6.
Species at Risk Workshop in Wolfville
The Species at
Risk Stewardship Workshop is scheduled for 3-5 December 2009 in Wolfville,
NS. The Workshop is hosted by the Bluenose Coastal Action Foundation and
partners. The workshop will provide an opportunity for learning and
information sharing between policy makers, scientists, community groups,
environmental managers, academia and other individuals interested in the
recovery of SAR in Atlantic Canada.
Workshop themes
will include:
-
Habitat Stewardship
Program
-
Capacity Building
during Stewardship
-
Opportunities
-
Issues surrounding
Critical Habitat
-
Role of Invasive
Species with regards to Species at Risk
-
Native/Aboriginal
Involvement in Species at Risk Stewardship
-
Roles and
Responsibilities of Recovery Teams
-
Better Communications
between all Stakeholders
For more
information and to register visit
http://www.coastalaction.org.
7. Forum
addresses Coastal Access
The September
2009 issue of the Marine Affairs Policy Forum focuses on Addressing
Coastal Access as a Priority Coastal Issue in Nova Scotia. Coastal access
refers to the ability of the public to reach, use, or view the shoreline
of coastal waters or nearby inland areas adjacent to the ocean. Access to
the coast in this context refers to both seaward and landward entry points
and is important for a wide variety of social and economic reasons. The
Forum is available online at:
http://marineaffairsprogram.dal.ca/Files/MAP_Forum_Sept_2009_Coastal_Access_in_Nova_Scotia.pdf.
The Forum,
produced by the Marine Affairs Program at Dalhousie University, provides
perspectives on current and emerging issues of concern to the coastal and
ocean policy community in the Atlantic Region.
8.
Annapolis County Concerned about Sunken Irving Barge
In an August
24th letter to the Federal Minister of the Environment Warden Peter Newton
of the Municipality of the County of Annapolis expressed great concern
about the sunken Irving barge, "Shovel Master", which rests on the ocean
floor off Yarmouth. The barge contains up to 70,000 litres of diesel
fuel. The letter noted that "about three(3) weeks after the sinking of the
Shovel Master, a piece of the stern (showing identification as being from
the Shovel Master) came ashore on Victoria Beach in Annapolis County,
demonstrating the pollution impact to our local area should there be a
diesel fuel leakage from this sunken barge". It went on to state that "we
are concerned for the fish habitat in our region and the corresponding
economic devastation to local fisherman if a proactive approach is not
taken to address a potential danger instead of waiting for an
environmental disaster to occur."
9. Southwest
Nova Biosphere Reserve receives Funding
Environment Canada has announced $285,000 in funding over five years to
support the Southwest Nova Biosphere Reserve Association (SNBRA). This
funding is part of a $5 million commitment to support 14 of 15 biosphere
reserves in Canada and the Canadian Biosphere Reserves Association. The
SNBRA will use the funds to support community-based initiatives aimed at
balancing conservation and development, as well as supporting local
economies and communities of the region. "With the new Environment Canada
funding, we have been able to hire a Project Coordinator and begin to
address regional concerns related to youth engagement and the creative
rural economy," said Dr. Bob Maher, Chair of SNBRA. The Reserve is
comprised of Kejimkujik National Park and Historic Site, the Tobeatic
Wilderness Area, as well as the five counties of Annapolis, Digby,
Yarmouth, Shelburne and Queens.
For more information, please
email or call the Project Coordinator, Maegan Power-Noble, at (902)
825-6392, or visit the SNBRA website.
10.
Coastal Zone Canada Conferences - future and past
January 15,
2010 is the deadline for submitting abstracts to the "Coastal Zone Canada
2010" international conference, scheduled for July 25-29, 2010 in
Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. The main theme will be 'Healthy
Oceans - Strong Coastal Communities' and sub-themes will include:
Watershed planning and management; Coastal land-use planning; Small island
development; Healthy coastal communities; The Rights of sand; and Canadian
Integrated Coastal and Ocean Management. For more information visit:
http://www.gov.pe.ca/czc2010.
