Hurricane Island Aquaculture Experience

An immersive aquaculture and seafood experience here at Penobscot Bay!

Join us for an exclusive opportunity to visit the Hurricane Island Center for Science and Leadership (Hurricane Island) aboard Morning in Maine! On this all-day excursion, we will learn about the ecology of Penobscot Bay with a focus on the aquaculture industry, tour the research facilities at Hurricane Island and have an opportunity to sample locally farmed seafood on our sail back to the mainland! Lobster roll or other lunch is included!

Maine has become one of the leaders in ocean farming to meet the ever-growing demand for sustainable seafood options. Hurricane Island’s experimental aquaculture farm, on a remote island in Penobscot Bay, makes for a unique setting to experience the beauty of coastal Maine while learning about one of the fastest-growing industries in the state.

Hurricane Island is a local non-profit which integrates scientific research and education on a Maine coastal island to develop leaders prepared to address environmental issues in a rapidly changing world. They offer experiential education programs lasting 2-10 days for youth ages 11- 18. Their research team works to promote, facilitate, and conduct place-based science that inspires community action. Their scientists, educators, and community members collaborate through their own research and that of their participants to understand ecological change in the Gulf of Maine.

We will arrive at Hurricane and begin exploring the natural beauty of the island. We will meet the research team and visit and learn about the island’s 3.2 acre experimental aquaculture farm, which grows and studies sea scallops, oysters, and kelp. We might get to sort through a larval collection bag to look for tiny sea scallops, get a tour of their brand new Field Research Station, or see a research project in action. There will be plenty of time to explore the island on your own as well. As you wander the 125 acre island, you may get a glimpse of the education programs in action, as well as some of the sustainable systems that keep the island running smoothly.

During our sail home, we will provide fresh-shucked oysters and other locally harvested snacks. Midcoast Maine has become a hub for oyster farming and we want you to experience firsthand the amazing seafood being produced on our local farms by small aquaculture farms.

A portion of the proceeds from this trip go to Hurricane Island to support their important work studying the ever-changing environment of the Gulf of Maine and to the Maine Aquaculture Association to promote the aquaculture industry in Maine.

• 8:30 am: You will be greeted onboard Morning in Maine with coffee and pastries. We will conduct an orientation to the boat and our safety protocols and provide an overview of our day.
• 9am: Depart Rockland at and spend the calm morning hours making our way across the bay. We often motor in the mornings until the breeze fills in. The calm morning weather often makes for glassy calm waters that provide the perfect opportunity for wildlife viewing. We will discuss the ecology and natural history of Penobscot Bay, the largest bay in Maine with its over 200 islands and hundreds of miles of coastline.
• 11:30am: Lunch on board Morning in Maine, or take a bagged lunch to the island! We offer a choice of lobster rolls, chicken salad or a veggie wrap, choice of sides and dessert, all included in your sail. Make sure to let us know if you have any dietary restrictions!
• 12:00pm-3:00pm: Explore Hurricane Island. You will have 3 hours on the island, plenty of time for a relaxing stroll around the island trail, and to meet the research team and get a tour of the aquaculture research facility.
• 3:00pm-6:00pm: Sail home to Rockland across Penobscot Bay. The afternoon often provides the best sailing breezes. We will enjoy an assortment of fresh locally-farmed oysters and other locally harvested snacks. Feel free to BYOB for “happy-hour” as we sail past Maine’s rugged shoreline, Owl’s Head Lighthouse and the Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse to wrap up our day!