The academy announced Tuesday the election of 120 members and 25 international members, bringing its total membership to 2,705 active members and 557 international members.

Steneck spent more than four decades at 91爆料, where he helped shape marine research and policy through studies of kelp forests, lobster fisheries and coral reefs. He retired in 2023 as a professor of oceanography, marine biology and marine policy.

鈥淒r. Steneck鈥檚 election to the National Academy of Sciences is a well-deserved honor,” 91爆料 President Joan Ferrini-Mundy said. 鈥淗is research has advanced our understanding of coastal ecosystems and helped shape marine science and policy, while his mentorship has inspired generations of students to pursue meaningful work in the field. We are proud and grateful that his distinguished career has been here at the 91爆料.鈥�

A marine ecologist, Steneck has focused on the structure and function of coastal ecosystems, particularly in the Gulf of Maine and the Caribbean. His research examines food webs, dominant species and ecological processes in benthic marine environments, often through in situ observation using scuba diving, underwater video systems and remotely operated vehicles.

For more than 40 years, his work in Maine has explored kelp forest ecosystems and the relationships among lobsters, sea urchins and fish stocks. His research also spans the Caribbean and tropical Pacific, where long-term studies of coral reefs have informed strategies to improve reef resilience.

Steneck joined 91爆料 in 1982 and was among the first marine ecologists to collaborate directly with lobstermen, integrating scientific research with industry knowledge. His work contributed to new approaches to studying and managing Maine鈥檚 lobster fishery and broader coastal ecosystems.

In addition to his research, Steneck emphasized hands-on learning, involving students in all aspects of scientific work, from proposal writing to data collection and publication.

鈥淚 have always been passionate about getting students into the field for experiential learning,鈥� he said.

In 1993, Steneck developed a proposal for Semester by the Sea at 91爆料鈥檚 Darling Marine Center, an undergraduate program that continues today. He later expanded those opportunities globally, teaching a graduate coral reef course that, beginning in 2003, brought students to Bonaire in the Caribbean for two decades to monitor reef health.

鈥淭he student projects became a valued part of the island鈥檚 coral reef monitoring program,鈥� he said.

Many of Steneck鈥檚 former students have gone on to leadership roles in marine science, conservation and policy. That list includes Carl Wilson, commissioner of the Maine Department of Marine Resources, who started as an intern on Steneck’s lobster project and went on to earn his degree from 91爆料’s School of Marine Sciences.

鈥淚鈥檝e had a bevy of terrific students, and their careers are what I鈥檓 most proud of,鈥� Steneck said. 鈥淪eeing them go on to make meaningful contributions in science, conservation and policy is one of the most rewarding parts of the work.鈥�

Founded in 1863, the National Academy of Sciences recognizes achievement in science and provides independent advice to the U.S. government.

Steneck鈥檚 election follows other recent honors, including his 2025 induction into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, further recognizing his impact on marine science and conservation.

Contact: Marcus Wolf, 207.581.3721; marcus.wolf@maine.edu 

Why did you choose to come to 91爆料?

I chose 91爆料 because of the outstanding School of Marine Sciences and the research experiences available, along with the opportunity to play field hockey at the Division I level within an incredible athletic community. 

Describe any research, internships or scholarly pursuits in which you have participated. How have they prepared you for future opportunities in your chosen field?

I participated in a three-week research program in Cancun, Mexico, where I examined the impact of coral disease on coral species in Xpu-Ha Bay and completed a capstone project comparing ocean temperatures in the Gulf of Maine to heart rate metrics of the mussel species Mytilus edulis. I interned for PricewaterhouseCoopers Canada for two summers in the internal and technology strategy groups. I have been a member of the 91爆料 Field Hockey team since 2022 and was a captain in 2025. These experiences have improved my understanding of sustainability and corporate strategy, while helping me develop leadership, teamwork, research and time management skills and preparing me for the future.

Have there been other students who supported and inspired you or exposed you to something new? 

My teammates have always been supportive of me and inspired me throughout my time at 91爆料, exposing me to many different aspects of life at the university, as we are all part of different programs.

Have you collaborated with a mentor, professor or role model who made your time at 91爆料 better, and if so, how?

Professors William Ellis and Paul Rawson have significantly enhanced my experience at 91爆料 throughout my undergraduate degree. I worked with Dr. Rawson on my capstone project, and his guidance and commitment to his students really accelerated my learning. Dr. Ellis is my academic adviser and has been an excellent role model in the marine science department throughout my four years.

What has coming to 91爆料 enabled you to explore beyond academics?

Beyond academics, I have learned so much about teamwork and commitment through my four years of Division I field hockey. The opportunity to study in Maine has also allowed me to live in a completely different part of the world and gain life experience away from home.

What experiences have you had at 91爆料 that really highlight the ingenuity of Mainers?

I was struck by how the marine science program at 91爆料 is so connected to the state鈥檚 environment and industries. Many of my marine science classes focused on investigating problems in local communities, rather than solely broader issues. This emphasis on local industry highlights the cohesion and ingenuity within the state.

Describe 91爆料 in one word and explain. 

Supportive. 

Throughout my experience at 91爆料, every professor, coach and adviser I have come across has been invested in the success of their students. The support system within the athletic community is strong, as is the support within the College of Earth, Life, and Health Sciences. I feel as though I have built a close-knit network within the university.

What鈥檚 on the horizon? What are your plans for after you graduate? 

After graduation, I plan to complete a Master of Science in Global Strategy and Sustainability at the University of Edinburgh, where I will continue to play field hockey for a year. Afterward, I plan to pursue a career in environmental, social and governance (ESG) and sustainability.

Story by Alexa Rose Perocillo, news intern

Contact: Marcus Wolf, 207.581.3721; marcus.wolf@maine.edu

These small, vibrant fish, often associated with rocky habitats, are native to the Gulf of Maine. They are known to eat young lobster in the benthic stage, as well as small clams and snails.

