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New Tools for Shellfish Management and Restoration
Manomet’s work in the Gulf of Maine strives to support and promote resilient and productive coastal ecosystems and communities. Focusing on ecosystem restoration and fisheries diversification, Manomet’s fisheries team has had a busy winter and is now preparing for the spring field season! In addition to continuing to monitor invasive green crab populations, Manomet’s fisheries team will be expanding their research this spring. Intertidal shellfish harvesting has a long history in New England—and supplies clam shacks and seafood restaurants up and down the coast. Resource assessments—surveying the abundance and size range of shellfish—have traditionally been used to shed light on how many clams can be removed without harming future harvests. But warming waters, ocean acidification, invasive species, and rising sea...
In gratitude: Part 1
This year, more than ever, we are grateful for the support of so many people, especially those who volunteer their time and talents to support Manomet and our work. Manomet’s nearly 40 staff members working across the Western hemisphere are supported by many who volunteer to contribute to our research, assist in our offices, and help fulfill our mission. Robert Tose, who grew up next door to Manomet’s Holmes Farm, is one of those volunteers. “I have many fond memories of playing in the fields and surrounding area. Last spring, I stopped by to help my uncle, who was maintaining part of the two blueberry orchards on the property. Still, the orchards had become mostly overgrown and could have potentially...
Make A Difference
With the unequivocal warming of our climate and alarming threats to Earth’s biodiversity, science has never been more important, and neither has your support for Manomet and our work. For more than 50 years, Manomet has been using science to make our world a better, more resilient place. It’s why we’re in the Arctic researching shorebird decline and working with partners throughout the Americas to protect their habitat. It’s why we’ve operated our banding lab since 1969, collecting 50 years of valuable migration data used by scientists around the world. It’s why you’ll find Manomet in Maine’s small towns working to restore fisheries, and in rural communities throughout North America helping to prepare forests for the effects of climate change....
Green Crab Population Monitoring: 2020 Report
While the pandemic disrupted some of our outreach work, Manomet's green crab research continued this summer, especially focused on population monitoring. Because of COVID-19, Manomet’s green crab population monitoring started in mid-May; normally, work begins in April. Social distancing is easy when measuring green crabs and recording data, so as soon as state regulations allowed, we started with our fieldwork for the season. In May, we saw higher intertidal densities and trap catch rates than we'd ever seen in any previous year at any time during the year. Typically, what we find in a normal year is a low abundance of green crabs in the spring, and then abundance gradually increases and peaks in the fall. This spring, we found...
Assessing Intertidal Populations of the Invasive European Green Crab
Manomet’s intertidal green crab protocol, often conducted with students and citizen scientists, was recently published in the Journal for Visualized Experiments. This protocol allows us to monitor the distribution and abundance of the invasive European green crab, aiding conservation, adaptation, management, and fishery development efforts.
2019 Annual Report
A Letter from Board Chair Nancy Dempze Dear Friends of Manomet, In August 2019, we launched our celebration of Manomet’s 50th anniversary—an historic milestone made possible by the generosity and dedication of our donors. Much has changed since August 4, 1969, when a single paid staff member and a band of volunteers opened the doors of the Manomet Bird Observatory for the first time. But what has not changed is our unwavering commitment to using science to better our world. Whether we’re collecting migration data, working to recover shorebirds and protect their habitats, preparing forests to adapt to climate change, or any of our other initiatives stretching across the Western Hemisphere, Manomet is first and foremost a science-based organization. But,...
Green Crab Science Discussion Group
Manomet and The Maine Climate Table are hosting an informal talk about green crab science. All of the presenters below have agreed to give a short 5-min presentation on some of their latest research, and then join in a group conversation about the meaning of the results. This is “upside-down” from most scientific meetings where the presenters get most of the time and too often there is no time for meaningful discussion. Here, group discussion is our central goal. We’ll be discussing 3 general topics: Green crab population trends Green crab impacts on the ecosystem Green crab basic biology We’ll also devote some time at the end of our 3-hour session to talk about future needs relating to any of...
Fisheries by the numbers
Spring and summer are a crucial time for our fisheries fieldwork. The data collected shows us what is happening in our waters from season to season and year-to-year. The numbers tell us many stories—some positive and some troubling: River herring—foundational species in freshwater and marine ecosystems—are much more abundant than in decades. Concerted efforts to remove dams and culverts that block passage to upstream spawning grounds have resulted in significant increases in spring migrations in several rivers and streams along the coast. Results on the St. Croix River, the boundary in eastern Maine between the US and Canada, illustrate how far we have come and how much opportunity to expand fish runs remains. Spawning migrations on the St. Croix reached...
Catch up with U360 alumni
Manomet is excited to host our first-ever virtual U360 Capstone event late next month. The Capstone is the conclusion of the U360 internship, allowing college students to study sustainability from the perspective of a small business owner. Since the first Capstone in April 2016, 63 students have presented their case studies to an audience of peers and community members, as well as a panel of judges. This year is no different, except that all presentations will be happening live over Zoom rather than at an in-person venue. “I’m quite excited about the virtual format of the Capstone this year,” says U360 program manager Lora Babb. “As we’ve seen over the last few months, online presenting is an important professional skill...
Soft-shell green crabs 101: a ‘How to’ webinar
Join Dr. Marissa McMahan, Fisheries Division Director, and Dr. Gabriela Bradt, Fisheries Extension Specialist, NH Sea Grant & UNH Extension for a ‘how to’ webinar on soft-shell green crabs. This webinar will focus on the techniques utilized to harvest and produce soft-shell green crabs, including a crash course on identifying pre-molt crabs, the skill which the entire fishery revolves around. Attendees will learn about ongoing efforts to develop a soft-shell green crab fishery in New England, including market development. This webinar is perfect for fishermen, chefs, consumers, regulators, scientists, educators, or anyone who has been thinking about, studying, already fishing for, or eating green crabs! If you have any questions about this program, contact Chris Boudreaux, Donor Relations Manager, at...