Team Zostera: Community Science & Art for Seagrass Recovery
Eelgrass, a keystone species in the Gulf of Maine is disappearing. In Casco Bay since 2018, more than half of this essential coastal habitat has been lost—putting fisheries, biodiversity, and climate resilience at risk. Team Zostera is COBALT’s response: a long-term, science-led, community-powered initiative working to restore and steward eelgrass across Casco Bay and the Gulf of Maine.
In 2023 Team Zostera documented the life cycle and flowering stages which set us up for the first confirmed seed-based eelgrass restoration success in Casco Bay in 2024, with germination observed across all pilot plots—marking a critical proof of concept for future restoration. This milestone demonstrates that locally adapted, seed-based approaches can play a vital role in rebuilding eelgrass meadows and restoring the ecological foundations of the bay.
Team Zostera studies eelgrass ecosystems, develops and implements seed-based restoration methods, and monitors recovery to guide long-term stewardship in Casco Bay. By linking underwater research with hands-on restoration and regional collaboration, we translate ecological knowledge into practical strategies for restoring eelgrass meadows.
Core Activities
Ecology of Team Zostera: Safety, Science and Fun!
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Common knowledge
Clear roles and responsibilities
Defined Code of Conduct
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Real work done in small groups
Distribute & synthesize learnings
Inspire new questions & inquiry
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Identify high level, mid and low level goals
Clear sense of how goals are set and adaptively commit to achieve them
Understand how our goals fit with wider network
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Problems shift, we adapt
People come, people go
Expertise & training needed at the start; may shift as project progresses
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Top quality communication across broad range of places
In-person meetings matter and locations should shift accordingly
All need to feel like they belong to be engaged
Featured News
COBALT/Team Zostera has developed a dive manual that follows Scientific Diving Guidelines, as we work to become a member of the American Academy of Underwater Sciences (AAUS). The program includes 20 scientific divers (AAUS depth rated to ‘30 feet) and is overseen by a Dive Control Board, providing governance, safety oversight, and professional standards for all underwater research and restoration activities. Together, the dive team supports eelgrass monitoring, seed collection, and restoration across Casco Bay—working under rigorous safety protocols designed for cold-water, tidal, and low-visibility environments.
Our AAUS Dive Program
Dive Control Board
Steve Broadhurst
Dive Safety Officer
Steve Broadhurst is the administrative Dive Saftey Officer for COBALT/Team Zostera and is the AAUS Dive Safety Officer at Duke University, University of North Carolina, North Carolina State University, and College of Charleston. Having worked in the dive industry for more than 30 years, Steve has extensive experience in scientific diving and underwater project management. He specializes in marine conservation and coral reef/artificial reef ecology. Steve is also a licensed United States Coast Guard Captain and has a background in boat building and marine construction.
Levi Robbins
Dive Safety Officer
Levi serves as the Dive Safety Officer (DSO) for COBALT and Team Zostera and is responsible for ensuring the safe operation of all diving activities in collaboration with the Executive Director and administrative DSO. He helps plan, implement, and administer a safe, fun, and effective volunteer scientific diving program. Levi provides strong leadership across all aspects of the dive program, working to minimize risks while maximizing the enjoyment and learning of COBALT and Team Zostera participants.
Savanna Deer
Dive Safety Officer in Training
Savanna is a Dive Safety Officer in Training within COBALT’s scientific diving program. A scuba instructor and aquaculture farmer with a strong interest in marine ecology, she brings both field experience and community engagement to the team’s work. Through her role, Savanna supports dive operations, restoration activities, and public outreach while helping build a growing community of divers committed to the stewardship and recovery of Casco Bay’s eelgrass ecosystems.
Sydney Hay
Board Member
Sydney holds a master’s degree in Marine Biology and conducts dive-based eelgrass research with Team Zostera. She was also a COBALT Fellow. In addition to her marine science background, she brings experience supporting communities addressing food injustice and a strong understanding of American food systems.
Jarrett Byrnes
Board Member
Jarrett serves as Chair of the Dive Control Board at UMass Dartmouth and studies the causes and consequences of complexity in nature. His research explores how human activities alter biodiversity and the interconnectedness of life, and what this means for the ecosystems and services on which we depend. Much of his work focuses on ocean systems, where the extraordinary diversity of life offers insight into how ecosystems function and respond to change.
Julie Footman
Board Member
Julie purchased Aqua Diving Academy in May of 1988. She has been the driving force to bring Aqua Diving Academy to be a full service scuba center as well as a dry suit repair facility. She has been teaching scuba since 1982.
