Speaker Series: Fishing for Data

As the Gulf of Maine warms, the species that call our ocean home are on the move. Black sea bass, once found primarily from North Carolina to Cape Cod, are now showing up more frequently in Maine waters, offering a vivid example of how climate change is reshaping our marine ecosystem.

Join the Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association (MCFA) for an engaging talk on a new citizen science project that partners with commercial and recreational fishermen to track these changes firsthand. MCFA will share how fishermen are helping turn on-the-water observations into meaningful data, contributing to a growing body of research on ocean warming and shifting fish populations. You’ll also hear about other innovative ways Maine fishermen are collecting environmental data during their regular fishing trips, and get insights into what’s showing up in our local catch.

Whether you’re curious about climate change, fisheries, or the future of Maine’s working waterfront, this speaker event offers a timely look at how fishermen are helping us better understand our changing ocean. Registration is encouraged.

About the Speaker: Jill Harlow, Chief Operating Officer, Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association – Jill is an accomplished strategist, writer, and organizational leader with more than twenty-five years of nonprofit experience. She spent eighteen years helping to build the Gulf of Maine Research Institute as a member of the advancement and strategy teams. Immediately prior to joining MCFA, she served as Chief of Staff for Pecan Street, an Austin, TX-based R&D nonprofit that works to support an equitable clean energy transition and create data-driven opportunities in regenerative agriculture. Jill is a Colby graduate and an alumnus of the Williams Mystic Maritime Studies Program, Salt Center for Documentary Field Studies, and Leadership Maine.

This talk is part of our 2026 CREA Speaker Series meant to engage and educate the community about the natural world where we live! These talks encourage participants to better understand our connection to the land and the places we call home. Cathance River Education Alliance, a program of Brunswick Topsham Land Trust, is excited to host these talks in collaboration with the Topsham Public Library. Thank you to Bath Savings Trust Company for sponsoring this series!