Blue Lobster Bowl

09/29/2026

The 2026-2027 National Ocean Sciences Bowl theme is "From Source to Sea: Understanding Marine Debris"

09/24/2026

The Discovery of Sound in the Sea (https://dosits.org) program hosts a resource-rich website aimed at introducing users to the science and uses of Sound in the Sea by people and animals, with specific sections on how marine animals use underwater sound and the potential effects of underwater sound on marine animals. DOSITS facilitates a free, four-part webinar series on underwater sound.

The free, final DOSITS 2026 webinars will take place on Wednesday 10/14/2026, 12noon-1pm ET: "Acoustic Sensing (of marine mammals) on Autonomous Underwater Platforms."
Dr. Lora Van Uffelen, Associate Professor at University of Rhode Island, Dr. Selene Fregosi, Assistant Professor at the Marine Mammal Institute at Oregon State University, and Dr. David Mellinger, Professor, Senior Research, Cooperative Inst. for Marine Ecosystems and Resources Studies, Oregon State University, will present.

A recording will eventually be available in the webinar series archives https://dosits.org/decision-makers/webinar-series/

Underwater Acoustics Webinar Series   DOSITS offers an annual webinar series addressing a variety of topics (listed below). Each session lasts an hour and features up to two presenters, followed by a Q&A with attendees. The DOSITS webinar series is open to all interested individuals. Webinars are h...

09/24/2026

Attention BLB Alumni/ae

Sign up by 9/27 for PMD's
Quick (1-hr!) Virtual Volunteer WEEKNIGHT Opportunity

Test New Ocean Bowl Team-Challenge- Question (TCQ) Software for High School Students
Wednesday 9/30, 8-9pm ET 🌊🌐
Zoom + non-Safari browser

We still need 63+ more volunteers logged in on different computers/browsers simultaneously, coordinated through our zoom meeting.

No STEM, ocean, or competition knowledge required to help.

Volunteers must be age 18+ and NOT affiliated with any teams competing in NOSB regional bowls during the 2026-27 academic year.

Full Description: https://www.pmd.org/project/?id=1097
Sign up BY 9/27: https://pmd.org/s/093026.htm


[Please Share Widely]

Sign up by this Sunday 9/27 for PMD's
Quick (1-hr!) Virtual Volunteer WEEKNIGHT Opportunity

Test New Ocean Bowl Team-Challenge- Question (TCQ) Software for High School Students
Wednesday 9/30, 8-9pm ET 🌊🌐
Zoom + non-Safari browser

We still need 50 (updated 9/29) more volunteers logged in on different computers/browsers simultaneously, coordinated through our zoom meeting.

No STEM, ocean, or competition knowledge required to help.

Volunteers must be age 18+ and NOT affiliated with any teams competing in NOSB regional bowls during the 2026-27 academic year.

Full Description: https://www.pmd.org/project/?id=1097
Sign up BY 9/27: https://pmd.org/s/093026.htm

[Please Share Widely]

09/05/2026

Attention, Coaches/Teachers:

Registration for the 2027 Blue Lobster Bowl at MIT is now open through the 12/21/2026 postmark deadline.

Details: https://www.pmd.org/project/?id=1094

2027 Team Intent Form to use to reserve your team's space with $75/team registration fee:
https://www.pmd.org/s/EnterBlueLobsterBowl2027.htm

09/04/2026

Free webinar on invasive species management:

🐟 How do you manage an invasive fish across a system as large and complex as the Chesapeake Bay?
Join us on September 16 at 2 p.m. Eastern Time for our next NAISMA webinar, Managing Invasive Blue Catfish in the Chesapeake Bay, presented by Branson Williams with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
Invasive blue catfish (Ictalurus furcatus) have become increasingly prominent throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed, raising important questions about their abundance, impacts, and management.
During this webinar, learn how Maryland is using monitoring and research, including electrofishing, to better understand blue catfish populations and improve estimates of abundance in key waterways. We’ll also explore how better data and collaboration are helping inform management decisions across this complex estuarine system.
📅 September 16, 2026
⏰ 2 p.m. Eastern Time
💻 Free webinar

Register at https://bit.ly/4gzTNae

🐟 How do you manage an invasive fish across a system as large and complex as the Chesapeake Bay?

