Shoals Marine Laboratory

What Shoals Marine Laboratory does

Shoals Marine Laboratory (SML) is a remote marine science field station located on Appledore Island in the Isles of Shoals archipelago off the coast of Maine. Founded in 1966 and jointly operated by Cornell University and the University of New Hampshire, SML delivers field-based marine science education, research, and outreach. Its core academic offering consists of credit-bearing undergraduate courses (BIOSM through Cornell, MEFB through UNH) ranging from one-week modules to a full Shoals Semester program (4:1 student-to-faculty ratio), plus a high-school program (grades 10-12) in which students earn Cornell University credit. Five undergraduate research internship tracks span Seabird Ecology and Conservation, Marine Mammals, Intertidal Ecology, Gull Population Biology, and Physical Oceanography and Ecology.

The lab's research backbone is a suite of long-running monitoring programs and a published data archive. SML has accumulated 25+ years (in some references 40+ years) of rocky intertidal transect data, a species checklist documenting 1,400+ species in the Isles of Shoals, the Isles of Shoals Tern Conservation Project (since 1997), long-term gull banding (since 2004), seal research on Duck Island (since 2011), and black guillemot monitoring (since 2017). These datasets are publicly archived via the Environmental Data Initiative. Supporting technical infrastructure includes a fleet of research vessels (R/V John M. Kingsbury at 48-passenger capacity, R/V John B. Heiser at 23-passenger, plus smaller craft), diving operations under a designated Diving Safety Officer, and a renewable-energy island microgrid (solar, wind, generator, battery) with a public live sustainability dashboard. Partnerships span NOAA, US Fish and Wildlife Service, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, National Audubon Society, the New England Aquarium's Anderson Cabot Center, the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy, and several state fish and wildlife agencies.

SML's revenue model is tuition-anchored: Cornell undergraduates pay $1,940/credit, UNH undergraduates pay $663/credit, and students from other institutions pay $1,234/credit via UNH's non-matriculated summer session. Additional revenue streams include a $234/night room-and-board charge, a $410/course program fee, vessel charter fees (transportation ~$82 round-trip, plus vessel rental), and overnight program fees ($158-$225 per person per night). Non-credit public programs (garden tours, sustainability tours, overnight programs, artist-in-residence, Rock Talk seminars) extend the addressable market beyond matriculated students. Distribution flows through university registrar systems (Cornell SCE Cashnet, UNH Webcat) and direct booking for visiting groups, with three out of five SML students receiving financial assistance, including need-based, merit-based, Rising Tides Diversity, and course-specific scholarships.

Name

Shoals Marine Laboratory

Legal name

Shoals Marine Laboratory

Website

https://shoalsmarinelaboratory.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1966

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Shoals Marine Laboratory is a remote marine science field station on Appledore Island, Maine, jointly operated by Cornell University and the University of New Hampshire, offering credit-bearing undergraduate and high-school courses, research internships, and public programs in marine and coastal science.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Marine Science Field Education and Research

akta.pro primary industry

Marine & Freshwater Conservation (BPAGAGAE)

Keywords

• Marine science education
• Field station research
• Undergraduate marine biology
• Oceanographic field studies
• Marine ecology programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Durham

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Credit Fees: Students pay tuition per credit through Cornell University, UNH, or as non-matriculated students. Cornell students pay $1,940/credit, UNH students pay $663/credit, other students pay $1,234/credit. High school students pay tuition through Cornell at $1,940/credit.
2. Room and Board: On-island housing and meals provided at $234 per night rate. Students share dorm rooms with 1-3 classmates.
3. Program Fees: SML Program Fee of $410 per course covering consumable supplies, dive operations, seawater table maintenance, and collection permits.
4. Vessel Charters and Transportation: Round-trip boat transportation between Portsmouth, NH and Appledore Island. Various vessel charters available including R/V John M. Kingsbury (48 passenger), R/V John B. Heiser (23 passenger), and smaller vessels.
5. Overnight Program Fees: Fees for visiting groups and researchers staying overnight on island. Standard rate $225/person/night, grad/undergrad student rate $158/person/night.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Shoals Marine Laboratory is a remote marine science field station on Appledore Island, Maine, jointly operated by Cornell University and the University of New Hampshire. It sells field-based undergraduate and high school college courses, undergraduate research internships, public programs (tours, overnight stays, artist residencies), and research vessel charters. Students earn Cornell or UNH credit while studying Gulf of Maine ecosystems, seabird colonies, marine mammals, and intertidal habitats.

