harbor organized by the University of Maine Lobster Institute. The conference was created to encourage bilateral interaction and conversation about the lobster industry. This year’s discussions focused on the ocean’s changing ecosystems, industry data and management […]
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An educational program led by Maine Sea Grant at the University of Maine bridges the gap between inland and coastal Maine, giving students from rural communities hands-on access to the state’s vital marine ecosystems. Since its launch in fall 2023, the “Bringing the Sea to Inland and Rural Youth” initiative connected nearly 400 middle and […]
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Maine’s lobster fishery — one that supports thousands of jobs statewide — is extensively monitored. Management efforts are informed by biological monitoring surveys observing changes in abundance and distribution of the lobster population, and dealer and harvester reporting from the industry. Yet these statistics don’t tell the whole story of an industry shaken by supply […]
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