Coastal Conversations

Host: Annie Fagan

Coastal Conversations: Conversations with people who live, work, and play on the Maine coast, hosted by the University of Maine Sea Grant Program.

This month:
What does it mean to be a woman on the working waterfront? This summer, we’re diving into sea farming with a two-part series in July and August. In our second installment, we go deeper with three women making their way in Maine’s oyster industry: Phoebe Wagner, a farmhand at Deer Isle Oyster Company, Molly Bangs, hatchery manager at Muscongus Bay Aquaculture, and Toni Small, co-owner of Ice House Oysters. Phoebe, Molly and Toni explore their roots in fishing families, share their experiences as women in the aquaculture industry, and reflect on the evolution of Maine’s working waterfront communities.

Guest/s:
Phoebe Wagner, farmhand, Deer Isle Oyster Company.
Molly Bangs, hatchery manager, Muscongus Bay Aquaculture.
Toni Small, co-owner, Ice House Oysters.

About the hosts:

Natalie Springuel has hosted Coastal Conversation’s since 2015, with support from the University of Maine Sea Grant where she has served as a marine extension associate for 20 years. In 2019, Springuel received an award for Public Affairs programming from the Maine Association of Broadcasters for the Coastal Conversations show called “Portland’s Working Waterfront.” Springuel is passionate about translating science, sharing stories, and offering a platform for multiple voices to weigh in on complex coastal and ocean issues. She has recently enrolled in audio production training at Maine Media Workshop to dive deeper into making great community radio.

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Host: Annie Fagan

Coastal Conversations: Conversations with people who live, work, and play on the Maine coast, hosted by the University of Maine Sea Grant Program.

This month:
What does aquaculture look like in your community? This summer, we’re diving into aquaculture with a two-part series in July and August. This month, we’ll hear from Morgan Fogg of Nautical Farms and Kim Grindle of Islesboro Oyster Company about running a small business and navigating the joys and challenges of ocean farming. We’ll also hear from Lisa White, aquaculture program and outreach manager for the Maine Department of Marine Resources. Lisa will share about the process farmers go through to apply for their farm sites, and how you, as a member of the public, can weigh in.

Guest/s:
Morgan Fogg, co-founder and co-owner of Nautical Farms
Kim Grindle, founder and owner-operator of Islesboro Oyster Company
Lisa White, aquaculture program and outreach manager at the Maine Department of Marine Resources

Additional resources from the Maine Department of Marine Resources:

• Public participation in leasing page
• Aquaculture map

About the hosts:

Natalie Springuel has hosted Coastal Conversation’s since 2015, with support from the University of Maine Sea Grant where she has served as a marine extension associate for 20 years. In 2019, Springuel received an award for Public Affairs programming from the Maine Association of Broadcasters for the Coastal Conversations show called “Portland’s Working Waterfront.” Springuel is passionate about translating science, sharing stories, and offering a platform for multiple voices to weigh in on complex coastal and ocean issues. She has recently enrolled in audio production training at Maine Media Workshop to dive deeper into making great community radio.

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Producer/Host: Tiegan Paulson, production assistant
Additional credits: Thank you to Olivia Jolley, for finding interviewees and providing archival materials from the Swan’s Island Historical Society. Thank you to Galen Koch for editing and production assistance. Thanks to Natalie Springuel for production assistance.

Coastal Conversations: Conversations with people who live, work, and play on the Maine coast, hosted by the University of Maine Sea Grant Program.

This month:

At the turn of the century Mainers up and down the coast were caught up in a rush for green gold. The green sea urchin fishery had grown incredibly lucrative. Communities like Swan’s Island saw people from all over the world showing up to dive, cull, and tend. These are the recollections of three of those people.

Guest/s:
Howard Dentremont – Urchin diver
Jason Matthews – Urchin diver
Jerry Smith – Captain of an urchin boat

About the hosts:

Natalie Springuel has hosted Coastal Conversation’s since 2015, with support from the University of Maine Sea Grant where she has served as a marine extension associate for 20 years. In 2019, Springuel received an award for Public Affairs programming from the Maine Association of Broadcasters for the Coastal Conversations show called “Portland’s Working Waterfront.” Springuel is passionate about translating science, sharing stories, and offering a platform for multiple voices to weigh in on complex coastal and ocean issues. She has recently enrolled in audio production training at Maine Media Workshop to dive deeper into making great community radio.

