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~ FUNDY
TIDINGS ~
June 2012 ~ Summer Issue | |
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HEADLINES:
1. BoFEP 2010-2011 Project Report on Land-Based Pollution 2. BoFEP 2011-2012 Project Report on Toxic Chemicals
B. Partners and other organizations: 1. New Paper on Fauna in GOM Rockweed 2. BoFEx to Offer Fundy Experiences 3. New Book on Joggins' Fossils 4. More from Joggins - World's Smallest Footprints 5. ESIP Eutrophication Fact Sheet 6. New Publication on Foraging in Fundy's Sandpipers 7. Atlantic Salmon Federation Newsletter 8. NS Climate Change Conference Proceedings Available 9. Biomonitoring Training Program Online 10. New paper on Mercury in the GOM 11. Acadian Seaplants Expanding in NS 12. New Tool for Finding Atlantic Coastal Information 13. Climate Change and Aquaculture Infrastructure 14. NS Climate Change Adaptation Fund Deadline 15. FERN Spring Newsletter Available 16. NS Coastal Water Issues Committee 17. Report on New MPAs in Canada and Fundy
1. Government Poised to Gut Fisheries/Environment Acts
2. SABS library and Environment Researchers
Slashed 4. Mink Farms Polluting Fundy Watersheds 5. Interview on Aquaculture Concerns 6. Aquaculture Controversy Continues 7. Organizations Rally for Aquaculture Moratorium in NS 8. Documentary on Aquaculture - Wild Salmon Interaction 9. Controversial NS Strategy for Aquaculture Released 10. Closed Containment Best for Salmon? 11. Aquaculture Risks to Wild Salmon 12. Angling - Threat to Fundy's Wild Salmon Stocks? 13. NS Protects Fundy Coastal Areas 14. Biomass Energy from Abandoned Dykelands? 15. New Walking Trail on Brier Island 16. Tidal Power Cooperation Between Fundy and Maine? 17. Dutch Firm Eyes Fundy Tidal Power
D. Administrivia - [Subscribing and unsubscribing}
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1. BoFEP 2010-2011 Project Report on Land-Based Pollution The final report to Environment Canada on BoFEP's Atlantic Ecosystems Initiative Project entitled: "Protecting the Bay of Fundy from Pollution from Land-based activities" is now available online. The overall project goal was twofold: (a) To increase understanding of the ecological risks associated with chemical pollution from land-based sources in the coastal waters of the Bay of Fundy; and (b) To improve municipal planner’s abilities to address the priority chemical problems and reduce those risks through various mechanisms, from choosing appropriate levels of pollution treatment (e.g. for sewage, for urban runoff) to utilizing decision support and information management tools, among other available tools.
2. BoFEP 2011-2012 Project Report on Toxic Chemicals BoFEP has submitted its final report to Environment Canada for a project entitled: "Utilizing a Comprehensive Approach for Addressing Toxic Chemical Concerns Affecting Sustainable Use of the Bay of Fundy". The report includes details on the following three sub-projects: Subproject 1 - Ecology and Environment - ERAs of Chemicals of Emerging Concern - The objectives were to survey the range of pharmaceuticals known to enter wastewater plants, find data on the exposure concentrations, find data on toxicity levels, especially sublethal, and calculate risks for the individual chemicals where data permit.
Sub-Project 2 - Society and Communities - Talking Circles on Conservation -This is our fourth BoFEP sponsored talking circle and the message is slowly being understood - this is an experience and a way of communicating that needs a lot of time and understanding, practice and patience on the part of non-Natives to understand. A video of the March 2012 talking circle is being prepared to be used as a record of the project experiences and inspiration, at future talking circles and other conservation-oriented events.
Sub-Project 3 - Coastal Economy, Planning and Management - Municipal Planners and Wastewater Management - The goal of the project was to assist planners, municipal officials and other interested stakeholders to better manage stormwater and pharmaceuticals in sewage effluent (as an emerging wastewater contaminant issue). The purpose was to increase the capacity of municipalities to: a) select and implement appropriate tools from a range of innovative, cost effective best management practices to mitigate the impacts of stormwater runoff, improve water quality in the Bay of Fundy and reduce infrastructure and property damage caused by heavy rainfall events; b) raise awareness of the potential impacts of selected pharmaceuticals in municipal effluent on marine ecosystem health and any known measures or treatment options to remove these substances from the effluent stream and/or to reduce/control their effects on the receiving environment and biota. Complete final report.
