Gulf of Maine 2050 – International Symposium

Gulf of Maine 2050 extends its sincere thanks to all of the attendees, speakers, poster presenters, sponsors, partner organizations, and volunteers who came together in Portland, Maine from November 4-8, 2019 to create an inspiring and highly productive week focused on promoting a resilient Gulf of Maine. As stated by Rob Stephenson of Fisheries and Oceans Canada during closing remarks for the symposium, “we encourage all to build on the knowledge and ideas from this meeting to work together, show leadership, and take action in promoting solutions for the Gulf of Maine and beyond!”  

The Gulf of Maine 2050 international symposium explored environmental, economic, social, and institutional perspectives on emerging climate challenges and opportunities. Multiple science disciplines, natural resource managers, municipal planners, representatives from key industries, a diverse mix of community leaders, non-governmental organizations, and the donor community came together to learn about how the Gulf of Maine is expected to change in the next 30 years, build a shared vision for regional resilience, identify steps to achieve that vision, and activate new collaborations for action. The Gulf of Maine 2050 symposium was organized around the primary drivers of warming waters, sea level rise, and ocean acidification in the Gulf of Maine.

Materials and Outcomes from the Symposium

Following the symposium, the journal Elementa published a special feature “Gulf of Maine 2050: Visioning Regional Resilience and Sustainability”, which featured the following articles:

  • Bonanno, Aimee, Megan Ennes, Jennifer A. Hoey, Emily Moberg, Sarah-Mae Nelson, Nette Pletcher, and Richelle L. Tanner. Empowering hope-based climate change communication techniques for the Gulf of Maine. Elementa: Science of the Anthropocene 21 January 2021; 9 (1): 00051. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1525/elementa.2020.00051
  • Brickman, Dave, Michael A. Alexander, Andrew Pershing, James D. Scott, Zeliang Wang; Projections of physical conditions in the Gulf of Maine in 2050. Elementa: Science of the Anthropocene 21 January 2021; 9 (1): 00055. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1525/elementa.2020.20.00055
  • Chisholm, Lucy, Tracey Talbot, William Appleby, Benita Tam, and Robin Rong. Projected changes to air temperature, sea-level rise, and storms for the Gulf of Maine region in 2050. Elementa: Science of the Anthropocene 21 January 2021; 9 (1): 00059. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1525/elementa.2021.00059
  • Levesque, Vanessa R., Cameron Wake, and Julia M. Peterson. Facilitating use of climate information for adaptation actions in small coastal communities. Elementa: Science of the Anthropocene 21 January 2021; 9 (1): 00048. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1525/elementa.2020.20.00048
  • Liberti, Catherine M., Matthew W. Gray, Lawrence M. Mayer, Jeremy M. Testa, Wei Liu, and Damian C. Brady. The impact of oyster aquaculture on the estuarine carbonate system. Elementa: Science of the Anthropocene 4 January 2022; 10 (1): 00057. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1525/elementa.2020.00057
  • Major, Heather L., Sarah E. Durham, Natalia Fana, Joy E. Rivers, and Antony W. Diamond. Contrasting phenological and demographic responses of Atlantic Puffin (Fratercula arctica) and Razorbill (Alca torda) to climate change in the Gulf of Maine. Elementa: Science of the Anthropocene 21 January 2021; 9 (1): 00033. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1525/elementa.2021.00033
  • Pershing, Andrew J., Michael A. Alexander, Damian C. Brady, David Brickman, Enrique N. Curchitser, Antony W. Diamond, Loren McClenachan, Katherine E. Mills, Owen C. Nichols, Daniel E. Pendleton, Nicholas R. Record, James D. Scott, Michelle D. Staudinger, and Yanjun Wang. Climate impacts on the Gulf of Maine ecosystem: A review of observed and expected changes in 2050 from rising temperatures. Elementa: Science of the Anthropocene 21 January 2021; 9 (1): 00076. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1525/elementa.2020.00076
  • Record, Nicholas R., Peter D. Countway, Kohl Kanwit, and José Antonio Fernández-Robledo. Rise of the rare biosphere: Thinking beyond climate envelopes for forecasting harmful algal blooms. Elementa: Science of the Anthropocene 21 January 2021; 9 (1): 00056. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1525/elementa.2020.00056
  • Ross, Camille H., Daniel E. Pendleton, Benjamin Tupper, David Brickman, Monica A. Zani, Charles A. Mayo, and Nicholas R. Record. Projecting regions of North Atlantic right whale, Eubalaena glacialis, habitat suitability in the Gulf of Maine for the year 2050. Elementa: Science of the Anthropocene 21 January 2021; 9 (1): 00058. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1525/elementa.2020.20.00058
  • Siedlecki, S. A., J. Salisbury, D. K. Gledhill, C. Bastidas, S. Meseck, K. McGarry, C. W. Hunt, M. Alexander, D. Lavoie, Z. A. Wang, J. Scott, D.C. Brady, I. Mlsna, K. Azetsu-Scott, C.M. Liberti, D. C. Melrose, M. M. White, A. Pershing, D. Vandemark, D. W. Townsend, C. Chen, W. Mook, and R. Morrison. Projecting ocean acidification impacts for the Gulf of Maine to 2050: New tools and expectations. Elementa: Science of the Anthropocene 21 January 2021; 9 (1): 00062. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1525/elementa.2020.00062
  • Wake, Cameron, David Kaye, C. J. Lewis, Vanessa Levesque, and Julia Peterson. Undercurrents: Exploring the human dynamics of adaptation to sea-level rise. Elementa: Science of the Anthropocene 2 November 2020; 8 (1): 060. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1525/elementa.2020.060

Additional information is available at: www.gulfofmaine2050.com 

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