For the last 6 years, myself and a group of trained citizen scientist have been monitoring marine invasive species on docks, rocky shores, and tide pools as part of the Marine Invader Monitoring and Information Collaborative, or MIMIC.

Early this month I was contacted by Dr. Curtis Bohlen (Director of the Casco Bay Estuary Partnership) for ideas on how we could reach the residents of the islands of Casco Bay to inform them about marine invasive species issues. With the help of long-time "island resident" and former reserve employee Erno Bonebakker, we were able to connect with the Peaks Island Association and the Chebeague Island School (K-5).

We recently made trips out to the islands to teach residents and students about marine invasive species and how residents can help us monitor their growth and dispersal through the MIMIC program. We had a great turnout at both events and were able to get a lot of information out to the folks who live and work from these islands year round. Some pictures from our Peaks Island visit are below.

Enjoy some pictures and a short video of our visit to Chebeague School. The students (and teachers/residents) were SO VERY enthusiastic and interested in what they were seeing and learning.

Peaks Island children learn about invasive species

A piece of kelp (Saccharina latissima) covered in the invasive "lacy crusty bryozoan" (Membranipora membranacea) with an invasive "Skeleton shrimp" (Caprella mutica) feeding on it.