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B. Partners and other
organizations: 1. New Paper on Fauna in GOM Rockweed RARGOM and BoFEP supporter Peter Larsen of the Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences in Boothbay Harbor, Maine has just published a paper on the Fauna of Rockweed in the Gulf of Maine. Larsen, P.F. 2012. The macroinvertebrate fauna of rockweed (Ascophyllum nodosum)–dominated low-energy rocky shores of the northern Gulf of Maine. Journal of Coastal Research, 28(1), 36–42. West Palm Beach (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208. Abstract .
2. BoFEx to Offer Fundy Experiences The Bay of Fundy Experience Centre (BoFex) is a not-for-profit organization currently in the process of planning for the development and establishment of a multi-sectorial Bay of Fundy Experience Centre in the Town of Digby area. This registered not-for-profit is the outgrowth of several months of volunteer work by the Bay of Fundy Experience Centre Advisory Working Group, which was comprised of 25 plus members from throughout the province of Nova Scotia. The Bay of Fundy Experience Centre (BoFEx) is working to identify the feasibility of this major Bay of Fundy education, attraction and research centre. This study will help identify potential facility location and interpretive themes for the project, including business plan and projections. Bay of Fundy Development Plan ; Annapolis-Digby Component ; More on Fundy Experience Centre.
3. New Book on Joggins' Fossils John Calder, a geologist with the NS Department of Natural Resources has just published a new book entitled " Coal Age Galapagos". The book, launched at the Joggins Fossil Centre on April 22, 2012, is published by the provincial Department of Education. To get your copy contact the Natural Resources library: 424-8633 or e-mail nsdnrlib@gov.ns.ca. The library can accept Visa and Mastercard for payment. The book costs $18.85 ($17.95 plus tax). You can also drop by the library, Monday-Friday, from 8:30 a.m.– 4:00 p.m., 3rd Floor, 1701 Hollis Street, Halifax, NS.
4. More from Joggins - World's Smallest Footprints On April 11, 2012 CBC Radio aired an interview on Information Morning with Melissa Grey, Curator of Palaeontology at the Joggins Cliffs Fossil Centre. During the 6 minute segment she described the finding of the World's smallest footprints in the nearby fossil cliffs. The trackway was probably made by an 8 mm long tetrapod over 300 million years ago.
5. ESIP Eutrophication Fact Sheet The Ecosystems Indicators Partnership of the Gulf of Maine Council has released the 4th in its indicator specific fact sheet series. Previous fact sheets dealt with Climate Change, Aquaculture and Aquatic Habitats. The new fact sheet provides an introduction to the eutrophication indicators selected by ESIP – nutrient loading, water clarity, chlorophyll a concentrations, and dissolved oxygen- along with a snap shot of the indicator data. Curious readers can map out the data through our on-line ESIP Indicator Reporting Tool .
6. New Publication on Foraging in Fundy's Sandpipers A new paper from Mount Allison University researchers entitled " Variability in Foraging Behavior and Implications for Diet Breadth Among Semipalmated Sandpipers Staging in the Upper Bay of Fundy" appears in the recent issue of the journal The Condor (2012, Volume 114, number 1, pages 135-144). The authors are: Elizabeth C. MacDonald, Matthew G. Ginn and Diana Hamilton. Abstract and references.
7. Atlantic Salmon Federation Newsletter To keep track of breaking news on wild Atlantic salmon, visit the ASF website or use the Atlantic Salmon Federation's presence on Facebook. Log in, search for Atlantic Salmon Federation, and click "like". You can also join the mailing list for the ASF Newsletter.
8. NS Climate Change Conference Proceedings Available The Proceedings of a conference "Climate Change: Getting Ready - Results of the Atlantic Climate Adaptation Solutions (ACAS) Program in Nova Scotia" held in Halifax on March 5-6, 2012 are now available online. The aim of the conference was to showcase the climate change adaptation work that has been done in Nova Scotia, and to identify the ‘next steps’ in terms of climate change adaptation strategies in Atlantic Canada. Conference presentations.