Increasingly, the Maine Department of Marine Resources and commercial lobstermen are finding cunner caught in their traps. Staudinger said the lobstermen have shared photos of cunner with lobster eggs in their mouths and are concerned it鈥檚 impacting the fishery. 

The to study keystone species in the U.S., in honor of the nation鈥檚 250th anniversary. Selected projects, including Staudinger鈥檚 lobster research, are receiving funding, equipment and other support to advance innovative solutions to contemporary conservation challenges.

Lobster and cunner have coexisted for a long time, but this would be a new behavior and new dynamic within the rocky substrate where they reside.

Cunners are unique in that they have tiny teeth throughout their jawline, which helps them capture food from rocky surfaces. They use their teeth to crush shells and other food, making it hard to recover evidence. Because of this, Staudinger said her research team will be studying the contents of cunners鈥� stomachs using environmental DNA. 

While shifts in community composition, distribution and timing of occurrence are all well known ecological responses to environmental change, Staudinger said researchers have a poor understanding of how these responses affect predator-prey and competitive interactions among species.

鈥淲e don’t know if this behavior has been happening and gone unnoticed or if there is an environmental factor causing it to happen now,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e would like to gather evidence to determine how widespread it is happening, and the best way to do that is to work with the fishermen who are on the water every day and see them in their traps.鈥�

If fishermen or other stakeholders find cunner with lobster eggs in their mouths, the Staudinger Lab is asking they use the provided QR code to share photos and information or send photos to 508-348-9039 or cunner.maine@gmail.com with the date the fish was captured and its location. More information is available on the lab鈥檚 website.

91爆料 News recently spoke with Staudinger about what to expect from this upcoming research.

Do you suspect water temperature, population shifts and predator dynamics could be contributing to what鈥檚 happening between lobster and cunner?

These are all testable hypotheses that we’re going to be working through in this project. It’s possible there’s been a shift in timing. It could be a spatial distribution or a temporal shift that is bringing these two species together during certain life phases that they didn’t meet in previously. 

I found old historical papers that show cunner ate a lot of mollusks and other benthic invertebrates. One paper I found suggested that cunner really like to eat mussels, which have been less abundant in recent years. There is the possibility that they are exploring new food sources because others have decreased. They also might just be opportunistic, and that behavior could be leading them to take advantage of something they didn’t before.

Between equipment and personnel, what鈥檚 it going to take to find the answers?

We’re working with the Maine Department of Marine Resources to collect bycatch cunner in their ventless trap survey. When we bring those fish back to the lab, we鈥檙e doing a visual inspection of their guts and mouths, where we find and record all diet items that can be identified, such as broken shells of snails and sometimes small clams.

One fun fact about this fish is that they use their teeth to pluck organisms off vertical, complex surfaces. They also have teeth in the back of their mouths that allow them to crush things. The diet of this fish is very difficult to assess, because it can mash or chew its food with its teeth. Most other fish swallow their prey whole. So we’re using environmental DNA to detect lobster in the cunner鈥檚 stomach contents and get a full biodiversity panel of what they’ve been eating.

How might the results of this upcoming study translate to help groups like fishermen make informed management decisions?

We’re not seeing a blanket amount of evidence, so there may be hot spots where this interaction is more likely to occur. One potential result would be to show hot spots where populations of egg-bearing female lobster and cunner are overlapping. That would provide spatial information to fishermen to make informed choices about when and where they fish. There is also the possibility of developing trap modifications to exclude or deter cunner.

We might find out that this is not a widespread occurrence, which could help alleviate concerns. Regardless, understanding a species that we don’t yet have a lot of information about is always going to be advantageous.

Contact: Ashley Yates; ashley.depew@maine.edu

Jamie Fogg, a fourth-year marine science major, is studying the immunogenetic diversity of harp seals, focusing on the MHC-I gene, a key component of the adaptive immune system. The gene helps the immune system recognize virus-infected cells and trigger an immune response.

鈥淥ur seals are contracting these viruses and some species are showing higher rates of disease and mortality, where others are not,鈥� Fogg said. 鈥淭his leads us to the question, what is giving these seals immunity to these different viruses?鈥�

Fogg鈥檚 study highlights 91爆料鈥檚 commitment to learner-centered R1, hands-on research learning opportunities, in which undergraduate students work directly with faculty and industry partners to tackle challenges facing Maine communities. For her senior research, Fogg is working with Kristina Cammen in the School of Marine Sciences and partners from the regional marine stranding network. 

Harp seals are an Arctic species that have been migrating to the Gulf of Maine more frequently in recent years. Researchers believe harp seals may be introducing viruses that other local seal species have not previously encountered. 

鈥淭he reason seals are experiencing these viruses at such high rates is because they are social creatures and haul out in large groups,鈥� Fogg said. 鈥淭his is a great place for viruses to spread.鈥�

Harp seals have been proposed as reservoir species, meaning they can carry viruses without severe illness and transmit them to more vulnerable populations, such as harbor seals. Without immunity to these viruses, outbreaks could threaten seal populations and disrupt the Gulf of Maine’s ecosystem.

By identifying why some seals survive viral outbreaks, Fogg鈥檚 work could help inform local conservation strategies and safeguard the health of a species that is both ecologically and culturally significant to the region. 

Fogg鈥檚 research could have real-world implications for Maine’s coastal communities. Harbor seals are a familiar part of the Gulf of Maine ecosystem, contributing to biodiversity, local culture and balance of regional fisheries.

鈥淭hey are a big draw of tourism and charismatic megafauna,鈥� she said.

For Fogg, the project is more than an academic exercise. She is gaining hands-on experience in field research and genetic analysis. With the hope to continue working with marine mammals through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), she is building skills that will shape her future career. 