The Coastal
Zone Canada 2009 Conference was held July 19-23, 2009 in Boston,
Massachusetts. The
theme was
'Revolutionary Times: Catching the Wave of Change'. Topics included: the
US climate change strategy and how it will impact coastal communities and
organizations, regional ocean governance, coastal conservation and
restoration, marine protected areas, coastal and ocean
observations,
and land use planning. The Conference Proceedings, consisting of extended
abstracts, are available online at
http://www.csc.noaa.gov/cz/index.html.
11. Draft
of NS Wetland Conservation Policy
The intent of
the NS Wetland Conservation Policy is to identify which legislation,
regulation and policy are currently relevant to wetland conservation, to
clarify responsibilities of government and the public related to wetlands,
and to make this information more clear and accessible. Ultimately, the
Policy is intended to prevent the net loss of wetlands in the Province.
The deadline for submitting comment on the draft Policy is November 9,
2009. The draft is available at:
http://www.gov.ns.ca/nse/wetland/conservation.policy.asp.
12.
Proceedings of GOMMI Workshop Available
The Gulf of
Maine Mapping Initiative (GOMMI)Workshop on Integrating Seafloor Mapping
and Benthic Ecology into Fisheries Management in the Gulf of Maine was
held on 15-16 April 2009 in Portland,
Maine. GOMMI is
a Canadian-US partnership of government and non-government organizations
to conduct comprehensive seafloor imaging, mapping, and biological and
geological surveys. The Workshop Proceedings and presentations are
available at:
http://www.gulfofmaine.org/gommi/GOMMI_Workshop_Proceedings_20090820_FINAL.pdf.
13. Coastal Management Workshop Report Available
" Coastal
Nova: Where Nova Scotia Meets the Sea" , a Workshop on the Role of
Communities, First Nations, Aboriginals and Municipalities in Coastal
Management was held on 17 June 2009 in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The Workshop
report and summary are available at
http://marineaffairsprogram.dal.ca/News%20and%20Events/Workshops.php.
14.
Habitat Restoration Grants Awarded
On
September 22, 2009 the Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment (GOMC)
and NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service today announced the selection
of nine habitat restoration projects to be awarded a total of
approximately $429,250. Together, the joint GOMC-NOAA Partnership will
provide funding for projects in Maine, Massachusetts and the provinces of
New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, Canada. The following projects in the
Maritimes have been awarded funding
Lower Kennebecasis (Thompson Brook) Restoration, Hampton/Sussex, New
Brunswick - A riparian restoration and outreach will be conducted to
reverse livestock impacts and demonstrate the success of a local
agriculture-conservation partnership. (Funding: $18,920)
Clementsport Dam (Moose River) Feasibility Study, Clementsport, Nova
Scotia - This study will assess the feasibility of dam removal, which if
accomplished, is projected to result in re-opening approximately 7 miles
of stream to diadromous fish runs. (Funding: $58,050)
For
more information on the GOMC-NOAA Habitat Restoration Grants Program and
the Partnership's Habitat Restoration Strategy, visit
www.gulfofmaine.org/habitatrestoration.
15. FORCE Announces Advisory Teams for Fundy Tidal Power Project
On October 26th Nova Scotia's in-stream tidal power project the Fundy
Ocean Research Centre for Energy (FORCE) announced the formation of two
key advisory committees that will provide independent advice to the
project from individuals with a range of backgrounds.
The Community Liaison
Committee will act as a liaison between local organizations,
community, and FORCE participants, providing a forum to discuss any issues
related to the tidal project and to share timely information as the
project proceeds. Lois Smith (Municipal
Councilor in Parrsboro) is the co-chair, along with Joe Kozak (representing
FORCE). The other members of the committee include: Mark Canton (Public),
Terri McCulloch (Public) Gerard
Cormier (Public), Shawna Eason (CREDA), Frank Hartman (Public),
Ken Meade (NSPI), (NS
Mi'kmaq representative, to be named), Ross Robinson (Public),
Cindy Tupper (Parrsboro Harbour Commission),
Croyden Woods Sr. (Parrsboro Harbour
Commission), Croyden Woods Jr. (Lobster
Fisher), Robert Yorke (Public).
The Environmental
Monitoring Advisory Committee will provide independent expert
scientific and traditional ecological knowledge advice on environmental
effects monitoring programs at the Fundy Ocean Research Centre for Energy
(FORCE). Dr. Anna Redden (Director of the
Acadia Centre for Estuarine Research at Acadia University) and Dr.
