Marine Sciences

Diver surveys coral reef in the tropical waters off the Dominican Republic.

Coral detectives: Steneck, student team study reef health in Dominican Republic

The coast of the Dominican Republic is home to coral reefs, the world’s most biodiverse marine ecosystems. But the reefs are rapidly degrading, threatened by the effects of climate change, overfishing and other human activities. University of Maine researcher Bob Steneck and UMaine students traveled there May 12–25 to collect data, increase knowledge and diagnose […]

Read more

stoll marine lobster umaine

From coast to coast, companies team up to fund UMaine lobster research

A $75,000 gift from two seafood companies will fund a fourth field season for a University of Maine deepwater lobster settlement monitoring program. The deepwater research is an extension of the American Lobster Settlement Index, which was initiated in 1989 by Rick Wahle, a research professor in the School of Marine Sciences and director of […]

Read more

seals on a beach

Cammen: History can inform ecologically and socially conscious conservation management

A University of Maine-led research team examined historical interactions between people and ocean mammals to inform future conservation management. The marine scientists seek to break the loop that includes human exploitation of a wildlife species that causes population decline, implementation of a conservation plan that leads to a population increase, then calls for population control […]

Read more

Paul Rawson helping a student

College names Rawson winner of 2019 Outstanding Teaching Award

Dr. Paul Rawson, an associate professor of marine sciences in the School of Marine Sciences, was awarded the College of Natural Sciences, Forestry, and Agriculture at the University of Maine’s 2019 Outstanding Teaching Award. The award was presented at the college’s annual Celebration of Excellence on April 17. The college also awarded the 2019 Outstanding […]

Read more

bone shaped dog biscuits

Dog biscuits made with invasive green crabs pass the taste — and sniff — test

Angela Myracle’s research is going to the dogs. Or, more accurately, for the dogs. As a scientist with Maine EPSCoR’s Sustainable Ecological Aquaculture Network (SEANET), Myracle looks for innovations in aquaculture. And when the assistant professor of human nutrition at the University of Maine spied dog treats at a local supermarket that were made with […]

Read more

New study finds blue mussels resilient to ocean acidification

Blue mussels, the predominant species used in aquaculture in Maine, may be more resilient than other cultivated species to the increased seawater acidity and storms predicted to hit the Gulf of Maine as a consequence of climate change, according to a University of Maine research team. A study led by Tim Bowden, an associate professor […]

Read more

Founder of American Unagi LLC grew business at Darling Marine Center, BDN reports

The Bangor Daily News reported Sara Rademaker, the founder of elver-growing startup company American Unagi LLC, grew her business at the University of Maine’s Darling Marine Center in Walpole before taking the next step. The company buys elvers, or young eels, from local harvesters and grows them to market size using land-based aquaculture practices. Rademaker […]

Read more

UMaine, UMM marine experts to present to legislative committee Jan. 17

University of Maine and University of Maine at Machias marine experts will give a 90-minute briefing to the 129th Legislature’s Joint Standing Committee on Marine Resources during its Jan. 17 meeting that begins at 1 p.m. The intent of the briefing is to provide an overview of the expertise and resources UMaine and UMM have […]

Read more

ocean surface

International research team to study effects of ocean acidification on iron availability to phytoplankton in North Pacific

The effect of ocean acidification on iron availability to phytoplankton in the eastern North Pacific is the focus of a three-year, more than $954,000 National Science Foundation collaborative research grant to the University of Maine, University of Washington and University of South Florida. UMaine School of Marine Sciences professor Mark Wells will lead the project, […]

Read more