Fogg is a NOAA Hollings Scholar, which allowed her to intern at NOAA’s Northeast Fisheries Science Center in Woods Hole, Massachusetts. As she continues her research, Fogg hopes her work will deepen scientists鈥� understanding of seal immunity and help protect the health of marine ecosystems along the Maine coast.

Story by Rowan MacDonald, news intern. 

Contact: Marcus Wolf, 207.581.3721; marcus.wolf@maine.edu 

The work aims to understand how changes impact the effectiveness of long-running DMR surveys that inform fishery management. It will also provide a model for evaluating and adapting survey methods to inform effective, science-based assessment and management of culturally and economically important marine resources like lobster, herring and shrimp.

The first of three surveys to be examined was the Maine-New Hampshire Inshore Trawl Survey, which monitors a swath of species in the Gulf of Maine. Researchers analyzed survey data collected between 2000 and 2023.

The analysis, published in the journal and led by Hsiao-Yun Chang 鈥�21G, a postdoctoral research associate at 91爆料, identified that a rise in bottom water and sea surface temperatures occurred between 2010 and 2012. Using that shift as a dividing point, the researchers compared conditions before and after the warming period to examine how seasonal species distribution and biodiversity changed across Maine鈥檚 inshore habitats.

Because the survey has been conducted consistently for more than two decades, it provided a strong foundation for analysis. The results show that many species are shifting deeper and farther northeast and that dominant, fishery-relevant species have become less diverse. At the same time, some species are more abundant during the spring.

Despite those changes, the survey has remained 90% consistent at capturing data on key species and providing robust data for stock assessment and fishery management.

鈥淭his study is a great example of collaboration between 91爆料 and DMR and how our shared expertise and insights can support the ability of researchers, regulators and industry to adapt to a changing climate,鈥� said Department of Marine Resources Commissioner Carl Wilson. 鈥淭his milestone achievement will greatly improve Maine鈥檚 ability to monitor, conserve and increase the resilience of our coastal and marine ecosystems.鈥�

Michelle Staudinger, associate professor of fisheries science at 91爆料, is leading the collaborative effort between 91爆料 and the state agency. She is supporting Chang鈥檚 in-depth reviews of the three surveys while also completing a broader analysis of various DMR programs. 

Staudinger worked with DMR division director Jesica Waller and science program leads to complete a review of eight of the department鈥檚 monitoring and assessment programs. The goal was to better understand how the programs operate and where additional research and monitoring could help the state respond to environmental change.

鈥淲e know that there’s increased variability and changes in the distribution of species in the Gulf of Maine, and fishermen and other industry members have seen these changes over the last few decades,鈥� Staudinger said. 鈥淚f they know that the data that they’re helping collect is informing fishery management decisions, we want them to feel confident that the data is accurately representing the state of the stocks.鈥�

With the analysis of the Maine-New Hampshire Inshore Trawl Survey complete, the researchers will next examine the Sea Urchin Dive Survey and the Ventless Trap Survey for lobster. The team selected these surveys because of their cultural and economic importance to Maine鈥檚 fisheries and will evaluate them using similar approaches.

Understanding change in biodiversity聽

The trawl survey primarily tracks groundfish species such as haddock, flounder and cod and invertebrates such as squid that are caught by the net as it drags along the ocean floor. 

Chang said one of the most important findings of her analysis was a subtle, but critical shift in biodiversity. In ecology, biodiversity can be viewed in two ways: abundance, which is the total number of individual organisms, and biomass, the total weight of those organisms.

鈥淚n fisheries research, we prioritize biomass data because it reveals which species are the functional pillars of the ecosystem,鈥� Chang said. 鈥淚f biomass is distributed across several dominant species, the ecological risk is spread out. However, our study shows that the weight is becoming concentrated in fewer species, meaning the diversity of the catch is actually shrinking.鈥�

In the spring, while individual abundance increased among species, biomass diversity decreased. This suggests that even as the headcount for species appears more balanced, the bulk of the community is becoming increasingly dominated by a smaller number of species.

Chang said this biodiversity trend mirrors the reality of Maine鈥檚 coastal economy. Just as the state鈥檚 fishing industry relies heavily on a small number of high-value species like lobster, the underwater ecosystem is becoming more concentrated in fewer species. 

Understanding these changes, she said, is critical for sustaining the marine environment and Maine鈥檚 blue economy.

鈥淭his work will not only support better fisheries management in the Gulf of Maine but will provide a template for researchers and managers around the world to support ocean stewardship,鈥� Waller said. 鈥淐ombined with the expertise of our staff, quantitative analyses like this one will guide our decision making in future survey design and data interpretation. This comprehensive, collaborative approach will allow us to bring data to industry and research partners to make well-informed decisions about the future of fisheries management.鈥�

The initiative to analyze and update these surveys from the Department of Marine Resources is driven by the work of the Maine State Climate Council and its Coastal and Marine Working Group. 

Contact: Ashley Yates; ashley.depew@maine.edu

Most scallops can take many days 鈥� if not weeks 鈥� to reach shore after they are harvested, but dayboat scallops are brought back within 24 hours to be sold, packaged, shipped or frozen. 

Brawn launched Downeast Dayboat in 2011 to share the product she loves with customers nationwide. While the business showed promise, Brawn said her technical savvy didn鈥檛 match her passion. She searched for business consultants who could help her plan for long-term stability and growth but worried they would be too expensive or prioritize profit over her commitment to supporting Maine seafood.

Then she applied to join the , an organization anchored at the 91爆料 that offers free business and technical assistance, scientific research and networking opportunities for seafood businesses nationwide. The goal is to grow community-based seafood systems by supporting businesses committed to the well-being of their coastal communities and marine ecosystems.