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Producer/Host: Catherine Devine

Coastal Conversations: Conversations with people who live, work, and play on the Maine coast, hosted by the University of Maine Sea Grant Program.

This month:

In this episode, we shine a spotlight on Acadia National Park’s Schoodic Education Adventure (SEA) program, where learning meets the great outdoors. Join us as National Park Service education coordinator, Katie Petrie and ‘23-’24 Gero Fellow in Science Education, Zoe Kennedy share their insights into the inspiration behind the SEA program and the impact it has had on students.

Guest/s:
Katie Petrie, Education Coordinator at the National Parks Service.
Zoe Kennedy, 2023-2024 Cathy and Jim Gero Fellow in Science Education at Schoodic Institute.

About the hosts:

Natalie Springuel has hosted Coastal Conversation’s since 2015, with support from the University of Maine Sea Grant where she has served as a marine extension associate for 20 years. In 2019, Springuel received an award for Public Affairs programming from the Maine Association of Broadcasters for the Coastal Conversations show called “Portland’s Working Waterfront.” Springuel is passionate about translating science, sharing stories, and offering a platform for multiple voices to weigh in on complex coastal and ocean issues. She has recently enrolled in audio production training at Maine Media Workshop to dive deeper into making great community radio.

Catherine Devine is the recipient of the 2023-2024 Cathy and Jim Gero Acadia Early Career Fellowship in Science Communication at Schoodic Institute. She is the producer of season 2 of Schoodic’s Sea to Trees podcast and a graduate of New York University.

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Producer/Host: Catherine Devine

Coastal Conversations: Conversations with people who live, work, and play on the Maine coast, hosted by the University of Maine Sea Grant Program.

This month:

What happens to science when the science is done? And how does that inform how our forests are managed in the future?

To answer these questions, Catherine Devine from Schoodic Institute sat down with UMaine’s Nicole Rogers to talk about how a research project, Extreme Climate and Trees, will help inform land management strategies for Maine’s forests in the future.. 

As a Fellow in Science Communication at Schoodic Institute. Catherine explains how she came to this topic idea: “I’ve spent 10 months exploring ways to bridge the gap between science and the public. One of my recurring questions during my fellowship was what happens to the science when the science is done? Meaning how does science and research change our environment and our lives?” Catherine’s conversion with Rogers explores these questions and more as they relate to forestry management in Maine.

Guest/s:
Nicole Rogers, Assistant Professor of Silviculture at University of Maine.

About the hosts:

Natalie Springuel has hosted Coastal Conversation’s since 2015, with support from the University of Maine Sea Grant where she has served as a marine extension associate for 20 years. In 2019, Springuel received an award for Public Affairs programming from the Maine Association of Broadcasters for the Coastal Conversations show called “Portland’s Working Waterfront.” Springuel is passionate about translating science, sharing stories, and offering a platform for multiple voices to weigh in on complex coastal and ocean issues. She has recently enrolled in audio production training at Maine Media Workshop to dive deeper into making great community radio.

Catherine Devine is the recipient of the 2023-2024 Cathy and Jim Gero Acadia Early Career Fellowship in Science Communication at Schoodic Institute. She is the producer of season 2 of Schoodic’s Sea to Trees podcast and a graduate of New York University.

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Producer/Host: Catherine Devine

Coastal Conversations: Conversations with people who live, work, and play on the Maine coast, hosted by the University of Maine Sea Grant Program.

This month:
Acadia is changing, and quickly. While its beauty endures, its forests, lakes and coasts are being altered by people through land uses, pollution, tourism, invasive species, and climate change. In this episode we’ll take an in depth look at two of the ways in which Acadia may change over the course of the next few decades. First we’ll talk to Caroline Kanaskie about her research on the southern pine beetle and how its northern progression threatens Acadia’s pitch pine trees. Then, we’ll talk to Jay Wason about how extreme heat might change the composition of Maine’s forests.

Guest/s:

Jay Wason III, Assistant Professor of Forest Ecosystem Physiology at UMaine

Caroline Kanaskie,  Natural Resources & Earth Systems Science Ph.D. Candidate at UNH

About the hosts:

Natalie Springuel has hosted Coastal Conversation’s since 2015, with support from the University of Maine Sea Grant where she has served as a marine extension associate for 20 years. In 2019, Springuel received an award for Public Affairs programming from the Maine Association of Broadcasters for the Coastal Conversations show called “Portland’s Working Waterfront.” Springuel is passionate about translating science, sharing stories, and offering a platform for multiple voices to weigh in on complex coastal and ocean issues. She has recently enrolled in audio production training at Maine Media Workshop to dive deeper into making great community radio.

