The North Atlantic program studies marine habitats, changing fisheries and the history of human use of the sea.
Coasts shaped by industry
Whaling, industrial fishing, shipping and coastal energy projects have left layered environmental records. Modern monitoring becomes stronger when informed by those histories.
Wrenfield-supported work includes archival marine research, nearshore habitat assessment and studies of migratory species.
Partnerships across ports
Coastal communities hold essential practical knowledge. Port records, fishing logs and local scientific stations often preserve observations that cannot be recreated with a new survey.
Program staff work to compare those materials with contemporary measurements and present uncertainty honestly.
Historic collections
The Foundation's early correspondence includes coastal campaigns that preceded modern marine conservation institutions, among them the newspaper record surrounding the Vesper incident of 1907.