Outreach Publications

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>>2011

Long May They Run, an article in Maine Boats, Homes & Harbors Magazine about the history and culture of the Maine sardine industry. In 2010, the "Year of the Sardine" and the closure of the Stinson sardine plant, the last in the United States, prompted an exploration of why writers, painters, and other artists are so drawn to this humble fish that once supported so many of Maine's coastal communities.

Rockweed Ecology, Industry & Management (4.5 MB PDF). This four-page fact sheet, produced in partnership with the Maine Department of Marine Resources, describes the ecology of knotted wrack or rockweed, a marine macroalgae (seaweed) harvested along the coast. A timeline of management actions, graph of annual harvests, and summary of scientific research are also included.

Adrift in a sea of information about sustainable seafood: the Maine consumer perspective. This article by Maine Sea Grant Communications Coordinator Catherine Schmitt appears in the Winter/Spring 2011 issue of Maine Policy Review.

Maine Healthy Beaches Status & Trends 2005-2010 summarizes water quality at Maine beaches as monitored by volunteers and staff of the Maine Healthy Beaches Program. Water quality trends, pollution threats, and actions to improve water quality are detailed for each beach in the program.

Rainbow Smelt: We produced this poster in partnership with NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service Orono Field Station and the Maine Department of Marine Resources. The poster is displayed in a kiosk on the Bucksport waterfront, and describes rainbow smelt monitoring activity in a stream adjacent to the kiosk (Tannery Brook, which flows into Penobscot Bay). Learn more about our Penobscot watershed outreach at the kiosks page.

Healthy, Sustainable Seafood: A Study of Mercury in Shrimp, by Sarah Nelson and Catherine Schmitt. This fact sheet in our "Research in Focus" series highlights the results of a recent Sea Grant program development project. The authors found that mercury levels in shrimp from Maine, Louisiana, and Thailand were well below concentrations of health concern, supporting the assertion that shrimp is a healthy seafood choice. This is the first study to analyze mercury in Maine's native shrimp species, Pandalus borealis.

Mussel Aquaculture in the Northeast, by Dana Morse and Michael Rice, published by the Northeast Regional Aquaculture Center. This fact sheet reviews different types of mussel growing systems, operations, production, and site selection.

Maine's Working Waterfront Calendar 2011 features photographs by Maine students and the first 12 properties protected by the Working Waterfront Access Pilot Program. The calendars were produced by Maine Sea Grant in partnership with Maine Department of Marine Resources, the Land for Maine’s Future Program and Maine Coastal Program of the Maine State Planning Office, Island Institute, Coastal Enterprises, Inc., and Trekkers, Inc. Calendars are available at no cost by contacting kvillarreal@maine.edu; 207.581.1435.

>>2010

Hadley Point: Eelgrass, Clams, and a Community Resource. This poster, produced in partnership with the Bar Harbor Marine Resources Committee, is displayed in a waterfront kiosk at Hadley Point in Bar Harbor. The poster describes an eelgrass restoration project at the site and provides information about harvesting soft-shell clams, a popular activity at Hadley Point.

Learn more about other kiosks in the Penobscot River watershed.

Coastal Vulnerability to Sea-Level Rise. This fact sheet, the first in a series derived from the Maine's Climate Future report, summarizes sea-level rise in Maine and potential effects on coastal habitats and infrastructure.

Maine's First Lake, a story about the landscape of Acadia National Park, in the Spring issue of Friends of Acadia Journal.

Maine Healthy Beaches Program developed a Municipal Guide to Clean Water: Conducting Sanitary Surveys to Improve Coastal Water Quality. This resource is meant to assist communities and resource managers in finding, fixing and preventing sources of bacterial pollution. Visit the project page to learn more.

Research in Focus: The Newfoundland Cod Crisis and the Role of Tourism in Community Revitalization This Research in Focus fact sheet presents results of a six-month sabbatical by marine extension associate Natalie Springuel on the role of heritage and tourism in community revitalization after natural resource decline, with lessons for Maine.

NOAA on Maine's coast: Learn about the partnerships between Maine Coastal Program, Maine Sea Grant, and the Wells Reserve.

