New UMaine Machias project will make Maine coastal fisheries data publicly accessible

New UMaine Machias project will make Maine coastal fisheries data publicly accessible

MACHIAS — For years, coastal communities in Maine have collected valuable data on soft-shell clam recruitment and the spread of invasive green crabs, but much of that information has remained fragmented, difficult to access or unavailable to the public. The lack of a centralized, user-friendly system has made it challenging for clammers, municipal committees, educators and policymakers to understand long-term trends, compare sites across towns o…