Join us on September 16 at 1 p.m. Central for our next NAISMA webinar, Managing Invasive Blue Catfish in the Chesapeake Bay, presented by Branson Williams with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.

Invasive blue catfish (Ictalurus furcatus) have become increasingly prominent throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed, raising important questions about their abundance, impacts, and management.

During this webinar, learn how Maryland is using monitoring and research, including electrofishing, to better understand blue catfish populations and improve estimates of abundance in key waterways. We’ll also explore how better data and collaboration are helping inform management decisions across this complex estuarine system.

📅 September 16, 2026
⏰ 1 p.m. Central
💻 Free webinar

Register today to join us! https://bit.ly/4gzTNae

08/07/2026

Attention, Coaches, Students & Volunteers:
Save BOTH Dates!
2027 Blue Lobster Bowl at MIT Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences
Saturday, March 13 primary competition date
Sunday March 14 snow postponement date

08/07/2026

Save Both Dates!
2027 Blue Lobster Bowl at MIT
March 13 & 14

07/27/2026

Re-Post
Data collected by the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries and its partners in Massachusetts support findings reported by scientists across the East Coast—horseshoe crab populations are increasing in the Commonwealth.

Assessments led by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) and International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) have found that horseshoe crab populations are expanding in Massachusetts, and elsewhere along the east coast, largely due to 25 years of management action. In Massachusetts, these actions have focused on providing greater protection to spawning horseshoe crabs.

The three surveys used to monitor the abundance of horseshoe crabs in state waters—the spring and fall DMF trawl survey, the volunteer-based horseshoe crab spawning survey, and DMF seine survey—all show positive signs for horseshoe crab in Massachusetts. Each of these surveys have shown positive population trends over the past 10-15 year time series, including time-series highs in several surveys over the last few years.

Want to learn more about horseshoe crab populations? Check out our newsletter! https://www.mass.gov/info-details/dmf-news-2026-q1-q2

Data collected by DMF and our partners in Massachusetts support findings reported by scientists across the East Coast—horseshoe crab populations are increasing in the Commonwealth.

Assessments led by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) and International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) have found that horseshoe crab populations are expanding in Massachusetts, and elsewhere along the east coast, largely due to 25 years of management action. In Massachusetts, these actions have focused on providing greater protection to spawning horseshoe crabs.

The three surveys used to monitor the abundance of horseshoe crabs in state waters—the spring and fall DMF trawl survey, the volunteer-based horseshoe crab spawning survey, and DMF seine survey—all show positive signs for horseshoe crab in Massachusetts. Each of these surveys have shown positive population trends over the past 10-15 year time series, including time-series highs in several surveys over the last few years.

Want to learn more about horseshoe crab populations? Check out our newsletter! https://www.mass.gov/info-details/dmf-news-2026-q1-q2

04/28/2026

🎓 Attention NOSB Graduating Seniors - Apply to the National Ocean Scholar Program by May 31! The Ocean Scholar Program provides $1,000 in tuition assistance for NOSB students who have an interest in pursuing an ocean or environmental science major in their first year of post-high school education. Funds can be spent on college-related costs including tuition, fees, textbooks, a laptop or tablet, or transportation (parking or bus fare).

Eligible students are required to complete a simple Google Form application with the following:
✅ TWO essays (1000 words or less total)
✅ TWO letters of recommendation
✅ ONE piece of media, with a written description (250 words or less), that highlights your experience with the NOSB
✅ Proof of admission to an institution of higher learning

Learn more, and apply by 5/31/2026 at:
https://nosb.org/scholarships/

Scholarships As part of the NOSB’s continuing effort to recognize individual achievement, the Center for Ocean Leadership offers the National Ocean Scholar Program. This scholarship program provides tuition assistance (up to $1,000) for NOSB students who have an interest in pursuing an ocean or en...