Youth Representative: Marissa McMahan

Marissa McMahan can recall the summer that fishing off the coast of her hometown, Georgetown, changed. “It was 2012 and a marine heatwave hit us. All of the sudden we were pulling up lobster traps with black seabass in them.” McMahan grew up fishing on her father’s lobster boat and she had never seen black seabass in the traps before. “Talking to the older fishermen who have a historical record of what they have seen in these waters really indicated how big of a deal this was.”  

McMahan is a fisheries researcher for Manomet and describes her work as a collaborative effort between scientists, fishermen, harvesters and coastal community members to support marine ecosystems so that fishing can continue to thrive in the Gulf of Maine. “I live and breathe fishing—my father and grandfather are lobstermen and my partner is a lobsterman. This is a way of life and I want to ensure that this can be a way of life in the future.”  

McMahan finds joy and purpose in answering questions in places and communities that have been overlooked. Currently, she is working on a project proposed by shellfish harvesters to understand how rising sea levels will change the average low tide line. “Everyone has focused on the future of the high tide line, yet these clam harvesters rely on the low tide in order to access the mud flats. This is one of the most valuable fisheries in Maine, yet there is still this unanswered question.”  

While she is trained as a scientist, she often acts as a community organizer, aiming to gain a better understanding of the knowledge that fishermen possess. “They have a different scope on these issues by being out on the water daily for years and years. We are working on 25 projects and all of them have been co-developed with fishermen and harvesters.” 

Outside of her work dedicated to supporting marine habitats and working waterfronts, McMahan is a member of the Maine Climate Council’s Marine and Coastal Working Group and the Equity Subcommittee.  

“The January storms have really driven the conversations we have been having about the recommendations we are creating. We want to make sure that they are inclusive of all aspects needed to prevent and be resilient to future damage from increasing storm surges.” McMahan’s family lost their working waterfront and fishing gear to the storms. “This happened a lot sooner than many of us had anticipated.”  

What gives McMahan hope? Both her work supporting the Maine Climate Council and Manomet have brought her in collaboration with diverse skillsets and perspectives, allowing these groups to arrive at solutions no one individually would have imagined. McMahan also spoke to the power of community after the devastation of the storms in January. “There was a complete outpouring of support. Within two days, there were 30 people down by the shore helping us our family.” In the face of climate change, McMahan hopes that people come together.  

“Climate change is overwhelming! Being involved in a community, whether it’s a club, group, or committee can create a strong network for exploration and support.”