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NEW TIME 10:30a – Cobscook Bay Ecology Series: Marine Concerns in Peskotomuhkatikuk, a panel with Eric Altvater, Alexa Meyer, Bethany Pohl, and Matt Abbott
This event is hybrid; attend on Zoom or in-person in Eastport, Maine.
The ocean knows no borders.
Cobscook and Passamaquoddy Bays are both part of the Bay of Fundy system, one of the most productive and biodiverse marine ecosystems in the world. Sacred to the Passamaquoddy people, the Skutik (St. Croix) River forms the US/ Canada border. Historically home to more than 100 million returning siqonomeq (alewives), this river and its watershed flowing into Passamaquoddy Bay is the central focus for restoration efforts by the Passamaquoddy Recognition Group aquatics department and Conservation Council of New Brunswick’s Fundy Baykeeper. Come meet these scientists and practitioners and learn about their work with monitoring, and their chosen avenues of policy and public engagement for change and Peskotomuhkati-led conservation.
We’ll hear from people working for the health of the bay, about the restoration plan for the Skutik (St. Croix) River. We’ll discuss the history of abundance, loss due to industrialization, and a vision for how we can work collaboratively to revive the Bay. What hurdles exist for fish and habitat recovery efforts in Canadian waters? How does finfish aquaculture differ between Canadian coasts and how does this limit restoration efforts and regulation of the industry?
PANELISTS
William “Eric” Altvater, Advisor, Passamaquoddy Recognition Group
Eric is a member of the Peskotomuhkati Tribe and a lifelong water protector raised on the shores of the Peskotomuhkati Bay. After a 27-year career in the Merchant Marine and years of service to his community, he continues to advocate for the protection of the ancestral marine ecosystems of his people. Eric is an advisor and mentor to all staff, in particular the marine team for the Passamaquoddy Recognition Group. He brings knowledge, lived experience, and leadership in protecting the waters and territories of Peskotomuhkatikuk.
Alexa Meyer, Conservation Biologist, Passamaquoddy Recognition Group
Alexa was born and raised in Hamburg, Germany and now works in the Grand Manan and Passamaquoddy Bay region of Atlantic Canada. With a background in biology and psychology, she is the Conservation Manager, leading environmental conservation and aquatic science work for the Passamaquoddy Recognition Group, an Indigenous-led nonprofit organization. Alexa contributes research, ecological monitoring, and scientific leadership in support of Passamaquoddy priorities for the future of the territory.=
Bethany Pohl, Marine Conservation Coordinator, Passamaquoddy Recognition Group
Bethany is a settler with heritage from Wales and England, and grew up in the Wolastoqey homelands in Quispamsis, New Brunswick, often visiting the Bay of Fundy. She works as Marine Conservation Coordinator for the Passmaquoddy Recognition Group, seeking to advance the recovery and revitalization of marine life that was once abundant in Peskotomuhkatikuk. With a background in marine management and land conservation, she has spent years advancing stewardship initiatives, building and fostering collaborations with Indigenous-led and environmental organizations across the region.
Matt Abbott, Fundy Baykeeper, Conservation Council of New Brunswick
Matt has been with the Conservation Council of New Brunswick since 2010, and is the Marine Program Director and Fundy Baykeeper. Matt works out of the Conservation Council’s marine conservation office in St. Stephen. Matt works to find practical and creative solutions to the complex environmental challenges facing New Brunswick’s coastal ecosystems and communities. These challenges all occur in the context of climate change and range from industrial pollution to depletion of marine species and inadequate environmental laws (or insufficient enforcement of existing laws). Solutions range from advocacy campaigns to policy engagement to direct restoration efforts. Matt welcomes pollution reports by email.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/
Meeting ID: 865 2471 2471
Passcode: 401117
ABOUT THE SERIES
The Cobscook Bay Ecology Series, hosted by Greenhorns and Downeast Salmon Federation in Washington County, is a community gathering that brings together neighbors, fishermen, scientists, and local leaders to learn about and celebrate the remarkable ecology of Cobscook Bay and the greater Downeast coast. Through thoughtful conversation and shared learning, the series explores how industrial open net-pen salmon farming affects our waters, while empowering our community with the knowledge needed to care for the health of our bay and the working waterfronts that sustain us. Learn more and see all events at forallthefish.org