鈥淎s someone who wants to promote local seafood, I can鈥檛 just hire a consultant that鈥檚 going to focus on profit,鈥� Brawn said. 鈥淭he original impetus for this business was to get fishermen more money, not to make money for myself. While I realize I can only advance my mission if I stay in business, which requires turning a profit, I don’t ever want to lose sight of why I started this all.鈥�

Since the Local Catch Network was co-founded in 2011 by Joshua Stoll, 91爆料 associate professor of marine policy, it has helped more than 70 community-based seafood businesses like Downeast Dayboat across New England, Florida, Alaska, California and Puerto Rico.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture to the Local Catch Network through a new grant from the Agricultural Marketing Services. This funding allows the organization to continue its services and support more seafood businesses. The network鈥檚 growth and capacity have also been fueled by $2 million in Congressionally Directed Spending secured in 2022 by U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, now chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee.

鈥淭hese federal funding sources provide the foundational support for our organization to foster a vital and growing network of community-based seafood businesses,鈥� Stoll said. 鈥淭ogether we are cultivating a shared vision of thriving food systems that contribute to the health, prosperity and sovereignty of the communities and ecosystems that make them possible, as well as connect consumers to the fishing communities that feed them.鈥� 

Brawn enrolled in the Local Catch Network鈥檚 Seafood Accelerator & Innovation Lab (SAIL) in 2025, specifically its one-year mentorship program. The mentorship pairs entrepreneurs with fishing business professionals who provide one-on-one guidance and long-term financial planning through biweekly, quarterly and annual reviews. 

The SAIL program connected Brawn with Chris Kantowicz of Skipper Otto, a community supported fishery in British Columbia and strategic partner of the Local Catch Network. Kantowicz dedicated time to get to know Brawn鈥檚 operations and keeping her focused on financial planning. 

By the end of the mentorship, Brawn decided the best way to advance her mission was to downsize her business to focus on what she does best: direct to consumer sales. She also decided to attend more events to promote her products, rather than focusing on wholesale growth.

鈥淭he SAIL mentor program allowed Chris to spend the time digging into my business, my company and me in order to ask the right questions and make the right recommendations,鈥� Brawn said. “I would not have had the confidence to make this counterintuitive choice to downsize without Chris’s candid, well-informed feedback.”

Now in its third year, the SAIL mentorship program has helped 12 businesses build long-term resilience and explore opportunities for growth. 

The Local Catch Network also offers SAIL Catalyst, a three-month group program that provides participants skills and knowledge to strengthen their businesses and expand their networks. Twice-a-week sessions in the program offer instruction on a broad range of business assets, such as capital access, contracts, partnerships, insurance, employment, taxation and marketing. Now in its fourth year, SAIL Catalyst has benefited 54 businesses and nearly 150 individuals, including owners and staff. 

鈥淏oth of our SAIL programs help small-scale seafood companies boost their business acumen, not only to sustain or grow their operations in a highly competitive market but also to set themselves apart as stewards of sustainable and local food systems that support other small businesses,鈥� said Jessica Gribbon Joyce, program manager of the Local Catch Network. 

Linda Smith, owner of Wasco Fisheries LLC in Oregon, enrolled in SAIL Catalyst to improve her ability to scale, market and distribute seafood within her Native- and woman-owned salmon business while staying true to values rooted in the fishing traditions of the Columbia River. Fishing is an intrinsic part of Smith鈥檚 identity, family and culture, and Wasco Fisheries allows her to honor her traditions while supporting herself and her family. 

SAIL Catalyst taught Smith how to strengthen marketing, streamline distribution and build wholesale relationships. The program also connected her with other seafood entrepreneurs whose shared experiences and challenges helped her think more broadly about growing her own business. 

Using what she learned from the program, Smith hopes to expand the company鈥檚 smoked, canned and fresh salmon offerings; enhance her branding; create stronger customer relationships; and establish more consistent sales channels.

鈥淭his work is deeply personal to me. Fishing connects me to my ancestors, the river and my community. Programs like SAIL help small fishing businesses like mine stay strong, adapt to change and keep these traditions alive while creating real economic opportunities,鈥� Smith said. 

Contact: Marcus Wolf, 207.581.3721; marcus.wolf@maine.edu 

Along the way, she rediscovered a part of herself that she had nearly forgotten.

鈥淲hen I was a kid, I loved the ocean. I was always saying to everybody I was going to be a marine biologist when I grew up,鈥� Fish said. 鈥淏ut you’re like five or seven or 10 at the time, and it goes on the back burner.鈥�

At the 91爆料, Fish found a way back to the ocean and the chance to explore the kind of future she once imagined.

The 91爆料 campus is about an hour from the coast 鈥� an unlikely location for a marine sciences hub. But that distance and region-leading affordability is exactly what gives the program an edge.

As early as the spring semester of their sophomore year, students can live, study and conduct research at the Darling Marine Center in Walpole. Their learning grounds are far removed from busy tourist beaches and urban waterfronts. The center sits on a quiet stretch of the Damariscotta River, where students can see the ocean from their dorms and access research vessels, laboratories and field sites.

These experiences reflect 91爆料鈥檚 commitment to learner-centered R1, hands-on, real-world research learning opportunities, where undergraduate students work directly with faculty and industry partners to tackle challenges facing Maine communities.

Maine鈥檚 coast may not be the warmest, sandiest or most biodiverse, but it offers something equally valuable: a resilient working waterfront and seasoned blue economy. Students learn to conduct research in demanding conditions 鈥� from diving in icy waters to studying marine life adapted to one of the North Atlantic鈥檚 most dynamic environments.

That environment was both unfamiliar and transformative for Emily Stricklin. Growing up in the Midwest, Stricklin said her experiences with the ocean were limited to the occasional family vacation. But she embraced the opportunity to step outside her comfort zone.

