A Field Season in Photos

Here in Maine, we measure our years by the seasons. Aside from the old standbys — winter, spring, summer, and fall — we also love to celebrate mud season, boating season, and the rapidly approaching holiday season. As we reach the end of the year, I’ve been reflecting on what may be my favorite season of all: Field Season.

Year in, year out, our staff hit the ground running (as soon as it begins to thaw) to sample migratory alewives on their way to spawn in coastal rivers. They traverse the region’s working waterfronts to document the impacts of sea level rise. They capture and document hundreds of species using seines on local beaches, sharing the wonders that turn up in their nets with student groups and local families. They head offshore to tag large pelagic fish and work with fishermen to understand our changing ocean.

As our staff return with stories and photos from the field, I’m always awestruck by the dynamism of our ocean ecosystem and the coastal communities it sustains. This year, we’ve done our best to share this feeling with you with this collection of photos.

I hope you’ll join us in supporting our exploration and stewardship of the Gulf of Maine by making a tax-deductible gift today.

In the midst of another season — a season of both giving and thanksgiving — I want to thank you for making our work possible. Without you, our boats don’t leave the dock. Your support allows us to go out into the world, improve our understanding of how it works, and then share that knowledge with the people who need it most.