9. Biomonitoring Training Program Online Environment Canada in partnership with the Canadian Rivers Institute (CRI) at the University of New Brunswick (UNB) has developed an online training program of nationally standardized protocols for aquatic biomonitoring. The full program consists of online learning modules followed by a field certification workshop. For detailed information about the certification program, fees, and schedule, please visit the CRI training website. The Canadian Aquatic Biomonitoring Network (CABIN) is a national, collaborative program and network for collecting, assessing and distributing information on the biological condition and biodiversity of aquatic ecosystems in Canada.
10. New paper on Mercury in the GOM A new paper has been published entitled, "Mercury sources and fate in the Gulf o f Maine" by Elsie M. Sunderland, Aria Amirbahman, Neil M. Burgess, John Dalziel, GarethHardin, Stephen H. Jones, Elizabeth Kamai, Margaret R. Karagas, Xun Shi and Celia Y. Chen. It appeared online in Environmental Research on May 7, 2012. Abstract and figures.
11. Acadian Seaplants Expanding in NS The Acadian Seaplants operation in Cornwallis Park in NS is in the midst of a multi year expansion program costing $4 million and expected to be completed in 2013. The facility will expand from its present 15, 000 square feet to 100,000 square feet. Full article.
12. New Tool for Finding Atlantic Coastal Information A new tool for finding and sharing information about coastal management in Atlantic Canada has been developed by the Coastal Research Network Secretariat at Dalhousie University. CoastBase is intended to help facilitate greater networking and collaboration on coastal research initiatives, to promote informed decision-making, and to make information about coastal issues more accessible to policy-makers, coastal managers, stakeholders, and the public.
13. Climate Change and Aquaculture Infrastructure Atlantic Climate Adaptation Solutions project released in May 2012 a report on fisheries and aquaculture infrastructure titled “Assessment of Infrastructure Relevant to the Fishing and Aquaculture Industries”. The report notes that " There is a very limited understanding of the risk that climate change poses to the infrastructure upon which this industry relies". Full report.
14. NS Climate Change Adaptation Fund Deadline The Climate Change Adaptation Fund, administered by the NS Department of the Environment, aims to help Nova Scotia become more resilent to the impacts of climate change. It’s objectives are to a) identify and assess threats and opportunities related to climate change in Nova Scotia, and b) build Nova Scotia’s capacity to become better suited to new and different climatic conditions. The fund totals $25,000 and any single grant may provide up to 100% of project costs. The Adaptation Fund is open to any group or individual including, non-profit organizations, municipalities, universities, and businesses, but not to provincial or federal government bodies or agencies. Proposals for the 2012- 2013 adaptation fund must be submitted by June 22, 2012 at 4pm AST and those approved must have all their project completed by March 29, 2013.
15. FERN Spring Newsletter Available The Fundy Energy Research Network (FERN) Bi-Annual Newsletter (Issue 2, Spring 2012) includes updates on the Socioeconomics Scoping Study for Tidal Power in Nova Scotia, Fundy Tidal Energy Environmental Monitoring Technical Workshop, the Fundy Ocean Research Centre for Energy, and the Offshore Energy Environmental Research Association.
16. NS Coastal Water Issues Committee The Coastal and Water Issues Committee (CWIC) of the Ecology Action Centre works towards helping communities be more sustainable through the protection and management of Nova Scotia’s coastal and freshwater ecosystems. The CWIC produces a monthly newsletter, the May 2012 edition includes information on a Nova Scotia Water Strategy Implementation Workshop and a Sea-level rise visualization project.
17. Report on New MPAs in Canada and Fundy The Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) has released a report titled “Is Canada on track to create 12 new marine protected areas by December 2012?”, assessing progress over the past 12 months. It includes information about a proposed National Marine Conservation Area encompassing the outer Bay of Fundy from Digby Neck & Islands/St. Mary’s Bay, NS to Grand Manan Island/Passamaquoddy Bay, NB. The report notes that: "Parks Canada has a long-standing commitment to establish a National Marine Conservation Area in the Bay of Fundy and commissioned a scientific study, which was completed this year, to assess potential NMCA sites in the Bay. However, the study has not been formally released to the public and there is as yet, no process underway to proceed with an NMCA for the Bay of Fundy." Press release. Full report.