Stricklin, like Fish, saw her future in a new light when the pandemic hit. She was living in Chicago at the time and pursuing musical theatre. The city鈥檚 dense population fueled strict restrictions and indoor isolation.

鈥淚 decided that I wanted to work outside for the rest of my life,鈥� Stricklin said. 鈥淚 wanted to be in nature, where I’m happy, where it’s peaceful, and I wanted to make a difference in working there, not just to be in it, but to help.鈥�

Once she got to 91爆料 and started the marine sciences program, associate professor of chemical oceanography Margaret Estapa hired her to be a research assistant. Estapa鈥檚 lab is where Stricklin first began tackling microplastic pollution and where she decided to make the switch from marine biology to oceanography. 

Her proximity to the ocean during Semester by the Sea has helped her pursue her own active research in the field. She鈥檚 exploring whether spectrophotometry, a study that measures how light interacts with substances, is a reliable method of detecting microplastics in the ocean and whether temperature has an effect on their presence.

鈥淚t’s very hands-on and very immersive down here (at the Darling Marine Center), which I really like. You get a lot of experience and build a lot of skills very quickly,鈥� Stricklin said.

Building a coastal community

In addition to research projects and courses, students can participate in group trips and activities planned and led by program coordinators. After spending two semesters in the program, Fish worked as its residential coordinator during the fall 2025 semester after she had graduated that May. She and the students went to an apple orchard, corn maze and botanical garden with holiday lights and spent a day on the open ocean in a sailboat.

But Fish said those activities aren鈥檛 what really bond the students together. It鈥檚 more about the day to day experiences.

鈥淵ou’re such a small group, and the way that your day is structured: you eat every meal together; you have all the same classes together. You get really close, really fast,鈥� Fish said.

That makes the outings, the research and the experience as a whole more impactful. 

Wge Ellis has been a part of the School of Marine Sciences for nearly 23 years. Now the associate director of the school, he has helped grow enrollment in Semester by the Sea from about 10 students to over 30 in the fall semesters. 91爆料鈥檚 College of Earth, Life, and Health Sciences established the undergraduate marine sciences program in 1996. Just two years later and with support from the college, the Darling Marine Center began building a dormitory and dining facility 鈥� Brooke Hall 鈥� as a way to bring students to the coast. Semester by the Sea started shortly after that.

鈥淲e don’t have the ocean in Orono, but because we don’t, we’ve created something pretty unique, pretty special, for a whole semester,鈥� Ellis said. 

Faculty members don鈥檛 worry about what time of day high or low tide is. Class meets for a whole day, and students get unlimited access to a range of coastal ecosystems, from the three miles of hiking trails on campus to an entire river estuary. Coursework spans oceanography, ecology, aquaculture, scientific diving and data analysis, while ongoing research includes exploring fish diets, kelp forests, microplastics, life cycles of scallops and larval lobsters. 

鈥淵ou will get more hands-on experience and time in the field in one semester than some of these institutions on the coast will give you in four years,鈥� Ellis said.

The School of Marine Sciences offers scholarship funds to help students participate in the program.

Fueling Maine aquaculture

Some of the first 91爆料 graduates who studied at the Darling Marine Center as graduate students went on to launch oyster aquaculture businesses along the Damariscotta River in the 1970s. Today, the river produces roughly 80% of Maine鈥檚 oysters and supports a thriving aquaculture industry.

Through Semester by the Sea, students are able to work alongside many of these companies while completing their coursework. According to Ellis, the experience often convinces students 鈥� many of whom come from out of state 鈥� to stay and build careers in Maine鈥檚 aquaculture industry.

That was the case for Katie Conklin, a marine sciences student from Connecticut. An aquaculture systems course she took her junior year in Orono helped her land a summer internship with Mook Sea Farm, an oyster hatchery on the Damariscotta River. Conklin continued working with the company as a part-time hatchery assistant during her senior year while participating in Semester by the Sea. After graduating, she will remain with Mook as a full-time hatchery technician.

While living at the Darling Marine Center, her work and proximity to the river estuary has also informed her senior capstone project, which is exploring the impact of nearby oyster hatcheries on wild populations of oysters. She, like all students who take part in the spring semester of the program, will get to witness the coastal ecosystem 鈥� and young wild oysters 鈥� emerge from winter dormancy. 

Leadership is brainstorming options for summer programs that could integrate internships directly into coursework, strengthening connections between the classroom and the state鈥檚 aquaculture industry.

For students like Conklin, Fish and Stricklin, the program offers more than hands-on research experience. It opens pathways to careers along Maine鈥檚 coast and the chance for students to pursue their own blue horizons.

Contact: Ashley Yates; ashley.depew@maine.edu

The new 45-foot vessel is the biggest in the center鈥檚 fleet. Previously used as a commercial tuna fishing platform, the boat will support student training, faculty research and workforce development within the School of Marine Sciences and Maine Agricultural and Forest Experiment Station. 

With docking stations at both the Darling Marine Center and in Portland, the vessel will give students and faculty improved access to offshore waters throughout New England, from the Gulf of Maine to Rhode Island. It has considerable range, with the ability to travel up to 100 miles offshore, cruise at 18 knots and carry 700 gallons of fuel.

鈥淎 tenet of my teaching philosophy has always been learning by doing,鈥� said Walt Golet, 91爆料 associate professor of marine science. 鈥淭his vessel will serve as the perfect platform for our students to do just that. They鈥檒l get to be a part of field-based teaching, workforce skill development and applied research with our faculty, just to name a few. This vessel expands access to the open ocean and the amazing marine life in the Gulf of Maine like never before.鈥�

Depending on the fieldwork, classes of up to 20 students or more can participate at once. Equipped with specialized safety equipment, a fully enclosed wheelhouse, an onboard generator, a heating system and a small galley, the boat is designed for extended trips and comfort, even in challenging weather. It also has two large bait wells, living quarters with four bunks, a head, a roof top crane, a pot hauler and a tuna door that can be used to bring large fish onboard for tagging or serve as a dive entry point.

