By the late 1960s, gray seals in New England were confined to a handful of isolated colonies. Seeing one was rare, akin to spotting one of the other now-recovered species, such as bald eagles or osprey. Their rescue was the result of the 1972 Marine Mammal Protection Act, and today, Penobscot Bay’s Seal Island is home to one of the East Coast’s largest colonies.
While it’s common to think of jellyfish as a nuisance, they are incredibly fascinating creatures. This according to Oceanographer Dr. Nicolas Record, who has been collecting reports of citizen sightings of jellyfish as part of his research.
A first-of-its kind wind and wave stimulator at the University of Maine in Orono allows designers to test how marine vessels and sea walls will respond to weather conditions.
Why is the ocean blue? Bigelow Laboratory For Ocean Sciences Senior Research Scientist Dr. William Balch tackles both the philosophical as well as the bio-optical angles.
Loons are a triple-threat in the bird world: they are stunning to look at, possess a supernatural voice, and are skilled predators of fish. Their presence on a lake means it is healthy.
Maine has a thriving oyster growing industry. Until recently most of these oysters were raised from commercial seed. As the industry has grown and coastal water temperatures have inched up, cultured oysters have begun to multiply on their own, particularly in the brackish waters of the Damariscotta River.
