Toby Stephenson
Voices of the Maine Fishermen’s Forum 2019
Voices of the Maine Fishermen’s Forum 2019 is a project of Maine Sea Grant, The First Coast, College of the Atlantic, and the Island Institute, with support from the Maine Fishermen’s Forum Board of Directors.
Molly Graham
Toby Stephenson is a marine researcher and captain of the research vessel Osprey at the College of the Atlantic. With a background in whale research and a passion for marine mammal studies, Toby has dedicated his career to understanding the behavior and feeding habits of humpback, finback, and minke whales. Toby lives in Ellsworth, ME.
Scope and Content Note
Toby Stephenson talks about his current role as well as the research he has conducted with students to determine the diets of whales in the Gulf of Maine and to compare the current population distribution and abundance of herring gulls compared with historical levels. He discusses his involvement with the College of the Atlantic and his marine mammal research. Toby explains the potential impact of climate change on copepods and declining phytoplankton productivity in the Gulf of Maine. He discusses how environmental changes affect bird populations, such as terns and gulls, including shifts in foraging habits and predation by eagles. Toby emphasizes the positive outlook of students and their dedication to finding solutions for environmental issues.
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