Category: Coastal Conversations

Coastal Conversations 4/8/16

Producer/Host: Natalie Springuel
Studio Engineer: Amy Browne

Issue: Coastal and Ocean issues

Program Topic: Gulls and seabirds in the Gulf of Maine

Key Discussion Points:
a) Herring and great black-back gull populations are on the decline in the Gulf of Maine, what is happening?
b) Researchers at College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor and at University of New Brunswick share their field work and results looking at sea bird and gull populations
c) What does gull decline portend for the health of the Gulf of Maine system as a whole?

Guests:
John Anderson, W.H. Drury Professor of Ecology and Natural History, College of the Atlantic
Meaghan Lyon, senior at College of the Atlantic
Audra McTague, first year student at College of the Atlantic
Kate Schlepr, graduate student at University of New Brunswick

Coastal Conversations 3/31/16

Producer/Host: Natalie Springuel
Studio Engineer: John Greenman

Program Topic: Penobscot Watershed

Key Discussion Points:
Details about the upcoming 2016 Penobscot Watershed Conference, April 9, 2016 in Northport.
History and challenges that the Penobscot Watershed has faced, including dams and environmental pollution.
Penobscot Watershed success stories, including Penobscot River Restoration Trust, a collaboration between the Penobscot Nation, non-profits, municipalities, industry, and more, to restore the Penobscot River.

Guests:
Steve Miller, Executive Director at Islesboro Islands Trust
John Banks, Director of Natural Resources at the Penobscot Indian Nation
Catherine Schmitt, communications director at Maine Sea Grant and author of the recent book, The President’s Salmon.

Coastal Conversations 2/26/16

Producer/Host: Natalie Springuel
Studio Engineer: Amy Browne

Issue: Maine coastal and ocean issues

Program Topic: Experience Maritime Maine

Key Discussion Points:
What is the Experience Maritime Maine initiative?
Why is Maine’s Maritime Heritage so important to our coastal communities?
How boat building, windjammer cruises, museums, film archives, and an upcoming maritime film festival all contribute to the preservation of Maine’s Maritime Heritage
What is the role of tourism is protecting and promoting Maine’s maritime heritage?

Guests:
Kathy Goldner of Penobscot Marine Museum
Meg Maiden of Maine Windjammers Association
Brook Minner of Northeast Historic Films
Rich Hilsinger of Wooden Boat School

Coastal Conversations 1/22/16

Producer/Host: Natalie Springuel
Studio Engineer: Amy Browne

Issue: Maine coastal and ocean issues

Program Topic: Where have all the shrimp gone?

Key Discussion Points:
Why have regulators put a closure on the Northern Shrimp fishery for the third winter in a row?
How is the shrimp population in the Gulf of Maine doing and how to we know?
How does increased water temperature and other variables impact shrimp populations?
How does the shrimp fishing moratorium impact fishermen?

Guests:
Margaret Hunter, Marine Resource Scientist, Sea Urchin and Northern Shrimp programs, Maine Department of Marine Resources
Dr. Anne Richards, Research Fisheries Biologist, Northeast Fisheries Science Center, NOAA Fisheries, Woods Hole, MA
Glen Libby, Port Clyde Fresh Catch and fisherman
Katherine Thompson, PhD student at UMaine studying shrimp, and former deckhand on shrimp vessel.

Coastal Conversations 12/25/15

Producer/Host: Natalie Springuel

Issue: Maine coastal and ocean issues

Program Topic: Maine Seafood Traditions

Key Discussion Points:
What is the role of seafood in Maine’s holiday traditions?
How did settlement patterns and religion impact holiday food traditions?
What are people ordering from the fish market during this season?
What is the Maine Sardine Drop?

Guests:
Sandy Oliver, food historian and writer, Islesboro
Nancy Harmon Jenkins, writer and author, Camden
Drew Smith and Cyndi Bridges, Peekytoe Provisions, Bar Harbor
Hugh French, Tides Institute & Museum of Art, Eastport

Coastal Conversations 11/27/15

Producer/Host: Natalie Springuel

Issue: Maine coastal and ocean issues

Program Topic: Maine Scallops: What Makes Them So Great?

Key Discussion Points:
How has Maine enabled the recovery of Maine scallops?
How are Maine scallops managed and what is the role of fishermen and researchers in that management?
What makes Maine scallops taste so incredible and fresh?

Guests:
Trisha Cheney from the Maine Department of Marine Resources,
Togue Brawn, a self described “scallop evangelist” at Downeast Dayboat,
Phoebe Jekielek from Hurricane Island Center for Science and Leadership
Dana Morse from the University of Maine Sea Grant and Cooperative Extension

Coastal Conversations 10/9/15

Producer/Host: Natalie Springuel
Studio Engineer: Amy Browne

Issue: Maine coastal and ocean issues

Program Topic: Marine Debris and Microplastic Pollution in our Ocean

Key Discussion Points:

What is marine debris? Comparing marine debris such as trash bags, plastic bottles, fishing gear, and other visible marine debris, with microplastics, such as microbeads, plastic fibers and other microscopic pollution that ends up in our waters. How are they related and different?

What are the sources and consequences of marine debris and microplastic pollution?

How can people become involved in helping mitigate ocean pollution through their purchasing and lifestyle decisions, by becoming involved in coastal clean ups, and other ways.

Guests:
Brian Marcaurelle, Program Director, Maine Island Trail Association
Abby Barrows, Coastal Monitoring Coordinator, Marine & Environmental Research Institute and Principle Investigator, Adventurers and Scientists for Conservation Microplastic Project

Coastal Conversations 9/25/15

Producer/Host: Natalie Springuel
Studio Engineer: Amy Browne

Issue: Maine coastal and ocean issues

Program Topic: Phenology and Citizen Science

Key Discussion Points:
How can phenology (the tracking of seasonal changes within plants and animals in our communities) help inform climate change research?
What are the impacts of global climate change on our backyard plant and animals?
What are some of the indicator species that volunteers are tracking and why?
How can Maine citizens become involved in phenology projects like Signs of the Seasons, the Loon Count, and others?

Guests:
Hannah Weber, Research and Education Projects Manager, Schoodic Institute
Abe Miller-Rushing, Science Coordinator, Acadia National Park
Esperanza Stancioff, Associate Extension Professor, UMaine Cooperative Extension and Sea Grant
Susan Gallo, Wildlife Biologist, Maine Audubon