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Fundy/GOM and
other News:
There has been widespread concern about the many sweeping changes to environmental and fisheries legislation that the government has shoehorned into a massive omnibus bill that will sidestep the normal parliamentary review process. More than a third of the 400 pages of the "budget" bill are devoted to "streamling" environmental programs and laws. Many groups and individuals have expressed vigorous opposition to this unprecedented assault on fisheries and environmental protection legislation. A few examples:
2. SABS library and Environment Researchers Slashed The federal conservatives hammered two more nails into the coffin of the Saint Andrews Biological Station by announcing in mid May that the library would be closed down and 16 environmental researchers would be laid off. Tellingly, some of those to be let go were the researchers who found that aquaculture pesticides were responsible for killing large numbers of lobsters in the Fundy Isles area. The assurances from the province's two conservative MPs that "the department's research capacity won't be hurt" ring somewhat hollow. Is this yet another example of the federal conservative's systematic efforts to gut environmental research in Canada? CBC news report 1 CBC news report 2 Huffington Post article Moncton Free Press article
3. Royal Society of Canada Report on Marine Biodiversity The Royal Society of Canada has released a 316 page report entitled: Sustaining Canada’s Marine Biodiversity: Responding to the Challenges Posed by Climate Change, Fisheries, and Aquaculture February 2012. The main messages of this rather scathing report include: 1. Canada sees itself as a world leader in ocean management, but we have failed to meet most of our national and international commitments to protect marine biodiversity. 2. Canada lags behind other modernized nations in almost every aspect of fisheries management. Despite pledges on conservation and sound policies, Fisheries and Oceans has generally done a poor job of managing fish stocks, planning for whole ecosystems and protecting marine biodiversity. 3. The government should act to review and rewrite outdated statutes, take rapid action on national and international commitments, curtail the discretionary powers of the minister of Fisheries and Oceans and move to limit regulatory conflict in that department. 4. Canada needs national operational objectives to protect and restore natural diversity and to rebuild depleted populations and species. Improving and protecting ocean health will restore the natural resilience of Canada’s marine ecosystems to adapt in response to the challenges posed by climate change and other human activities.
4. Mink Farms Polluting Fundy Watersheds There is growing concern about the impacts of industrial scale mink farming on the water quality in lakes and rivers of south-western Nova Scotia that are part of the Bay of Fundy watershed. A report by Mike Brylinsky of Acadia Centre for Estuarine Research identifies the farms as the most likely source the high levels of inorganic phosphorus that are causing eutrophication and blue-green algae blooms in many water bodies in the area. Half of Canada's mink farms are located in Nova Scotia and almost 85% of the province's production takes place in Digby and Yarmouth counties. CBC news report. Summary of ACER Report.
5. Interview on Aquaculture Concerns On February 22, 2012 CBC Radio's Information Morning aired an interview with Carl Purcell of the NS Salmon Federation in which he shares the group's concerns about current aquaculture practices, and suggests ways to reduce their ecological impact.
6. Aquaculture Controversy Continues In Nova Scotia, there continue to be strong calls for a moratorium until better understanding of the impacts. But in Ireland there has been published a report calling for aquaculture to be placed offshore due to the interactions involving sea lice. More.
7. Organizations Rally for Aquaculture Moratorium in NS Over 300 people representing more than 100 organizations from across Nova Scotia rallied in Halifax on June 4th to demand that the government impose a moratorium on the expansion of open pen fish farms in the province's coastal waters. The group criticized the government’s recently released aquaculture strategy and gave it a failing grade. Full article.
8. New documentary on Aquaculture- Wild Salmon Interaction A new 70 minute video documentary entitled: "Salmon Wars: Aquaculture, Wild Fish and the Future of Communities" was released as part of the Oceans Film Festival in Halifax on June 13, 2012. The documentary, spearheaded by author and conservationsist Silver Donald cameron, surveys industry representatives, community activists, scientists, environmentalists and politicians, including Nova Scotia's Minister of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Environment. It has also been posted on its own web site at www.SalmonWars.com. You can also watch an interview with Silver Donald Cameron on the subject.