Catherine Devine is the recipient of the 2023-2024 Cathy and Jim Gero Acadia Early Career Fellowship in Science Communication at Schoodic Institute. She is the producer of season 2 of Schoodic’s Sea to Trees podcast and a graduate of New York University.

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Producer/Host: Galen Koch

Coastal Conversations: Conversations with people who live, work, and play on the Maine coast, hosted by the University of Maine Sea Grant Program.

This month:
This program features an episode of Island Institute’s podcast, From the Sea Up. We’ll travel to Southwest Harbor, a town of multiple maritime industries on the “quiet side” or Mount Desert Island. Southwest Harbor boasts a tradition of superior boatbuilding and, for the past two years, has emerged as one of the top ten highest grossing lobster ports in the state. With more than four million visitors at Acadia National Park in 2021, the pressures on this side of MDI are mounting. Increased summer visitorship means business is booming, but commuter traffic, dwindling resources, and a lack of a seasonal and year-round workforce incite questions about how to sustain and support this working town. 

In this episode, we examine the history of Southwest Harbor’s decision, as a community, to maintain and support its commercial fisheries through zoning and regulations. Visiting two iconic Southwest Harbor businesses, Hinckley Yachts and Beal’s Lobster Pier, we explore the push-and-pull of Maine’s seasonal economy, and the challenges and opportunities where commercial fishing, maritime industries, and recreation meet.

Guest/s:
Justin Snyder, Dock Manager, Beal’s Lobster Pier.
Kathleen Leyden, Director of the Maine Coastal Program.
Melissa Britsch, Senior Planner at the Maine Coastal Program.
Kirk Ritter, General Manager at Hinckley Yachts.

About the hosts:

Natalie Springuel has hosted Coastal Conversation’s since 2015, with support from the University of Maine Sea Grant where she has served as a marine extension associate for 20 years. In 2019, Springuel received an award for Public Affairs programming from the Maine Association of Broadcasters for the Coastal Conversations show called “Portland’s Working Waterfront.” Springuel is passionate about translating science, sharing stories, and offering a platform for multiple voices to weigh in on complex coastal and ocean issues. She has recently enrolled in audio production training at Maine Media Workshop to dive deeper into making great community radio.

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Producer/Host: Natalie Springuel

Coastal Conversations: Conversations with people who live, work, and play on the Maine coast, hosted by the University of Maine Sea Grant Program.

This month:
The January 10 and 13, 2024 storms, along with compounding record high tides, storm surge, and strong southeasterly winds, caused much damage throughout the Maine coast, including the loss of many piers and wharves, erosion of roadways, and destruction of private and municipal coastal access infrastructure.

On today’s show, we share portions of a January 16th information session about storm impact and response with leaders from the Departments of Marine Resources, Economic & Community Development, and Maine Emergency Management Agency. The online information session, hosted by the Island Institute just three days after the storm events, reflected the early nature of storm response.

One thing emphasized during the show is that the state needs everyone who experienced storm damage to report their losses. Whether you are a waterfront business owner or homeowner, your information will help ensure that the level of aid from FEMA and others is in line with the actual needs on the ground.  You can still report damages by dialing 2-1-1 or visiting the Department of Marine Resources website to fill out the forms online.

If you want to hear the complete information session (the show will only re-broadcast a portion of it), and access other storm related resources, please check out the Island Institute and find a link to “January 2024 Storms” on their home page. We are grateful to the Island Institute for sharing this important information with our listeners.

Guest/s:
Commissioner Pat Keliher, Maine Department of Marine Resources.
Commissioner Heather Johnson, Maine Department of Economic and Community Development.
Kim Hamilton, Director of the Island Institute.
Anne Fuchs, Director, Mitigation, Planning and Recovery, Maine Emergency Management Agency.

About the hosts:

Natalie Springuel has hosted Coastal Conversation’s since 2015, with support from the University of Maine Sea Grant where she has served as a marine extension associate for 20 years. In 2019, Springuel received an award for Public Affairs programming from the Maine Association of Broadcasters for the Coastal Conversations show called “Portland’s Working Waterfront.” Springuel is passionate about translating science, sharing stories, and offering a platform for multiple voices to weigh in on complex coastal and ocean issues. She has recently enrolled in audio production training at Maine Media Workshop to dive deeper into making great community radio.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download