Shoals Marine Laboratory

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Shoals Marine Laboratory

Shoals Marine Laboratory is Cornell Univ. and UNH's summer field station dedicated to marine science education, research & outreach on Appledore Island, ME

Operating under the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell University and The School of Marine Science and Ocean Engineering at the University of New Hampshire in Durham, Shoals Marine Laboratory offers a unique opportunity for students to experience marine science in the field! Located on 95-acre Appledore Island in the Gulf of Maine, this remote yet accessible environment allows students to learn by discovery, surrounded by the ocean and mentored by an outstanding academic staff.

06/23/2026

The publications page on our website has been reworked. Here you can find scientific articles, books, and videos created by our Shoals community or with data from the lab. Here you can search through the database using keywords, categories and authors. Check it out the amazing research with the link below!

Link to the publications page: https://www.shoalsmarinelaboratory.org/research/publications?page=0

06/19/2026

A nice wing stretch after a storm is in order for these gulls! Appledore Island is a breeding colony for Herring Gulls and Black Backed Gulls. The chicks on the island are growing up!

Photo by Marshall Mumford

06/16/2026

Tours of Celia Thaxter's Garden run throughout the summer. Register now to learn about the history of the island and see the beauty of the garden.

Terry Cook, our garden steward, has worked diligently to recreate the garden based on Celia Thaxter's book, "An Island Garden".

Link to Register Now! : https://www.shoalsmarinelaboratory.org/public-programs/celia-thaxters-garden-tours

06/14/2026

As we wrap up the second block of courses, we highlight the work being done beyond the lecture room. Hands on learning in highly incorporated into all courses offered at Shoals.

The Sustainable Fisheries course allows students to learn about fishing practices in the Gulf of Maine first hand.

To see more of the courses offered during the 2026 season visit this link: https://www.shoalsmarinelaboratory.org/academics/undergraduate/courses

Photo by Heidi Henninger

06/10/2026

What's in the sea tables?

Intertidal organisms are collected along the rocky coastline to be studied and observed. This gunnel and nudibranch are among the many residents.

Photos by Marshall Mumford

06/09/2026

The Marine Mammal Biology class recently conducted a plankton tow in the waters around Appledore. Documentation of the plankton gives insight on what and where certain species of baleen whales eat. Take a look at what these students found!

There are many courses offered throughout the summer for undergraduates. Using the link below, you can take a look at what is offered this summer!

Course Link: https://www.shoalsmarinelaboratory.org/academics/undergraduate/courses

Photos by Jess Veo

06/07/2026

During the past class block the Field Bioacoustics & Soundscape Ecology class got hands on experience with a variety of acoustic equipment. These students studied sounds all around Shoals from the underwater symphony of marine invertebrates and marine mammals to seabird vocalizations.

Photo 1: Students are tying underwater acoustic recorders (SoundTraps) with underwater microphones (hydrophones) to moorings.

Photo 2: Students taking opportunistic sound recordings of the common tern & roseate tern colony on Seavey Island

06/03/2026

Did you know that Shoals is teeming with history? Especially when it comes to Celia Thaxter's Garden. Our amazing Garden Steward, Terry Cook, cultivates the garden with the help of our volunteers.

To see the garden for yourself and learn about the history, book a Garden Tour on our website (link below). The first tour starts on June 13th! Sea 🌊 you on the island!

Link to Garden Tours:

06/01/2026

Local and sustainable foods are used in the kitchen on Shoals to make the delicious meals served throughout the week. Check out where our food came from this past week. Thank you to our kitchen staff to putting together such a lovely menu every week!

05/29/2026

Welcome Shoals SURGs (Shoals Undergraduate Research Group)!! They arrived on island today and we are so excited that they are here! We cannot wait to see what you all do this summer!

Address

Kittery Point, ME
03801

Telephone

+16038625346

Website

http://www.shoalsmarinelaboratory.org/give

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