Donald Gordon (Emeritus Scientist with
Fisheries and Oceans Canada) will co-chair the committee." The
other members of the committee include : Michael Brylinsky (Senior
Research Associate of the Acadia Centre for Estuarine Research at Acadia
University), Graham Daborn (Emeritus
Professor at Acadia University and former Director of the Acadia Centre
for Estuarine Research), Andrew Hebda (Curator
of Zoology for Nova Scotia Museum in Halifax), Ken Meade (Manager
of Environmental Services with Nova Scotia Power Inc.), Robert
Miller (Emeritus Scientist with Fisheries
and Oceans Canada), Michael Stokesbury (Director
of Research for the Ocean Tracking Network at Dalhousie University),
Mark Taylor (commercial lobster and
scallop fisherman and President of the Heavy Current Fishers Association
), Keith Thompson (Canada Research Chair in Marine Prediction and Environmental Statistics
at Dalhousie University).
For further information: Ross McLaren,
Department of Energy, (902) 424-4536, (902) 456-4212,
mclarenr@gov.ns.ca;
Beth Caldwell, Minas Basin Pulp and Power, (902) 684-1700, Cell: (902)
680-5378,
bcaldwell@minas.ns.ca
16. Funding Announced for Tidal Energy Research Projects
The OEER Association (Offshore Energy Environmental Research) and OETR
Association (Offshore Energy Technical Research) have awarded $1.1 million
in funding for eight projects related to tidal marine energy research in
the Bay of Fundy. The eight successful proponents are:
Assessment of the Potential of Tidal Power
from Minas Passage and Minas Basin.
Dr. Richard Karsten, Acadia University, Dr. David Greenberg,
Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and Michael Tarbotton, Triton Consulting.
Assessing the Far Field Effects of Tidal
Power Extraction on the Bay of Fundy, Gulf of Maine and Scotian Shelf.
Dr. Jinyu Sheng, Dr. Keith Thompson, and Dr. Paul Hill, Dalhousie
University, Dr. David Greenberg, Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Effects of Energy Extraction on Sediment Dynamics in
Intertidal Ecosystems of the Minas Basin
Dr. Danika van Proosdij, Saint Mary's University
3-D Acoustic Tracking of Fish,
Sediment-Laden Ice and Large Debris in the Minas Channel of the Bay of
Fundy. Dr. Michael Stokesbury
and Dr. Anna Redden, Acadia University
Investigation of the Vertical
Distribution, Movement and Abundance of Fish in the Vicinity of Proposed
Tidal Power Energy Conversion Devices.
Dr. Norman Cochrane and Dr. Gary Melvin, Fisheries and Oceans
Canada
Impacts of Tidal Energy Extraction on Sediment
Dynamics in Minas Basin, Bay of Fundy, NS.
Dr. Peter Smith, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Dr. Ryan Mulligan, East
Carolina University
Assessment of Hydrodynamic Impacts
Throughout the Bay of Fundy and Gulf of Maine Due to Tidal Energy
Extraction by Tidal Lagoons.
Dr. Andrew Cornett, Canadian Hydraulics Centre (CHC)
Near-Field Effects of Tidal Power
Extraction on Extreme Events and Coastline Integrity in the Bay of Fundy.
Dr. James Warner, Martec Limited
For more information visit:
http://www.offshoreenergyresearch.ca/
17. Paper
on Salt Marsh Restoration Published
A paper
entitled "Macro-Tidal Salt Marsh Ecosystem Response to Culvert Expansion"
by
Tony Bowron,
Nancy Neatt, Danika van Proosdij, Jeremy Lundholm and Jennie Graham has
been published in an online early version (October 2009) of the journal
Restoration Ecology.
The purpose of
this paper was to examine the vegetative, sedimentary, nekton and
hydrologic conditions prerestoration and the initial 2 years
post-restoration at a partially restricted macro-tidal salt marsh site in
the Bay of Fundy. While the full article is available only to registered
users, the abstract of the paper can be viewed at:
http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/search/allsearch?mode=quicksearch&products=journal&WISsearch2=1526-100X&WISindexid2=issn&contentTitle=Restoration+Ecology&contextLink=blah&contentOID=117979191&WISsearch1=
bowron&WISindexid1=WISauthor&articleGo.x=15&articleGo.y=11