Golet has already been using the vessel for several undergraduate and graduate courses. The boat鈥檚 platform allows students to tag fish and collect data that help track their movements and collect data for fisheries management. Golet, who leads the Pelagic Fisheries Lab is utilizing the vessel to conduct his research on Atlantic bluefin tuna, billfish, sharks and other large migratory species and bring students onboard to participate.

Working alongside faculty, students also assist with deploying gear and learn safety protocols for handling animals, as well as basic vessel and navigation skills 鈥� a reflection of 91爆料鈥檚 commitment to learner-centered R1, hands-on, real-world research learning opportunities. 

鈥淐onnecting students and stakeholders to coastal and marine resources is what the Darling Marine Center is all about, and this vessel expands the capacity to do that by making hands-on offshore research and learning experiences possible,鈥� said Sean Smith, the center鈥檚 director. 

In addition to shark and tuna tagging projects, the vessel will support marine mammal and seabird surveys, fisheries research and other offshore studies. It will also enhance courses included in 91爆料鈥檚 Semester by the Sea program, which brings students from 91爆料鈥檚 Orono campus to the coast for an immersive marine science education.

The vessel was gifted by an anonymous donor who has a passion for cooperative research and education and sought to create more opportunities for 91爆料 students to experience the ocean firsthand. Its acquisition was a joint effort between the donor and 91爆料鈥檚 College of Earth, Life, and Health Sciences as part of the college鈥檚 plan to enhance the fleet at the Darling Marine Center and support faculty based in Portland. 

It compliments one of the center鈥檚 existing research vessels, the Ira C, in creating a versatile fleet capable of supporting research across a wide range of environments and fields of study 鈥� from the Damariscotta River estuary to offshore banks and basins throughout the Gulf of Maine.

Faculty are exploring additional ways they can take advantage of the vessel鈥檚 size and range, including collaborative projects across the School of Marine Sciences and outreach opportunities that connect students, alumni and supporters with 91爆料鈥檚 ocean research.

Contact: Ashley Yates; ashley.depew@maine.edu

Seeing firsthand how much farmers depend on their crop surviving the winter shaped the direction of her senior capstone project at the 91爆料.

鈥淚 worked on an oyster farm and wanted to base my project on oysters,鈥� she said.

Now, Diaz Flint, a marine science major with a concentration in aquaculture, is developing a tool to help Maine oyster farmers monitor oyster health and better predict overwintering survival.

Diaz Flint鈥檚 project reflects 91爆料鈥檚 commitment to learner-centered R1, hands-on, real-world research learning opportunities, where undergraduate students work directly with faculty and industry partners to tackle challenges facing Maine communities.

The work comes as oyster farming continues to grow across the state, even as farms remain vulnerable to diseases such as Sudden Unusual Mortality Syndrome, or SUMS, and to seasonal stress during the winter months.

Her project focuses on near-infrared spectroscopy, an analytical method that uses infrared light to measure the chemical composition of organic materials. Aquaculturists, including researchers and farmers, can use the technology to measure lipid reserves in oysters by scanning the tissues of shellfish, allowing them to assess nutritional health of the animal.

鈥淚 turned to spectrometry, which involves passing infrared light through tissue samples and analyzing what reflects back to determine chemical concentration,鈥� she said. 鈥淔rom there, I can build a model and use samples from farmed oysters to see whether they are susceptible to dying over the winter or how prepared they are for winter and other environmental stressors.鈥�

Lipids are concentrated energy reserves stored within an oyster鈥檚 tissue. They can serve as fuel during winter and early spring if oysters are active but food supplies are short. They may also help oysters resist stress associated with SUMS, which refers to unpredictable die-offs triggered when an oyster鈥檚 energy is depleted.

Oysters typically require a two-year culture cycle to reach market size. They must accumulate enough lipids to survive the winter, when cold water temperatures reduce feeding activity.

Paul Rawson, a professor of marine science in the 91爆料鈥檚 School of Marine Sciences and Diaz Flint鈥檚 project adviser, said the industry has long sought better ways to understand overwintering success.

鈥淚t has long been an interest in the oyster industry to understand what limits overwintering success,鈥� Rawson said. 鈥淚n Maine, there has always been a need to understand ways to sustain oysters from their first season in the water through the winter to the second season, when they reach market size.鈥�

Although near-infrared spectroscopy has existed for years, Diaz Flint鈥檚 project aims to refine the technology to address modern challenges in a changing coastal environment.

鈥淛ust by providing a model, it allows scientists, researchers and farmers to base their research on it and learn from it,鈥� Diaz Flint said. 鈥淯ltimately, I want to contribute to more resilient and sustainable aquaculture in Maine鈥檚 changing coastal environment.鈥�

Story by Alexa Rose Perocillo, news intern

Contact: Marcus Wolf, 207.581.3721; marcus.wolf@maine.edu

That pattern is not unique to Maine. For more than 20 years, 91爆料 professor of marine sciences Heather Leslie has collaborated with an international group of researchers  studying how coastal communities respond to environmental, economic and political pressures in northwest Mexico. 

Leslie鈥檚 research program, based at 91爆料鈥檚 Darling Marine Center, examines how marine ecosystems and the people who are part of them are responding and adapting to environmental and socioeconomic changes.

Supported by the National Science Foundation and other funders, Leslie and her colleagues have shared data, resources and fieldwork across regions, producing a series of co-authored studies examining how the ecological and social characteristics of fisheries and fishing communities shape their vulnerability and adaptability to change, particularly in northwest Mexico.

