Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment
Welcome to the Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment
The Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment, created in 1989 by the governments of Maine, Massachusetts, New Brunswick, New Hampshire and Nova Scotia, works to foster environmental health and community well-being throughout the Gulf watershed.
Video: Learn more about the natural and cultural resource treasures of the Gulf of Maine through photographs and narrative from the voice (perspective) of a Councilor.
Volunteer and funding support from many partners makes the Council’s work possible.
Our Mission
The mission of the Gulf of Maine Council is to maintain and enhance environmental quality in the Gulf of Maine to allow for sustainable resource use by existing and future generations.
Gulf of Maine Council 2018 – 2022 Framework for Action (PDF, 2mb)
Our Work
- To serve as a forum for the sharing and exchange of scientific information as a basis for management decisions
- To support communities in protection and enhancement of natural resources in the Gulf of Maine
- To address changing conditions in the Gulf of Maine
25 Years of Commitment to the Health and Sustainability of the Gulf of Maine Region
An amazing array of marine life and birds—at least 3,300 species—depend on the Gulf. Coastal marshes and estuaries serve as nurseries for young fish, crabs, shrimp, and shellfish. Abundant microbes and plankton form the base of a food web that extends up to seals and whales.
During my first chef job at the Shoals Marine Laboratory on appledore Island, I fell in love with the Gulf of Maine—not just the breathtaking seascape but the whole biological system. Cutting open a 30-pound cod, I found it full of baby lobsters, stacked up all facing the same direction. You could see the community interactions in the Gulf: those became an object of fascination that I still feel. How do we connect the dots and keep that community thriving?
Sam Hayward, Executive Chef and Co-owner,
Fore Street Restaurant, Portland, Maine