First published in Landings, August, 2014.  Jellyfish have been abundant this summer along the coast of Maine, but no one seems to know why. One theory is that climate change and warmer water temperatures have caused the increase in jellies in Maine. Lower oxygen levels caused by runoff from land or overfishing may be to blame as well. 2012 was another big year for jellyfish, and a year marked by unusually high water temperatures in the Gulf of Maine. But there is no research to support or...

First published in Landings, July, 2013. Each season Maine lobstermen are setting new records for the pounds of lobster landed in the state. Last year a total of 126 million pounds were landed, an all-time record. These large volumes have caused people to think about new ways to deal with the abundant supply and limited demand through better marketing. But what effects does a high population have on the lobsters themselves? That question led Noah Oppenheim and Rick Wahle to their 2009 study...

First published in the MLA Newsletter, October, 2012. We all rely on senses (sight, smell, taste, touch, and sound) to navigate our world. When one of those senses does not work well (i.e. limited sight in a dark room), other senses compensate. For right whales, sight is limited by the amount of light able to travel through the water. This allows whales to only see shadows and movements, not defined shapes or colors. Instead of depending on their limited sight to navigate their watery world,...