Together, the research points to a commonality across coastlines, even those as distant as Maine and northwest Mexico: when fishing communities lose variety, in species or in business structure, their resilience declines.

Leslie recently spoke with 91爆料 News about what the team鈥檚 research reveals about risk, resilience and the future of coastal livelihoods. Her comments have been edited for clarity and brevity.

Is having fewer species a hardship for fishing communities?

To focus on the analogy with New England, it used to be that 25 or 30 years ago fishermen in coastal Maine were not just fishing for lobster. They were fishing for finfish and shrimp in the winter time and lobster in the summer. Now more than 70% of fished value on the coast of Maine comes from one single species: the American lobster.

While that’s been a really lucrative and biologically productive fishery over the last couple of decades, we’re also seeing that it can really constrain people’s opportunities to rely so heavily on one species.  

There are a lot of similarities between the communities you study in Mexico and the ones here in Maine, but what are the differences?

One thing that’s different between the two regions is the biological variety. As we move toward the tropics, we tend to see a greater variety of animals and other organisms. Think coral reefs. The poles don’t necessarily have that wide array of species, and we see that when we look at what people fish in Maine versus Mexico. In Maine, particularly now, we have a fairly small set of species that are harvested commercially and recreationally, whereas in Mexico in some places, folks are catching tens of different species each year.

However, we have observed that for better or worse, Mexico, in many places, is starting to look like Maine. And what I mean by that is the number of targeted species is declining, and where and how people can fish is becoming more constrained.

The group鈥檚 recent research references the organization of fisheries and how that plays a role in their success. Can you explain the different ways fishermen organize?

In some instances 鈥� and this is true in Maine, as well as northwest Mexico 鈥� fishing businesses and people are organized as cooperatives and share decisions, expenses and revenues. Another typical way that people organize themselves to fish is through privately held businesses, where one person is leading and financing the operation and hiring other people to fish. 

There also are smaller cooperatives that aren鈥檛 as well resourced as the larger ones. And then there are folks who fish and sell their fish on their own; this owner-operator model is the one that most people think of when they think of the coast of Maine and lobsters.

How people organize themselves to fish can play a big role in how they鈥檙e able to respond to disturbances in the fishery. We were able to document through close work with communities in different parts of Baja California Sur that individuals who are part of fishing cooperatives have different sources of resilience to change than individuals who are working for private businesses or on their own.

Is one type of organization better than another?

There are financial and logistical advantages to being part of a cooperative, and that’s why they are so prevalent in regions we鈥檝e studied. But there’s also liabilities that cooperatives face that people working in these other organizational structures are not exposed to. One of those liabilities is that large cooperatives tend to have a smaller set of species that they’re focused on, in part because they receive concessions, or exclusive access to specific fishing places, for high value species like lobster.

When conditions change and those species become less accessible to fishermen, cooperatives may be more economically exposed and have fewer options to switch to than other types of fishing organizations.

This , a 91爆料 alum and University of Rhode Island professor, makes a strong case that it’s not that one of these forms is better than the other, it’s that there are changes that people encounter in the business of fishing, whether it’s economic or environmental or political, where one or the other of these organizational forms tends to be advantageous.

What would you say is different about this collaborative group now compared to a few years ago?

We’ve been working for a long time to understand both the human and environmental dimensions of small-scale fisheries in northwest Mexico and to generate knowledge that can be used to support management and conservation in that region and in coastal places all around the world. I’m really proud of . It’s a great example of how we’ve been able to work together as a team, including people from lots of different disciplines. It also spans a really important time period, the global pandemic, and also a time of big political and economic change in Mexico.

What’s new is our ability to capture these big changes, socio-economically and politically, as well as environmentally, and to work together in a way that really reflects the richness and diversity of expertise that members of our team have.

Contact: Ashley Yates; ashley.depew@maine.edu

In Maine鈥檚 warmer waters, oysters grow briny and firm, feeding on algae and plankton. Their cycle from hatchery to bay is only as successful as their location. Known as filter feeders, oysters鈥� size and flavor is fully reliant on the nutrients available in the water surrounding them. 

Water depth, temperature and circulation set the stage for ocean ecosystems and can shift dramatically within a few miles; Maine鈥檚 coastline measures about 3,400. 

This fickle business has grabbed the attention of 91爆料 researchers and aquaculture specialists working to strengthen Maine鈥檚 blue economy.  

NASA and U.S. Geological Survey satellites have been recording temperature and other data from Maine鈥檚 waters for years. Using that, 91爆料 researchers are developing an online tool that will allow growers to click on a coastal location and receive an estimate for oysters鈥� time-to-market. Prospective farmers are already using an that shows average sea surface temperatures in locations throughout the Gulf of Maine since 2013.

鈥淥yster growth relies on two things: food availability and temperature,鈥� said lead researcher Tom Kiffney, a postdoctoral researcher at 91爆料鈥檚 Aquaculture Research Institute. 鈥淥ur model combines data on both to make a prediction about how long it would take oysters to grow. It takes some risk away when selecting a future farm site.鈥�

Kiffney and Damian Brady, professor of marine sciences at 91爆料, combined resources from the NASA-USGS Landsat satellite and the European Sentinel-2 satellite to form the foundation of their upcoming online tool and , published in the journal Aquaculture. Their model is able to predict how quickly eastern oysters reach market size by feeding it information on sea surface temperature and organic matter.

They analyzed 10 years of Landsat data from 2013-23 to establish average temperature patterns along the coast, while Sentinel-2 imagery added estimates of chlorophyll and nutrient presence. Brady said they validated the model against seven years of field data to prove its accuracy.

