Coastal Conversations 4/26/19: Marine worms, economy and ecology of two little known species

Producer/Host: Natalie Springuel
Studio Engineer: Amy Browne

College of the Atlantic senior Kaitlyn Clark completed 19 interviews with worm harvesters, dealers and others involved in the marine worm industry (the state’s fifth largest fishery). On today’s show, we share audio clips from six of those harvesters and dealers who, with help from Clark, cover the following topics:
1. What are marine worms, where do they live, and why should we care about these critters?
2. How are worms harvested, what gear is used, how do wormers know where to find them, and what knowledge have they gained about worm ecology and movements?
3. What are the issues that worm harvesters are faced with today, including coastal access to mud flats, land-owner relationships, fisheries management, and the opioid epidemic.

Guests:
Kaitlyn Clark, Undergraduate Researcher at College of the Atlantic
Donnie Bayrd, bloodworm digger and dealer from Milbridge
Fred Johnson, bloodworm digger from Steuben
Johnathan Renwick, bloodworm digger from Birch Harbor
Derek Crocker, bloodworm and sandworm digger from Deer Isle
James Arsenault, sandworm digger from Dresden
Ken Webber, sandworm digger from Ellsworth

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Coastal Conversations 3/22/19

Voices From the Maine Fishermen’s Forum 2019: Women in Fisheries

Producer/Host: Natalie Springuel

When you picture someone hauling up lobster traps on the wind swept Atlantic Ocean, chances are good that you are picturing a man. Fishing is one of those industries that is still mostly dominated by men. But that’s changing. The number of women involved in fishing is on the rise, and there are more and more women involved in many related occupations too, occupations that support coastal communities and a thriving fishing industry.

Five women involved in various aspect of the fishing industry are interviewed, including a lobsterman, a lobster trap builder, a fisheries biologist, and a pair of occupational therapists working to improve the odds of fishermen using lifejackets in this notoriously dangerous industry.

These interviews are part of a larger collection called Voices of the Maine Fishermen’s Forum.

Guests:
Freda McKie, lobsterman, Prince Edward Island, Canada
Sonya Corbett, lobster trap builder, Sea Rose Trap Company, South Portland, Maine
Sarah Madronal, fisheries biologist for Downeast Salmon Federation, Alewife Harvesters of Maine, and the Nature Conservancy
Jessica Echard and Rebecca Weil, occupational therapists, Northeast Center for Occupational Health and Safety

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Coastal Conversations 2/22/19

Producer/Host: Natalie Springuel

Maine coastal and ocean issues: Portland’s Working Waterfront at a Crossroads

What is the history of Portland’s working waterfront and what role does it play in the state’s fishing industry?
What changes are fishermen and wharf owners experiencing on the waterfront?
How has Portland’s mixed use zoning changed over the last several decades and how has this impacted water dependent industries?
What is the status of development on the waterfront in Portland today?
What would fishermen and wharf owners like the Portland waterfront to be in the future?

Guests:
John Bisnette, fisherman
Jim Buxton, fisherman
Bill Coppersmith, fisherman
Keith Lane, fisherman
Willis Spear, fisherman
Greg Turner, fisherman
Charlie Poole, owner of Union Wharf

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Coastal Conversations 1/25/19 (web only) & 1/31/19

Producer/Host: Natalie Springuel

Note: Because of storm-related power outages in the area, Coastal Conversation aired only via live stream on it’s usual air date, 1/25/19. It was rebroadcast on 1/31/19.

Maine coastal and ocean issues: The Maine Ocean School

Key Discussion Points:
-Interviews with students, faculty and board members at the Maine Ocean School, a new public magnet school based in Searsport with a mission to provide a theme-based high school education focused on the ocean.
-Students talk about their aspirations for the future and how the Ocean School will help them get there.
-Founders talk about how this unique educational model came about with support from marine industry members from throughout the state.
-Teachers talk about the school’s innovative curriculum.

