By Melissa Waterman It’s the little things that matter. Take alewives, for example. These round-bellied little fish return to Maine rivers and streams each spring, packed full of oil and nutrients. Lobstermen eagerly await their arrival to use as fresh bait in the early summer. In fact, an array of hungry creatures wait for the alewives’ return, from bald eagles and eels to seals and ospreys. Steady efforts over the years have brought alewives back to Maine in increasing numbers. Alewife...

By Melissa Waterman The Gulf of Maine has been recognized as one of the fastest-warming ocean regions on the planet, warming at a rate of 0.84°F per decade, nearly triple the global ocean average. Temperatures in the Gulf have consistently been 92% above average since 2010. Lobstermen and scientists, however, have noticed that during the past two years Gulf of Maine temperatures have been much cooler. What’s happening? Are the headlines wrong? It depends on how deep in the water you look. At...

By Melissa Waterman It’s the start of another Maine summer. The roars of lawn mowers echo throughout the land as sunshine-starved Mainers break out the grills and get ready to soak up some rays. This is exactly what you do not want to have happen to your skin. Cleveland Clinic photo. Lobstermen are always soaking up rays, of course. The sun beams down from above in summer and winter. Those rays then bounce up from the water’s surface into your face. A long day hauling can really do a number...