Our Dynamic Gulf of Maine: A Place of Urgency and Hope

The Gulf of Maine is historically known for its cold waters, featuring high biodiversity and a rich history of productive fishing grounds. Climate change is having a particular impact on the Gulf as it is warming faster than most of the world’s oceans.

As water temperatures in the Gulf of Maine warm, species are impacted. For some, the conditions are becoming too warm and their suitable geographic range is shrinking. For other species, the warming provides an opportunity to expand their habitat into an area that was previously too cold. Because of the complex food web in the marine ecosystem, these impacts can ripple out to other species as their food sources are affected. Warming waters cause other effects in the Gulf of Maine, including ocean acidification, extreme weather events, and sea level rise.

Our Dynamic Gulf of Maine helps visitors understand the urgency and hope of this unique, highly productive, and rapidly changing ecosystem.

Special thanks go to our corporate & nonprofit partners Davis Conservation Foundation, Partners Bank, and UNH Sea Grant; and In-Kind Partners: Gaia Live, GetMaineLobster.com, Portsmouth Quality Flooring, and Winter Holben Architecture + Design for their contributions. Special thanks also go to the individuals and the SSC Board of Directors, who generously supported this project.

CLOSED today.

Seacoast Science Center is closed today due to inclement weather.