Product overview

Shoals Marine Laboratory is a remote field station on Appledore Island, Maine, jointly operated by Cornell University and the University of New Hampshire. The organization offers a comprehensive portfolio of educational and research products: undergraduate college courses (BIOSM/MEFB courses) and high school courses (Cornell credits) covering marine biology, ornithology, shark biology, underwater research, and scientific illustration; undergraduate research internships (Seabird Ecology, Marine Mammals, Intertidal Ecology, Gull Population Biology, Physical Oceanography); and public programs including island tours, overnight programs, and artist residencies. The facility also provides vessel charters, the Shoals Semester intensive program, and various scholarship opportunities. Research data archives including 40+ years of intertidal monitoring data are available via the Environmental Data Initiative. Employment opportunities include Seasonal Seabird Technician, Teaching Assistant, and Student Staff positions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Undergraduate Courses College-level marine science courses offered during summer sessions on Appledore Island, jointly operated by Cornell University and University of New Hampshire. Courses include Field Ornithology, Biological Illustration, Marine Mammal Biology, Shark Biology, Underwater Research, and more, earning credits through either Cornell (BIOSM courses) or UNH (MEFB courses).
• High School Courses College-level courses for high school students grades 10-12, offering Cornell University credit. Courses include Marine Environmental Science, Introduction to the Biology of Sharks/Skates/Rays, Marine Vertebrates of the Gulf of Maine, and Introduction to Scientific Illustration.
• Shoals Semester Program Intensive summer semester program combining 4 SML courses earning a full semester's credits. Features 4:1 student-to-faculty ratio, built-in breaks between courses, and option to add a Research Apprenticeship.
• Isles of Shoals Seabird Ecology and Conservation Program Research program focused on monitoring and conserving seabird populations in the Gulf of Maine, including terns, gulls, alcids, and wading birds. Led by Dr. Elizabeth Craig, the program conducts population monitoring, conservation management, and student-driven research on White and Seavey islands.
• Research Data Archives Long-term ecological datasets including the Species Checklist for the Isles of Shoals Archipelago (1,400+ species) and 25+ years of Appledore Island Transect Study data on rocky intertidal habitats, made publicly available via the Environmental Data Initiative.
• Seabird Ecology and Conservation Internship 10-week undergraduate research internship focused on seabird ecology and conservation, part of the Isles of Shoals Seabird Ecology and Conservation Program. Includes $2,100 stipend, room and board, and round-trip vessel transportation.
• Physical Oceanography and Ecology Internship 10-week undergraduate research internship focused on oceanographic data collection including CTD casts, remote underwater videos, and Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) data analysis in the Isles of Shoals region.
• Marine Mammals Internship Undergraduate research internship focused on seal research at Duck Island, including boat-based surveys, photographic mark-recapture studies, and individual/site fidelity monitoring of harbor and gray seals.
• Intertidal Ecology Internship Undergraduate research internship conducting independent research projects and collecting rocky intertidal transect data for SML's 40+ year monitoring dataset tracking climate change effects in the Gulf of Maine.
• Gull Population Biology Internship Undergraduate research internship focused on the long-term gull banding program initiated in 2004 on Appledore Island, studying Great Black-backed Gulls and American Herring Gulls including survival, dispersal, behavior, and diet.
• Vessel Charters Research vessel rental services including R/V John M. Kingsbury (48 passenger max), R/V John B. Heiser (23 passenger max), R/V Acipenser, R/V Storm Petrel, and R/V Miss Christine Boston Whaler for transit, tours, and scientific sampling.
• Public Programs Place-based immersive programs for the general public including Celia Thaxter's Garden Tours, Appledore Island Walking Tours, Sustainability Tours, Overnight Programs, Artist-In-Residence Program, and Rock Talk Seminar Series.
• Seasonal Seabird Technician Positions Seasonal employment positions (2 positions) working with the Director of Seabird Research to study and manage tern breeding colonies at Isles of Shoals. Includes $620/week stipend plus room and board on White Island.
• Student Staff Positions Summer employment positions for students enrolled in SML credit courses, working in kitchen, housekeeping, and grounds maintenance. Compensation at $15.10/hour for a 48-hour work week with free room and board.
• Teaching Assistant Positions Teaching assistant positions for undergraduate and graduate students assisting course faculty. Includes $700/week stipend, room and board, and transportation between Portsmouth, NH and Appledore Island.
• Financial Support and Scholarships Need-based and merit-based scholarships ranging from $1,000 to full tuition plus room and board. Includes Shoals Marine Lab Rising Tides Scholarship, course-specific awards, and institution-specific partnerships with Dartmouth, Princeton, and others.

