Gulf Of Maine Expedition Lands at Belliveau Cove, St. Mary's Bay, September 7, Greeting, Presentation on the 8th!

For Immediate Release

Contact: Tim Surette, (902) 742-0871, (902) 749-6532, surettet@mar.dfo-mpo.gc.ca, or the Gulf Of Maine Expedition team directly on the water at (207) 266-6912.

September 5, 2002, Belliveau Cove, Nova Scotia -- The Gulf of Maine Expedition is being welcomed with open arms to Belliveau Cove on the historic French-Acadian Shore of St. Mary's Bay. Using the village churches as navigation landmarks, the Team arrives on the 7th and is greeted at the Farmers Market, enjoying local crafts and produce before an Interpretive Walk of Belliveau Cove nature trail that afternoon. On September 8th at 9 AM, the Team is greeted by the Honorable Robert Thibault, Minister of Fisheries and Ocean, Canada, in acknowledgement of its efforts at the official opening of the Belliveau Cove Farm Market. Music by Fetchache ensues, and the official trail opening is 11 AM. From 1-4 PM, a joint kayak demonstration by the Gulf Of Maine Expedition and Hinterland Kayak Adventure tours will educate attendees about safety and stewardship. The day winds up with a Team presentation at 6 PM, showing their constantly evolving journey and findings. Belliveau Cove is the perfect place to illustrate the Team message of low impact in this community of wetlands and natural areas, and to see firsthand the importance of the lobster and soft-shell clam fisheries.

All of the Gulf Of Maine Expedition's events are fortuitously scheduled in this, the International Year of Ecotourism. Team leader and Maine Sea Grant Extension Agent Natalie Springuel, Science and Technology Coordinator Richard MacDonald, Tom Teller and Canadian team members Dan Earle and Sue Hutchins will all be available to discuss their journey, findings and mission. Partners for the event include Department of Fisheries and Ocean, Canada, Southwest Nova Scotia, Municipality of Clare, University Ste. Anne, Hinterland Kayak Adventure Tours.

The Gulf Of Maine Expedition was organized to raise awareness and caring about the ecology and culture of the Gulf of Maine. The team hopes to hear your concerns regarding the health of the Gulf and will be available personally for discussions. Their records will capture a snapshot of the Gulf as it is today, and provide a unique perspective for monitoring in the future. They are eager to share information, observations and scientific results they have gathered along the way. Their website, www.gomexpedition.org, is updated several times a week to provide an evolving virtual documentary with an active route map, images from the Gulf, observations, and journal entries.

The Gulf of Maine Expedition was made possible by the generous financial support of Maine Sea Grant, Maine Coastal Program, Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment, and the New England Biolabs Foundation. Additional equipment and financial support has come from Necky Kayaks, Kokatat, U. Maine Cooperative Extension, and many other businesses and individuals.

Come join the celebration of the Gulf Of Maine Expedition at Belliveau Cove, St. Mary's Bay!

Team's next stop: Highland Cove Centre for Canadian -American Cultural Communication based in The Milton Highlands of Yarmouth County, September 14!

For more information, please visit www.gomexpedition.org. If you would like a copy of the Gulf Of Maine Expedition Newsletter which includes the Expedition itinerary, please email gomex@earthlink.net.