University of Maine Darling Marine Center will host a presentation by Dr. Brian Beal on Tuesday, June 7 at 1 p.m. in the McAlice classroom on the lower campus of the UMaine marine laboratory campus. Dr. Beal will share his research related to clam conservation throughout the state. The event is free and open to the public, but space is limited, so interested individuals are asked to RSVP to kthornton@maine.edu by June 1.

Dr. Beal is professor and director of the University of Maine-Machias’ marine field station at the Downeast Institute, and has worked with commercial clammers in and around the Harraseeket River in Freeport as well as with multiple communities in Washington County, from Cutler to Beals. The title of Dr. Beal’s talk is “Ecology of wild and cultured soft-shell clams, and how this information can be used to manage clam stocks.”

“I will share information about clam biology and ecology that I have learned over the years working with clammers and stewardship committees,” Beal explained. “The work can be applied directly [to help] sustain and enhance local clam stocks.  I look forward to learning about the unique features of intertidal flats in and around the Lincoln County area, and about the potential for collaborative work in this area.”

Dr. Beal is a frequent and long-time visitor to Darling Marine Center. He has collaborated with Darling Marine Center researchers on studies of both farmed and wild caught fisheries in Maine, and is currently working with Dr. Rick Wahle on statewide studies of lobster biology.  

Together with Heather Leslie, director of the Darling Marine Center, Dr. Beal has founded a summer research program for undergraduates in applied marine science, SEA (Science for Economic Impact & Application) Fellows. SEA Fellows is a new initiative designed to catalyze university-industry partnerships and support undergraduate research related to Maine’s marine economy and the coastal marine ecosystems and human communities that support it.

“Thanks to support from the U.S. National Science Foundation through the SEANET program focused on sustainable aquaculture, we are launching an innovative program for students interested in aquaculture and other applied marine sciences,” Leslie said. “Students will have the opportunity to work with world-class faculty engaged in environmental monitoring, shellfish biology, and other investigations of direct relevance to Maine’s aquaculture industry, and also will be mentored by industry professionals during the 10-week summer experience.”

This year, Profs. Leslie and Beal are welcoming eight undergraduates into the program. The inaugural cohort includes participants from University of Maine, University of Maine-Machias, and University of New England and mentors in marine research and industry from throughout New England. 

Leslie encourages commercial diggers, growers and other community members interested in Maine’s marine environment and economy to “save the date” for the SEA Fellows Research Symposium. This will be open to the public and held Thursday afternoon, August 11 at the Darling Marine Center. Interested individuals are asked to RSVP to kthornton@maine.edu.