Downeast Institute

Fun for all ages

The institute was fun for everyone in my family. Up front they have a touch tank I could barely pull my kids from (and I also enjoyed). The we went on to learn about plankton and then to the different...

A must for anyone interested in science, but especially shellfish

Four residents of Islesboro interested in the restoration of the shellfish industry, made the trip in one long day. We received a tour of the facilities and were provided with an explanation of the sh...

Worth the trip by itself for anyone, any age, interested in marine and shellfish biology

This was our second visit, with friends, to the Downeast Institute, and we were all wowed. Call ahead if you can, but even showing up at the last minute you may be able to get a tour, and it is incred...

Fascinating and a worthwhile stop

We came upon this facility during our tour of Beals Island. The institute is an applied research facility to improve the "health" of coastal Maine and people of Maine who derive their income from lob...

An amazing enterprise

As a starting point, be sure to call ahead of your visit since this is a working institute and the researchers might be out in the field that day. For years, I've had friends tell me that I need to vi...