Blue Ocean Symposium
This annual full-day event features numerous speakers in the field of marine science sharing their knowledge and expertise in various talks. Highlights include updates from Blue Ocean Society's whale and marine debris research programs, current happenings at University of New Hampshire's Coastal Marine Lab, creating bio-plastics from kelp, detecting hormones in whale baleen, insights from the Northeastern Regional Association of Coastal Ocean Observing Systems (NERACOOS) NERACOOS, inspiration from Conservation Law Foundation, and more!
2026 Symposium Agenda
10:10-10:30 Impacts of Atlantic butterfish (Peprilus triacanthus) in the diet of Common Terns (Sterna hirundo): A case study of climate change effects in the Gulf of Maine
Olivia Smith, a PhD student at Dartmouth College, Department of Biological Sciences
10:30-10:50 Bite Back: Fighting Invasives with a Fork
Dr. Gabriela Bradt, marine biologist and fisheries extension specialist with New Hampshire
Sea Grant and UNH Cooperative Extension
10:50-11:10 Marine Misfit Strandings in New England: An overview of the annual fall and early winter strandings of ocean sunfish (Mola mola) and the Atlantic torpedo (Tetronarce occidentalis) on Cape Cod and surrounding areas
Carol Krill Carson, marine biologist and president of New England Coastal Alliance
11:10-11:25 Break
11:25-11:45 North Atlantic right whales- full title coming soon
Heather Pettis, Research Scientist at the Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life at the New England Aquarium
11:45-12:05Associations of Atlantic white-sided dolphins with humpbackand fin whales
Dianna Schulte, Co-Founder and Director of Research at Blue Ocean Society
12:05-12:20 Questions
12:20-1:20 Lunch
1:20-1:40 Small Boats, Big Blue Ocean: Connecting Students Through Exploration and Discovery
Cassie Stymiest, Executive Director, Educational Passages
1:40-2:00 Marine Debris Initiative: Strategies to prevent and remove marine debris from the environment
University of Maine & Maine Sea Grant Research Panel
2:00-2:20 Do microplastics impact microbial food safety
of marine foods?
Dr. Kristin M. Burkholder, Assistant Academic Director & Professor, School of Biological Sciences, University of New England
2:20-2:40 Ghost Gear to Safe Seas: Derelict Fishing Gear Removal in New England
Breanna Butland, Marine Educator and Project Assistant, Blue Ocean Society for Marine Conservation
2:40-3:00 Break/Questions
3:00-3:45The Problem with Plastics
Christina Dubin, Major Gifts Manager, Beyond Plastics and Co-Founder of Reusable Seacoast
4:00-4:15 Wrap up/surveys
Capacity is limited, so register early! If you cannot attend in person, register here to receive a recording afterward. We currently do not have plans to livestream this event.
Registration is free, but donations are appreciated. They are tax-deductible and will support our education and research programs.
This event is presented with major support from the New Hampshire Coastal Program, Aquafisk, LLC and Gulf of Maine
Lunch is provided
2026 Sponsors
This program is funded, in part, by NOAA’s Office for Coastal Management under the Coastal Zone Management Act in conjunction with the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services Coastal Program
