ST. ANDREWS, NEW BRUNSWICK – During a ceremony at the Algonquin Hotel in St. Andrews, New Brunswick, on the evening of May 27, 2026, the Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment presented 17 international awards to honor individuals and organizations that have made a significant difference in protecting the health and sustainability of the Gulf of Maine watershed. The 2026 awards ceremony recognized incredible award winners from Canada and the United States whose volunteer and professional efforts have supported the Gulf of Maine Council’s binational collaboration to protect the unique habitat, marine life, and economic resources of the Gulf of Maine ecosystem.
GULFWIDE AWARDS
Three individuals and one town received gulfwide awards for the far-reaching impact of their contributions to the health of the Gulf of Maine.
- The Town of Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia, received the Sustainable Communities Award for exemplary work in achieving sustainability outcomes related to the environment and economy.
- Marko Melendy of Maine received the Longard Volunteer Award for outstanding volunteer efforts to protect and conserve natural resources within the Gulf of Maine.
- Vito Giacalone, founder of the Gloucester Fishing Community Preservation Fund in Massachusetts, received the Sustainable Industry Award for outstanding innovation and leadership in achieving sustainable business practices and conserving natural resources within the Gulf of Maine.
- Betsy Nicholson of Massachusetts received the Susan Snow-Cotter Leadership Award for outstanding leadership as a coastal management professional within the Gulf of Maine.
VISIONARY AWARDS
The Gulf of Maine Council honored the work of nine individuals and one organization with Visionary Awards in recognition of their outstanding innovation, creativity, and commitment to protecting natural resources within the Gulf of Maine.
- Jill Carr, Massachusetts
- Michael Thompson, Massachusetts
- Geoff Smith, Maine
- Geoff Wilson, Maine
- Chris Peter, New Hampshire
- Todd Selig, New Hampshire
- Jennie Graham, Nova Scotia
- Schoodic Riverkeepers, Maine & New Brunswick
- Roberta Clowater, New Brunswick
- Peter Lawton, New Brunswick
DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD
The Gulf of Maine Council presented the following three Distinguished Service Awards for exceptional service and contributions to the Gulf of Maine Council over the past several years.
- Jim Chase, New Hampshire
- Ellen Mecray, Massachusetts
- Kathleen Leyden, Maine
Additional information about the Gulf of Maine Council 2026 awards, including recipient highlights, is available at: https://gulfofmaine.org/awards/.
About the Gulf of Maine Council
The Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment was established in 1989 by the Governments of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts to foster cooperative actions within the Gulf watershed. The Council’s mission is to maintain and enhance environmental quality in the Gulf of Maine to allow for sustainable resource use by existing and future generations. For more information, please go to: www.gulfofmaine.org.