Guests:

The 12 students of the Maine Ocean School‘s inaugural class
Leslie Gregroy, Lead Teacher, Maine Ocean School
Meg Begley, Teacher, Maine Ocean School
James Gillway,school founder and chairman of the Maine Ocean School Foundation Searsport Town Manager, State Representative
Gayle Zydlewski, member of the board of trustees of the Maine Ocean School
University of Maine Associate Professor of Marine Sciences and Director of Maine Sea Grant
Almon D. (Bud) Rivers, member of the board of trustees, Maine Ocean School Searsport Emergency Management Director

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Coastal Conversations 11/23/18

Producer/Host: Natalie Springuel
Guest Co-producers for this show: Corina Gribble, Ela Keegan, and Katie Clark, College of the Atlantic students

Maine coastal and ocean issues: Stories from the nation’s island-based working waterfronts

Key Discussion Points:
1. Year-round island communities in Maine, the Chesapeake Bay, and the Great Lakes all share the need for an active working waterfront for survival.
2. Interviews recorded at the National Working Waterfront Symposium in May 2018
3. Stories from island residents, fishermen, municipal officials, a marine suveyor and others about the importance of ferry service, a good relationship with the adjoining mainland, parking.
4. Demographic changes are moving many island working waterfronts from fisheries based to tourism based.

Guests:
Matthew Preisser, Lansing, MI, Lake Coordinator, Michigan Office of the Great Lakes
Steve Train, Long Island, ME, Commercial Lobsterman
Duke Marshall & Mark Nelson, Smith Island, MD, Smith Island United
Russ Brohl, South Bass Island, OH, Retired Ship Captain, Member of the Port Authority
Peter Huston, South Bass Island, OH, Filmmaker
Donald McCann, Fleets Island, VA, Marine Surveyor, Virginia Institute of Marine Science
Andy Dorr, Vinalhaven, ME, Vinalhaven Town Manager
Hattie Train, Long Island, ME, Undergraduate, University of Maine, and Commercial Lobsterman

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Coastal Conversations 10/26/18

Producer/Host: Natalie Springuel
Studio Engineer: Amy Browne

Maine coastal and ocean issues: Tourism and Community Development Downeast

Key Discussion Points:
A) Are tourism and quality of life for locals mutually exclusive?
B) How do initiatives like Heart of Ellsworth contribute to community vitality?
C) Some areas (such as Bar Harbor) seek to balance too much tourism; most other places in the region seek to grow more tourism.
D) How do partnerships like Downeast Acadia Regional Tourism benefit tourism businesses as well as local communities who strive to balance the two.

Guests:
Crystal Hitchings, Downeast Acadia Regional Tourism and Washington County Council of Governments
Alvion Kimball, Downeast Acadia Regional Tourism and former inn owner
Cara Romano, Heart of Ellsworth
Megan Moshier, Schoodic Institute

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Coastal Conversations 9/28/18

Producer/Host: Natalie Springuel
Studio Engineer: Amy Browne

Maine clams: what is causing their decline and how do we bring them back?

Why are clams declining? Rising sea temperatures, green crabs, milky ribbon worms.
What does the research show us? Over 99% of settled clams are being eaten (mostly by green crabs) before they reach 1 years old
What can we do about the decline? Options for changing management.

Guests:
Dr. Brian Beal — Professor of Marine Ecology at the University of Maine at Machias and Director of Research at the Downeast Institute.
Sara Randall — Associate Director of the Downeast Institute
Chad Coffin– Professional Clammer and President of the Maine Clammers Association

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Coastal Conversations 8/24/18

Producer/Host: Natalie Springuel
Studio Engineer: Amy Browne

Maine coastal and ocean issues: Hancock County’s Conserved Lands

-What are some important conservation projects in the region right now?
-How does a land trust work? What is a conservation easement?
-How do conservation areas benefit the local community?
-What is a working forest, and working farm?

Guests:
Aaron Dority, Executive Director, Frenchman Bay Conservancy
Hans Carlson, Executive Director of Blue Hill Heritage Trust
Bob DeForrest, Project Manager Maine Coast Heritage Trust

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