Time and Tide

You've probably seen the signs along New Hampshire’s coast. A road that floods more often than it used to. A marsh creeping inland. A king tide that leaves water where no one expected it.   A new report highlights the latest science around flooding in New Hampshire.   On this episode of Time and Tide, you’ll hear from the experts behind this science report, as they explain key findings concerning...

Lobster buoys and traps are a common sight along New Hampshire’s rocky coastline, but did you know it’s illegal for the public to touch them? They’re a form of marine debris that wash in after strong coastal storms, and once each year the fishing industry gathers for a state-wide beach cleanup to remove them.  In this episode of Time and Tide, we’re exploring the issue of derelict fishing gear on...

Spring is in the air. As the days get longer and plants emerge from thawed soil, big landscaping decisions loom ahead. What plants should you add or remove from your yard this year? Are there any big landscaping projects that you’re feeling brave enough to tackle? But for every landscaping decision you make, there is one thing you should consider: clean water.  In this episode of Time and Tide, we...

A century ago, vast reefs of Eastern Oysters, Crassostrea virginica , stretched across Great Bay cleaning the water, sheltering fish, and forming one of New Hampshire’s most important coastal habitats. Today, a fraction of those wild oyster beds remains. But across the bay, a quiet movement is underway to bring them back one shell and a few baby oysters at a time.  In this episode of Time and Tide...

Here in New England, Atlantic Cod (Gadus morhua) is woven into the fabric of our coastal history. For centuries, this species has fueled economies, fed communities, and even left its mark on the map — a testament to the powerful connection between cod and the region it helped define.  But just as cod shaped New England, human activity has shaped cod.  Today, this historically significant fishery i...

In part two of this month's two-part series on surfing in New Hampshire, we explore how the sport of surfing can create community, a sense of responsibility to protect the natural world, and monetary value for coastal towns. What is the value of clean water? And just because you surf, does that mean you’re more likely to support healthy coastal ecosystems?  Becs O’Brien and Christina Dubin are two...

Surfing has become an increasingly popular way to recreate here along the seacoast, and across the US as a whole. During the summer, it’s hard to drive anywhere without seeing a longboard strapped to the roof of a fellow commuter’s car.    But why has surfing become so popular in recent years? From 2019 to 2020, the surfing population in the US grew an astounding 28 percent, and over the past five...

From major storms to daily tides, the sandy shores of New Hampshire are constantly moving — gaining sand in some places and losing it in others. But how do scientists and volunteers actually track those changes over time?   In this episode of Time and Tide, we dig into the world of beach profiling — a simple yet powerful method that measures the contour of the shoreline month after month to reveal...

For those who can’t imagine a day without the smell of salt air, the rumble of waves, or the chatter of gulls overhead, a coastal career feels like a natural calling. But knowing you belong near the ocean isn’t the same as knowing where you fit within it—and the world of marine careers is far more diverse than many people realize.  In this episode of Time and Tide, we dive into the many paths avai...

Show notes:   Beneath the thin blue line of the ocean’s surface lies an underwater meadow of grass. In Great Bay and coastal New Hampshire, these flowing fields of green are nurseries for young fish, an anchor for sediments, and a sign that our ecosystems are healthy. However, these life-supporting aquatic pastures face new threats. Here, in the constantly moving waters where rivers meet the sea,...

New Hampshire’s coastal dunes are a natural shield—absorbing storm surges, protecting coastal communities, and providing critical habitat for wildlife. Dunes are highly dynamic systems and are no stranger to change, however these habitats face new pressures as we develop and ‘harden’ our coastline. Thankfully, researchers, community leaders, and volunteers are working together to plant and restore...

What happens when the growing marine economy meets efforts to protect threatened and endangered seabirds? Elizabeth Craig and her team are mapping the journeys of common and roseate terns ( Sterna hirundo and Sterna dougallii ) to ensure both conservation efforts and development can move forward together in the Gulf of Maine. Join us in the bird blind on this episode of Time and Tide as we uncover...

Summary:   Two centuries ago, European Green Crabs arrived in New England’s coastal waters and quickly became one of the world’s most notorious marine invaders — outcompeting native species, devouring shellfish, and threatening local fisheries. In this episode of Time and Tide, we explore how scientists, fishers, chefs, and local volunteers are countering this invasive species by turning an ecolog...

A new workshop called Living With Water is designed to help realtors navigate these turbulent times, by equipping them with resources on flood risks in New Hampshire. Show notes:   The housing market is a hot topic in the Granite State and across the US, to say the least. A part of this conversation relates to how insurance companies are dropping coverage for homeowners due to the increased risk o...

Just six miles off New Hampshire’s coast, the Isles of Shoals emerge from the sea—a world apart, shaped by nature, time, and human hands. Historian Ann Beattie helps us imagine what these isolated New England isles may have looked like through the years. Show notes:   Just six miles off New Hampshire’s coast, the Isles of Shoals emerge from the sea—a world apart, shaped by nature, time, and human...

A preliminary study by Dr. Paula Mouser and her team of researchers and citizen scientists in New Hampshire has found that foam on the surface of water can contain elevated levels of PFAS contamination, compared to the surface water below.  Show notes:   PFAS are contaminants of emerging concern and have rapidly become a focal point for everyone working in the field of clean water. These ‘forever...

They’re round, suction-cupped, and as it turns out, full of secrets. Lumpfish ( Cyclopterus lumpus ) may not be glamorous, but these quirky creatures are doing serious work beneath the waves in the Gulf of Maine. Show notes:   They’re round, suction-cupped, and as it turns out, full of secrets. Lumpfish ( Cyclopterus lumpus ) may not be glamorous, but these quirky creatures are doing serious work...

Time and Tide is a new podcast from New Hampshire Sea Grant, based at the University of New Hampshire, that explores the science, stories, and people behind our changing coastlines. Show notes:   What does the saying – time and tide wait for none – mean to you? Those with a connection to the coast understand that tides are a certainty in life; they are something that we have no control over, just...