9. Controversial NS Strategy for Aquaculture Released The Nova Scotia Government has released a new strategy for aquaculture development in the province. The province claims that strategy identifies and builds on four key pillars: farming responsibly, aquaculture engagement, regulatory safeguards, and jobs and the economy. However, large numbers of groups are highly critical of the strategy and are demanding a moratorium on open pen salmon farming in the province. Raymond Plourde of the Ecology Action Centre suggests that : "This strategy appears to have been written by the salmon farming industry itself."
10. Closed Containment Best for Salmon? Lewis Hinks of the Atlantic Salmon Federation (ASF) takes issue with many of the statements made in an article by the Executive Director of the Atlantic Canada Fish Farmers Association. In his article Hinks notes that ASF has partnered with The Conservation Fund Freshwater Institute of West Virginia on growing out Atlantic salmon in land-based, closed-containment, freshwater facilities with near 100 per cent water recirculation and waste containment and without disease or parasites.
11. Aquaculture Risks to Wild Salmon Chronicle Herald columnist Ralph Surette has written (May 16, 2012) an article entitled Salmon Farming - An Industry that Needs to be Caged, detailing the risks aquaculture poses to Nova Scotia. In it he asserts that "Salmon farming has gone from being a good idea on a modest scale to a pernicious excess worldwide involving noxious chemicals, harm to wild fisheries, lavish taxpayer subsidies and unwholesome government/industry collusion." Full article.
12. Angling a Threat to Fundy's Endangered Salmon Stocks? On the Hammond River, New Brunswick where all Atlantic salmon have been assessed as endangered, it appears some anglers have not got the word. More.
13. NS Protects Fundy Coastal Areas In June the Nova Scotia government moved to protect two large areas in the Fundy watershed by declaring them Wilderness Areas. The areas, located along the north-western shore of the Chignecto Peninsula, are protected from development under the province's Wilderness Areas Protection Act. At 20,950 hectares, the Kelley River Watershed is the province’s third largest, straddling the watersheds of Atkinson and Kelley River, along with sections of River Hebert, Halfway River and a tidal portion of Maccan River. The Raven Head Wilderness Area is 5,270 hectares of provincially owned land between Apple Head and Shulie River. It will total 34 kilometres of protected coastline. Maps. Press release.
14. Biomass Energy from Abandoned Dykelands? An Ontario company, Pro Farm Energy Inc. is seeking to lease thousands of acres of agricultural land in several counties bordering on the Bay of Fundy. The company wants to grow Elephant Grass (Miscanthus giganteus) on the abandoned farmlands that would be used as fuel in a 10 megawatt power plant being built by Minas Basin Pulp and Power Ltd. The company also feels that there may also be opportunities for shipping this biofuel to Europe. Full story.
15. New Walking Trail on Brier Island A 5-Km walking trail on picturesque Brier Island was recently completed thanks to the assistance of area schoolchildren and other volunteers. The effort was coordinated by Nature Conservancy of Canada which owns about a third of the Island.
16. Tidal Power Cooperation Between Fundy and Maine? A recent issue of the Halifax Chronicle Herald reported a tidal power developer in Maine is recommending more cooperation with developers in the Bay of Fundy. He argues that a regional approach would be much more economical and a more effective way to develop the industry in the area. Full article.
17. Dutch Firm Eyes Fundy Tidal Power A Dutch company, Tocardo International BV is looking at opportunities for harnessing Bay of Fundy tidal energy. The company manufactures in stream turbines of various sizes. In an interview with the Chronicle Herald the company's sales director stated that, “What we all dream of is ocean floors and Bays of Fundys full with big, huge turbines that harvest energy on the seabed". While recognizing that the Minas Passage has the greatest potential for tidal power they are aware that it's development will take time. In the meantime the company is exploring opportunities in "less hostile waters" in the province, including around the mouth of the Bay. Full Herald article.
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