PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • May 22, 2025
Wild American oysters, long considered extinct in Midcoast Maine, have returned to the region, according to a recent study. With the help of local shellfish harvesters, researchers from the University of Maine identified the oysters in nearly 40 areas along the coastal Damariscotta River. And they raised questions about whether aquaculture farms could be responsible for the species’ return to the wild. The study also reported steep declines in soft-shell clam and mussel populations. The conclusion, the study asserts, is that industry input and participation helps scientists and rulemakers best understand Maine’s marine ecosystems — and, in turn, can help them better write the regulations that affect fishermen’s day-to-day lives.