Quantifiable outcome

• 40+ years of rocky intertidal monitoring data compiled and publicly available
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Cornell UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCornell University is a joint operator of Shoals Marine Laboratory alongside UNH. Cornell students can enroll in SML courses for Cornell credit, courses fulfill Cornell major requirements, and Cornell faculty serve as instructors. The SML Consortium is a partnership for lab leadership.
• University of New Hampshire (UNH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity of New Hampshire is a joint operator of Shoals Marine Laboratory. UNH students can register for courses via UNH Summer Session and receive UNH credit. SML administrative offices are located at UNH in Durham, NH. Students are hired through UNH HR office.
• New Hampshire Fish and Game DepartmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupports the Isles of Shoals Tern Conservation Project on White and Seavey islands since 1997. Provides funding for restoration, management, and research of threatened and endangered terns. Project is New Hampshire's primary breeding colony for common, roseate, and Arctic terns.
• Cornell Lab of OrnithologymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates on the Seabird Ecology and Conservation Program. Dr. Gemma Clucas serves as Research Associate. Students and researchers have access to Cornell Lab resources and expertise.
• US Fish and Wildlife ServicemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners with SML seabird research program. Linda Welch and Pam Loring from USFWS collaborate on seabird monitoring and conservation projects. USFWS manages Maine Coastal Islands Complex.
• National Audubon SocietymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDon Lyons from National Audubon Society collaborates on seabird research. Joint research on tern conservation and seabird-fisheries interactions.
• NOAA Alaska Fisheries Science CentermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Elizabeth Siddon serves as Research Fishery Biologist. Supports Marine Ecosystem Research and Management course with NOAA scientists teaching ecosystem research methods.
• Alaska Department of Fish and GamemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Chris Siddon serves as Chief Scientist for Marine Fisheries. Contributes expertise to Marine Ecosystem Research and Management course on fisheries science.
• New England Aquarium (Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Nadine Lysiak from Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life mentors Marine Mammal interns. Seal research program involves aquarium scientists.
• Center for Coastal StudiesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLisa Sette from Center for Coastal Studies collaborates on seal research and serves as mentor for marine mammal research internships.
• Northwest Atlantic Seal Research ConsortiummajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Andrea Bogomolni collaborates on seal research. Consortium conducts seal monitoring in the Isles of Shoals area.
• Environmental Data InitiativemajorTechnology or IntegrationSML's 25+ years of rocky intertidal monitoring data is publicly available via the Environmental Data Initiative repository.
• NASA (Micropulse Lidar Network - MPLNET)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAppledore Island is a MPLNET monitoring site. SML previously hosted AIRMAP climate and air quality research project.
• Atlantic White Shark Conservancy (Gills Club)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOffers full-ride scholarship for Shark Biology and Conservation course. Gills Club promotes shark education and research, collaborating with SML on outreach.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Hatfield Marine Science Center (Oregon State University): Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport, OR is Oregon State's coastal research and education campus offering credit courses, research internships, and community outreach. Its integrated marine science education-and-research model closely mirrors SML's Appledore Island operations.
• Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL): MBL in Woods Hole, MA is a longstanding private marine research and education institution affiliated with the University of Chicago. Its summer courses, research programs, visiting scientist model, and coastal New England location make it a closely comparable peer to SML.
• Romberg Tiburon Center (San Francisco State University): Romberg Tiburon Center is SF State's marine and estuarine science field station providing graduate and undergraduate programs, research opportunities, and community engagement on San Francisco Bay. Its CSU-affiliated field-station model with research-education-public programming parallels SML.
• Moss Landing Marine Laboratories (San Jose State University): Moss Landing Marine Labs, operated by a consortium of California State University campuses, is a marine science research and graduate education facility. Its multi-university consortium governance model is a particularly close structural analog to SML's Cornell/UNH partnership.
• Duke University Marine Laboratory: Duke Marine Lab in Beaufort, NC provides undergraduate marine science field courses, semester-long programs, and research opportunities through a major research university. Its host-university credit model and field-immersion pedagogy closely match SML's approach.
• Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium: Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota, FL is an independent marine and estuarine research institution offering education programs, internships, research opportunities, and public-facing exhibits. Its combined research-education-outreach portfolio is structurally analogous to SML's integrated offering.
• Friday Harbor Laboratories (University of Washington): Friday Harbor Labs is a premier marine science field station on San Juan Island, WA, offering undergraduate and graduate courses, research apprenticeships, and visiting researcher programs. Operates on the same academic-research-field-station model as SML, with similar credit-bearing summer programming and small class sizes.
• Dauphin Island Sea Lab: Dauphin Island Sea Lab is Alabama's primary marine science education and research station, operating under a state-mandated consortium of public universities model. Its credit-bearing undergraduate courses, research internships, and visiting researcher programs parallel SML's structure and scale.
• Oregon Institute of Marine Biology (University of Oregon): OIMB on the southern Oregon coast offers marine biology courses, research opportunities, and undergraduate semester programs. Its university-affiliated coastal field station structure, academic-course-based model, and small scale align closely with SML's profile.
• Bodega Marine Laboratory (UC Davis): Bodega Marine Laboratory is UC Davis's coastal marine research and education facility on the northern California coast. Offers undergraduate courses, research opportunities, internships, and public outreach analogous to SML's integrated education-research-public programming portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/shoals-marine-laboratory

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Shoals Marine Laboratory