Nature Notes: A Maine Naturalist Afield 3/15/26: Sailing Through Plastic Along the Maine Coast

WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Audio Archives · Mar 15, 2026 · 5m

Host/Producer: Glen Mittelhauser Recorded while sailing east along the Maine coast in the summer of 2025, this episode reflects on the striking absence of visible plastic at sea and the far more pervasive presence of microplastics throughout the water column. Glen explains how these long-lived fragments move through marine food webs, from plankton and shellfish to birds and seals, and why reducing single-use plastics remains one of the most direct ways individuals can make a difference. More information about Maine Natural History can be found at mainenaturalhistory.org. About the hosts: Glen…