Brian Beal: 'Climate Change from a Downeast Clam's Perspective'

As part of Eastport Arts Center’s winter Sunday series, marine ecologist Brian Beal will present ‘Climate Change from a Downeast Clam’s Perspective’ at 3 pm, Sunday, January 26, at the Eastport Port Authority building.

As shell middens and other archeological evidence show, soft-shell clams have been consumed by humans along the Downeast coast for 10,000 years. Commercial landings data for clams was first collected in the 1880s when steamers became as popular to eat as they had been for bait for the offshore cod and haddock fisheries.

Over the ensuing ~145 years, there have been two intervals during which clam landings have dropped drastically over a relatively short time—1950-1959 and 1977-1990. Both correlate with unexpected increases in seawater temperatures in the Gulf of Maine that led to population explosions of the clam’s #1 predator: the invasive European green crab.

Unlike after the first major decline in the 1950s, there has been no rebound in clam production since the 90s, and for the past 34 years, commercial landings have continued on a trajectory of diminishing returns, with record lows recorded in 2017, 2020, and in 2023.

Director of Research at Downeast Institute and Marine Ecology Professor at UMaine Machias, Beal will discuss attempts by scientists at these institutions to understand the ecology and early life histories of soft-shell clams. Their studies have been undertaken with aims to assist communities’ clam management.

Sunday series programs are offered by donation, with no one turned away for lack of funds. Proceeds will be shared between the presenter at the EAC, committed to sustaining programs like these. The series will run through April; January programs will be offered at the Eastport Port Authority building.

Updates and details may be found at eastportartscenter.org.

EAC's Sunday Afternoons at the Arts Center series will run at 3 pm each Sunday, January 12 to April 27 (no program on April 20, Easter). An Eastport winter tradition, the series features diverse, interactive and casual presentations, offered by donation, with no one turned away for lack of funds. Proceeds will be shared between the presenter at the EAC, committed to sustaining programs like these. A series snow date of April 13 has been reserved for any program requiring rescheduling. The schedule is a mix of popular returning presenters and new faces.

Programs are as follows:

JAN. 12: Woody Gillies—Wintering Birds of Downeast Maine

JAN. 19: Barbara Cantalupo—Introducing Jewish-American Author, Emma Wolf (1865-1932)

JAN. 26: Brian Beal—Climate Change from a Downeast Clam’s Perspective

Please note: January programs will be held at Eastport Port Authority building while floors are refinished at EAC

FEB. 2: Ellis Zipperer-Sánchez and Robert Sánchez—Jazz!

FEB. 9: Richard Klyver—Talking About His Work

FEB. 16: Danny Holt—Music & Conversation: Behind the scenes of a concert program

FEB. 23:  Stage East—The Identity Project

MAR. 2: Brian Altvater—the History of the Passamaquoddy Wild Blueberry Co.

MAR. 9: Anna Maria Baeza, Joachim Woitun and Gregory Biss—clarinet, cello and piano concert

MAR. 16: PAUL COX with CHRIS BARTLETT—Scalloping in Cobscook Bay

MAR. 23: Lubec/Campobello Community Theatre—Dramatized Reading

MAR. 30: Gregory Biss—Harpsichord Hour

APR. 6: Mark DeVoto—Music Talk

APR. 27: Jane Crosen—On her new edition of Colby’s 1881 Atlas of Washington County