>>2009

Maine's Seafood Industry: From the Outside Looking In. (163 KB) How did Maine fare at this year's Boston Seafood Show? What can Maine learn about seafood marketing from other states? This article reviews the history of seafood marketing in Maine and profiles current efforts to develop value-added products and enhance sustainability through community supported fisheries. The story originally appeared in the Fall 2009 issue of Maine Food & Lifestyle magazine and is offered here in its entirety.

The State of Maine's Beaches (1.6 MB) This feature article in Maine Boats, Homes & Harbors Magazine summarizes the latest information on Maine beaches, including natural history, sea level rise and erosion rates, beach water quality, and the beach profile monitoring program.

Aquaculture Situation and Outlook Report 2009: Maine, by Dana Morse and Mike Pietrak, NRAC 105-2009, published by the Northeastern Regional Aquaculture Center.

New England's Marine Invasions (3 MB) This 18" x 24" poster, produced with the Maine Coastal Program and MIT Sea Grant in coordination with the Maine Marine Invasives Species Working Group, describes marine invasive species that are spreading in New England waters. Contact our office for a hard copy.

Maine's Climate Future: An Initial Assessment (18.5 MB) Maine Sea Grant produced this report, the first statewide assessment of climate change in Maine, with the Climate Change Institute and scientists throughout the University and state. Maine Policy Review also published a summary article in the Fall/Winter 2009 issue.

2009 Maine Seafood Calendar, featuring original watercolors by Mimi Gregoire Carpenter, highlights twelve species of Maine seafood. Includes information about harvesting season, fishing methods, and safe eating habits.

>>2008

Taking Stock: An article about University of Maine professor and researcher Yong Chen, who works with the state to model fishery population dynamics.

Maine's Oyster Renaissance. This feature article in Maine Food & Lifestyle magazine profiles Eric Horne and Valy Steverlynk, proprietors of Flying Point Oysters in Freeport, Maine.

Alewives: Feast of the Season. Alewives are sea-run, or diadromous, fish that spend most of their lives in the Atlantic Ocean but return as adults to coastal rivers in spring to spawn in freshwater streams and ponds. This article in Maine Boats, Homes, & Harbors magazine discusses the natural and cultural history of Maine's native runs of alewives and other sea-run fish. Watch a video of an alewife harvest.

Catalog of Climate Change Investment Opportunities: Programs and Projects in Maine (331 KB) This directory of climate change-related activities in Maine, created at the request of the Environmental Funders Network, lists efforts by organizations, institutions, and state agencies to address climate change education, awareness, mitigation, and adaptation.

Maine's Marine Invasions (5.71 MB) A total of 33 non-native plant and animal species have been identified in Maine's coastal waters and shorelines. This fact sheet, originally produced in 2005 and revised in 2008, summarizes the marine invasive species issue for Maine, including the invasive species already present here as well as threats to look out for.

Study targets Striped Bass. This article in the Bangor Daily News profiles the Sea Grant-funded research of Dr. Joe Zydlewski, who is studying the striped bass population in the Penobscot River. A must read for all striper fans.

Seascapes: Getting to Know the Sea Around Us (2.35 MB) Maine Sea Grant worked with the Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment and Quebec Labrador Foundation to produce this how-to manual for describing and characterizing your local bay or watershed.

Mercury in the Penobscot River Estuary (1.79 MB) This Research in Focus fact sheet describes Sea Grant-funded research about mercury contamination in Maine's Penobscot River. More details about the research can be found in the project description.

S altwater Fishing in Cobscook Bay This Research in Focus fact sheet profiles the economic impact of recreational fishing in Downeast Maine. Extension associate Chris Bartlett worked with University of Maine-Machias researcher Kevin Athearn to survey recreational fishers in the Cobscook Bay region. This research is informing sustainable development initiatives in Washington County.

Maine Oyster Cult. Read about the natural history of Maine's oyster populations, and how the University of Maine and independent aquaculturists have brought these native shellfish back to coastal waters--and tables--in Maine. This story appeared in the March 2008 issue of Maine Boats, Homes, & Harbors magazine.

Affordable Housing 101: Steps to Developing Affordable Housing in Your Town

Fact Sheet 596KB - This fact sheet provides a brief introduction to affordable housing planning for municipal officials, board, members and interested community members.

Full Text 396KB - This publication provides the full text and complete case studies of lessons learned in southern Maine and New Hampshire, which have been omitted from the introductory document above.