Dive Team
Allison Fogg
Allison is the Staff Scientist for COBALT / Team Zostera, where she helps lead research and field operations supporting eelgrass restoration in Casco Bay, Maine. Her work focuses on donor meadow monitoring, reproductive phenology, seed-based restoration, and scientific diving operations. An AAUS Scientific Diver with a Master’s degree in Biology from the University of Southern Maine, she is committed to connecting research directly with hands-on restoration in the field.
Connor Shea
Connor is an oceanographer who recently completed his PhD and is returning to New England after six years in Hawai‘i. He focuses on human–environment relationships, exploring how communities can better understand and visualize connections between human action and ecosystem health. He brings oceanographic expertise and systems thinking to help shape how ocean processes are represented and support more informed stewardship decisions.
Ella Kennedy
Ella is a student at Bowdoin College majoring in Biology and Education with a strong interest in marine biology and ocean conservation. Living and studying on the coast of Maine has deepened her curiosity about coastal ecosystems and the ways they support both wildlife and human communities. Through Team Zostera she is excited to learn more about restoration and the ecological role of eelgrass in healthy coastal systems.
Jackson Page
Jackson Page is a marine engineer at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, where he works on complex maritime systems. A graduate of Maine Maritime Academy, he developed an early interest in diving while studying there. Participating in Team Zostera gives him the opportunity to contribute directly to the restoration of Casco Bay, a place that has long been important to him.
Marissa McMahan
Dr. Marissa McMahan is the Senior Director of Fisheries at Manomet Conservation Sciences and has over two decades of experience as both a fisheries scientist and commercial fisher in the Gulf of Maine. Her research focuses on restoring ecosystem productivity and strengthening fisheries through collaboration with coastal communities and industry partners.
Sam Gamber
Sam Gamber is a marine scientist passionate about Maine’s oceans and the ways they are changing due to human activity. She has conducted dive surveys in the Caribbean and Australia and has worked as a field scientist, data analyst, lab technician, and outreach coordinator. Through Team Zostera she is excited to study and map seagrass ecosystems while expanding her scientific diving experience in the Gulf of Maine.
Dylan Satar
Dylan Satar grew up along the Mediterranean Sea in Izmir, Turkey, where he developed an early connection to the ocean. After moving to Boston, he pursued a degree in Marine Science at the University of Maine and now works with Maine Inland Fisheries and Wildlife supporting conservation and ecosystem management. His work and time in the outdoors continue to fuel his interest in marine ecology and hands-on restoration efforts.
Luc Harrison
Luc Harrison is a marine biologist in the master’s program at the University of Southern Maine, where his research focuses on the invasive shrimp Palaemon elegans. He began diving in Bonaire in 2016 and has continued diving while studying and conducting research in Florida, Hawaii, and Maine. Through Team Zostera he is eager to apply his diving experience to the restoration of important coastal habitats.
Hazel Johnson
Hazel Johnson is a junior at Bowdoin College studying Environmental Studies and Biology with a concentration in Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology. She grew up on Long Island in Casco Bay and has worked with the Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association helping develop research on black sea bass migration into Maine waters. Her connection to the bay continues to shape her interest in marine research and ecosystem restoration.
Rachele Spadafore
Rachele Spadafore holds a Master of Science in Marine Biology from Northeastern University and has experience in aquaculture, environmental consulting, and marine research. Her work has included projects on kelp forest ecology, disease dynamics, and bioremediation. She is passionate about science communication and understanding how people connect to the ocean, interests that align closely with the restoration work of Team Zostera.
Dillon Jenkins
Dillon Jenkins is a student at Scarborough High School with a strong interest in science and environmental stewardship. He serves as President of the school’s Environmental Club and founded the Scarborough High School newspaper, which features a dedicated science section. Through Team Zostera he hopes to deepen his understanding of marine ecosystems and gain hands-on experience with underwater scientific research.
Grayson Szczepaniak
Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, Grayson moved to Maine in 2013 and now works as an attorney specializing in maritime law. She previously studied marine biology at the University of New England before pursuing a law degree with the goal of contributing to ocean policy and stewardship. Participating in Team Zostera allows her to reconnect with the science that first inspired her interest in ocean conservation.
Jessica Roth
Jessica is a marine biologist and environmental consultant based in Portland, Maine. She received her Master’s degree in Marine Biology from Northeastern University, where she studied pelagic shark behavior and gained valuable scientific diving experience. She is excited to contribute her diving background to community-based marine restoration work in the Gulf of Maine.
Matthew Servin
Matthew Servin is a junior at Bowdoin College double majoring in Government and Legal Studies and Hispanic Studies with a minor in Biology. His interest in marine ecology and dive-based research grew after studying abroad in Ecuador and the Galápagos. Through Team Zostera he is excited to continue exploring underwater scientific research and learning more about coastal restoration.