With a splash of education and fun, Boothbay Harbor Memorial Library’s (BHML) Ocean Day event Aug. 12 celebrated its third successful year. Community members gathered on the library lawn to learn more about marine life with hands-on activities and chats with volunteers from Bigelow Laboratory of Ocean Sciences, the Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR) and the Maine State Aquarium.

Freezie pops, a touch pool and a sprinkler also provided an oasis for kids to beat the heat.  

“Numbers-wise, it's a great turnout, but also look around at all the smiling faces. Everyone is so excited to learn,” said Bethany Schmidt, BHML Programs & Technology Manager.  

Bigelow’s table boasted a postcard stamping station to show off organisms found in local oceans, such as micro/macro algae, seaweeds and phytoplankton. However, their most popular activity was the “plankton races” where kids got to build plankton with clay, sponges and buttons before releasing them in a water tub to demonstrate how plankton regulate the way they move. 

“On a larger level, it’s very important we know about and protect our environment, and get kids interested in the sciences...So this is a good way to (get) it on their minds and educate,” said Vishaan Nursey, Bigelow Research Associate.

The Maine State Aquarium’s display looked straight out of Shark Week with real porbeagle shark specimens on display, including preserved fins and jars containing young at different development stages. Porbeagle sharks are the only species found in the Gulf of Maine all year long, according to Dottie Yunger, Director of the Maine State Aquarium.  

In addition to porbeagle sharks, the aquarium also has an exhibit about chain catsharks, found in the southernmost part of the Maine Gulf, at its facility. This is part of their display showcasing the different ways sharks give birth; some produce live young, while others lay leathery egg cases called mermaid purses. 

At the museum, people can see the development stages of a fertilized chain catshark egg. Like humans, they take nine months to hatch. 

“You can watch their fins come in. You can watch their eyes develop. You can watch their gills develop,” said Yunger. 

She also explained the importance of sharks in the local ecosystem and how they keep the population of fish and seals in check. This is partially why the DMR runs a shark tracking project for the 8 species that are found in Maine waters throughout the year, which provides scientists with information on shark migration habits and allows them to send out advisories in the case of a shark sighting near public areas.