To live in the Boothbay region is to know and appreciate the ocean and waterways that surround our peninsula. These waters sustain our economy, provide recreation and enrichment, and are at the core of our cultural identity. As a global resource, the world’s oceans provide far greater impacts, generating most of the oxygen we breathe, helping to feed us, and cleaning the water we drink just to name a few.

In honor of this most fundamental global resource, June 8 is internationally recognized as World Oceans Day, a day to appreciate and protect the world’s shared oceans that connect us all. In celebration, Boothbay Region Land Trust and Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences are teaming up to host a one-hour World Ocean Day Walk and Talk at Porter Preserve.

Participants are invited to meet at the Porter Preserve kiosk at 9 a.m. and walk the short distance to Porter’s sandy beach while learning about ocean vitality and challenges from Dr. Nichole Price. Once at the beach, Dr. Price will share her knowledge of seaweeds by leading an interactive show and tell in which she discusses a variety of local seaweeds found in our waters and shares insights on the role seaweeds play in protecting ocean health and ensuring biodiversity.

Dr. Price is a senior research scientist and director of the Center for Seafood Solutions at Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences. As a specialist in marine ecology, Dr. Price studies seaweeds and global change. She has over 15 years of experience researching impacts of climate change on marine ecosystems and uses this knowledge to help find evidence-based, local solutions to global challenges.

This event is free and open to the public. Registration is required and attendance is limited. For more information or to register please contact BRLT Environmental Educator Tracey Hall at thall@bbrlt.org or 633-4818.