Maine Sea Grant

09/03/2026

Maine Sea Grant is pleased to announce four new marine research projects! 🦀 🌊

From sea scallops to rock crabs, Maine Sea Grant’s 2026-2028 cohort of biennial research awardees will contribute to the conservation of important Maine species, management of tidal ecosystems, and sustainable development of Maine’s seafood industry. By collaborating with communities and industry members, researchers will ensure their findings directly benefit Maine’s coastal communities and beyond. We look forward to sharing more about their research journeys over the next two years.

Below are the four projects selected for the 2026-2028 Biennial Research Competition:

Evaluating Environmental Change and Rockweed Harvest Impacts on Crustaceans in Maine's Intertidal Zone, led by Dr. Hannah Webber at Schoodic Institute

Monitoring spatial and temporal variability in sea scallop larval supply to support scallop aquaculture and wild fishery development, led by Dr. Alexa Dayton at Maine Center for Coastal Fisheries

Assessing changes in sediment quality and harvester access to shellfish resources in Maine's tidal flats, led by Dr. Hannah Baranes at Gulf of Maine Research Institute

Advancing Seafood Safety Education for Marine-Dependent Socio-Ecological Systems in Maine, led by Dr. Gülsün Akdemir Evrendilek at University of Maine

09/01/2026

Don't miss the first-ever Maine Working Waterfront Conference in Bar Harbor on November 12 and 13. Featuring a seafood happy hour, field trips across Mount Desert Island, and a sponsor exhibition, the event will showcase creative solutions to the challenges facing Maine's working waterfront and the seafood sector it supports.

Expect to share stories, tools, and resources with business and wharf owners, fishermen, sea farmers, municipal staff and volunteers, policy makers, researchers, service providers, students, and others working in our coastal communities.

Register at https://seagrant.umaine.edu/topic-working-waterfronts-conference/

08/20/2026

Could Japan hold the key to unlock urchin farming in Maine? Maine Sea Grant's Dana Morse joins Maine Calling live Friday (8/21) at 11 a.m. to share insights from a March trip to Hokkaido. He traveled with a group of aquaculture and fisheries specialists from the Northeast. Their findings could support Maine’s wild urchin fishery and help build a green sea urchin aquaculture industry here at home.

“I am already thinking of a bunch of applied, collaborative research and education projects to build on this,” Dana explains. “Things that would fit well for both our wild resources and farming. And it's gonna be a blast.”

Tune in to Maine Public this Friday to learn more: https://www.mainepublic.org/show/maine-calling -to-the-show

And let us know, do you like urchin roe?

08/11/2026

Turning the tide on marine debris takes collaboration and creativity. That's why this September 21st and 22nd, we're bringing scientists, policy leaders, and biomaterial experts together to share innovations and solutions that keep trash out of marine environments.

Don’t miss the upcoming symposium — Marine Debris at the Source: Finding Alternatives to Single-Use Plastic. The best part is that it’s free for all students and UMaine staff.

If you're a student, faculty member, or professional working on marine debris solutions, there's still time to submit an abstract for the poster session.

Find links to register, see the agenda, and submit a poster in our bio. We're excited to see you there!

06/29/2026

IT’S NOT TOO LATE TO APPLY FOR FUNDING FROM THE AMERICAN LOBSTER INITIATIVE! 🦞

The Sea Grant American Lobster Initiative is pleased to announce funding to support new collaborative research projects that closely align with emerging lobster industry and management needs.

This call is for research conducted with and for the industry.

Projects must be developed and led by research teams that include at least one fishing industry representative, such as a commercial fisherman or a representative from a commercial fishing business, including cooperatives, dealers and processors.

Details here: https://www.northeastseagrant.com/initiatives/american-lobster-initiative

If you want to participate but aren't sure how, message Maine Sea Grant. We’ll get you connected!

🗓️ Deadline for LOI: July 3, 2026, 11:59 PM
🗓️ Deadline for Full Proposals: August 28, 2026, 11:59 PM

Drop-in Proposal Consultation, Zoom: June 30, 2026 at 10 AM

06/27/2026

Rising to the challenge.

06/18/2026

FUNDING ALERT FOR LOBSTER INDUSTRY AND SCIENTISTS!

Are you a member of the lobster industry? Do you study lobster as a scientist? Either way, this FUNDING OPPORTUNITY is for YOU!

The Sea Grant American Lobster Initiative is pleased to announce funding to support new collaborative research projects that closely align with emerging lobster industry and management needs.

This call emphasizes research conducted with and for the industry, and is NOT open to single investigator proposals.

Teams must be co-led by at least one researcher (who may be affiliated with private/nonprofit organizations, businesses, or resource management agencies) and one non-researcher (who may be an industry member or be affiliated with a community-led organization).

Wanna participate but don’t know how?
Contact Maine Sea Grant and we’ll get you connected!

Find the full RFP, application links, informational webinar, and examples of ALI-funded projects at the link in our bio.

Important Dates:
Deadline for LOI: July 3, 2026
(You must submit an LOI to submit a full proposal)
Deadline for Full Proposals: August 28, 2026
Drop-in Proposal Consultation Zoom: June 22, 2026 at 3pm; June 30, 2026 at 10am

06/12/2026

We're funding collaborative research that brings lobstermen and scientists together. Learn more about the Sea Grant American Lobster Initiative at our upcoming webinar:

🗓️ Tuesday, June 16, 12-1 PM ET

Register here: https://www.northeastseagrant.com/initiatives/american-lobster-initiative

You'll find application instructions and details about the request for proposals on the website. You can also drop into one of two Zoom sessions with questions about your proposal:

🖥️ June 22 at 3 PM ET
🖥️ June 30 at 10 AM ET

And don't forget the most important dates! You must submit a letter of inteny to submit a proposal, so mark Friday, July 3.

🗓️ Deadline for Letter of Intent: July 3, 2026, 11:59 PM ET
🗓️ Deadline for Full Proposals: August 28, 2026, 11:59 PM ET

06/09/2026

FUNDING ALERT FOR LOBSTER INDUSTRY AND SCIENTISTS!

The Sea Grant American Lobster Initiative is pleased to announce funding for collaborative research projects that align with emerging lobster industry and management needs.

This call is for research conducted with and for the industry.

Projects must be developed and led by research teams that include at least one fishing industry representative, such as a commercial fisherman or a representative from a commercial fishing business, including cooperatives, dealers and processors.

It's an exciting opportunity to build industry-research-management partnerships to address ecological, regulatory, and socio-economic challenges in the American lobster fishery.

🗓️ Deadline for Letter of Intent: July 3, 2026, 11:59 PM
🗓️ Deadline for Full Proposals: August 28, 2026, 11:59 PM

If you want to participate but aren't sure how, message Maine Sea Grant. We’ll get you connected!

💻 Informational Webinar: June 16, 12 PM - 1 PM
💻 Drop-in Proposal Consultations Zoom: June 22 at 3 PM & June 30 at 10 AM

Find the full RFP, application links and examples of ALI-funded projects at: https://www.northeastseagrant.com/initiatives/american-lobster-initiative

04/16/2026

Have you heard peepers yet this year? Is your forsythia blooming? Maine Sea Grant's Signs of the Seasons Program will be hosting volunteer trainings and educators' workshops in April, May, and June. Please check out our 2026 dates and locations. We'd love to have you help us observe and record seasonal changes in your backyard or community!

SOS trainings provide education about the use of phenology and prepare volunteers to observe species in their local areas.