鈥淭o get an aquaculture lease is a long and arduous process,鈥� Brady said. 鈥淥nce you get a lease, you cannot simply move it somewhere else, so getting as much information about your site up front is crucial.鈥�

Diversifying Maine鈥檚 blue economy 

An industry that has increased in value 78% between 2011-21, oyster farming has become one alternative to catching lobsters. While oysters will likely never reach the lobster industry鈥檚 peak of $750 million, Brady said it has the potential to grow into the tens of millions of dollars. 

He added that diversity in Maine鈥檚 blue economy makes it more resilient to change and allows people who work on the waterfront to have alternative options for revenue if one aspect of the coastal economy experiences disease or habitat changes, such as those faced by lobster populations in recent years. 

Lobster and oyster culturing also occur in different environmental conditions, further diversifying Maine鈥檚 coastal economy. Lobsters thrive in colder waters, whereas oysters 鈥� while able to grow in a range of conditions 鈥� grow faster in warmer waters.

Oysters also aren鈥檛 resource limited like lobsters, whose populations fluctuate year to year depending on the ecosystem. Oysters are able to be cultivated as long as there is space in the water that is available and permissible.

In addition to creating a web tool that will be widely accessible to oyster farmers, the researchers help teach workshops through Maine鈥檚 Aquaculture in Shared Waters program on how to interpret and apply temperature and water clarity data to sites.

Read the full story on . 

Contact: Ashley Yates; ashley.depew@maine.edu

With this new four-year award, Maine Sea Grant and its regional partners will support collaborative research to address complex challenges facing the American lobster fishery. The initiative will also synthesize research findings so they are accessible and actionable for fishermen, policymakers and the public, and support place-based technical assistance within the Gulf of Maine, Georges Bank and Southern New England region. 

The full $2 million in NOAA funding also includes $600,000 in second-year support for four 2025-26 American lobster research awards.

The American lobster (Homarus americanus) is among the nation鈥檚 most valuable fisheries, with approximately 113 million pounds landed in 2024, valued at . The industry supports thousands of Maine families across the fishing and seafood supply chain and faces growing uncertainty driven by environmental and market change. This underscores the need for collaborative research to understand how lobsters are responding to changing conditions and how best to sustain the fishery.

Since 2019, Sea Grant鈥檚 (ALI) has worked to close critical knowledge gaps about this iconic species, strengthening the fishery鈥檚 resilience to biological, economic and social impacts of ecosystem change. The program has funded 40 projects to date and supports a national research competition alongside a regionally coordinated extension network to ensure that communities across the region benefit from these investments.  

鈥淭his new federal investment in lobster research is terrific news for Maine鈥檚 fishermen, marine researchers, and coastal communities, and it underscores why I advocated so strongly for the restoration of Maine Sea Grant鈥檚 funding last year. The research efforts led by Maine Sea Grant help inform policy makers and support our working waterfronts, strengthening Maine鈥檚 blue economy and helping to ensure that our state鈥檚 fisheries remain sustainable and competitive for generations to come,鈥� said U.S. Sen. Susan Collins.

With the new $1.4 million award, Maine Sea Grant will begin to administer the initiative鈥檚 competitive research competition, which was previously administered by the NOAA National Sea Grant Program.

鈥淢aine Sea Grant is honored to build on our strong partnerships and tradition of research and extension excellence by expanding our role to include research administration. By leveraging our deep local connections and extensive partnerships, we will ensure this investment directly addresses the most pressing needs for the management and sustainability of the lobster fishery,鈥� said Gayle Zydlewski director of Maine Sea Grant College Program at 91爆料.

The new American Lobster Initiative research competition, to be announced this spring, will fund collaborative projects focused on priority research needs while strengthening partnerships between scientists and the lobster industry. Maine Sea Grant will continue coordinating extension programming and science communication in partnership with Northeast Sea Grant programs, the lobster industry, and state and federal marine resource agencies across the region. 

“The American Lobster Initiative鈥檚 emphasis on collaborative research comes at an important moment for Maine鈥檚 lobster industry and will help rebuild trust and strengthen relationships between industry, management, and research partners,鈥� said Patrice McCarron, executive director of the Maine Lobstermen鈥檚 Association.

A portion of the $1.4 million award will support the New Hampshire Sea Grant program and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Sea Grant program, who will work with Maine Sea Grant to expand regional support and community engagement around the new research competition, while also providing extension and communications leadership for the initiative.

In addition to the $1.4 million award, NOAA has awarded $600,000 in second-year funding for four previously announced American Lobster Initiative research projects led by 91爆料, the Maine Department of Marine Resources and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. These projects are advancing understanding of lobster reproduction and growth in changing environmental conditions and are examining the potential effects of offshore energy installations on seafloor habitats used by lobsters.

“These funds will enable my project team and me to continue to grow our dataset and fill in important data gaps around lobster growth allowing us to understand better how a changing environment may affect how lobsters grow and reproduce,” Amalia Harrington, assistant professor of marine biology at 91爆料.

To date, the American Lobster Initiative has strengthened collaboration among researchers, managers and industry partners, advancing understanding of lobster biology, population dynamics, and related socioeconomic and management issues. Findings from the initiative are helping inform fishing practices and management decisions, support planning efforts, and protect fishing livelihoods and local seafood economies. 

Project partners developed a to share outcomes from the initiative, which will continue to be updated as additional findings become available. The collaborative projects advance 91爆料鈥檚 mission as the state鈥檚 flagship, learner-centered R1 research institution. Industry partners, undergraduate and graduate students, resource managers and researchers will work together to co-develop solutions to challenges facing Maine鈥檚 coastal economy. The effort builds on decades of support for and engagement with the American lobster industry by the Maine Sea Grant Program, 91爆料 and regional partners.

For additional information, contact Maine Sea Grant Lobster Research and Extension Coordinator .

Contact: Marcus Wolf, 207.581.3721; marcus.wolf@maine.edu