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~ FUNDY
TIDINGS ~
November 2014 ~ Autumn Issue | |
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HEADLINES:
B. Partners and other organizations: C. Fundy/GOM and other News: | |
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1. BoFEP 2014 Annual General Meeting Date: Friday, November 21, 2014 Time: 1:30pm – 4pm
Location: Mount Allison University, Who : BOFEP members and interested public* The agenda for the meeting will be posted shortly For further information contact: Lisa.isaacman@acadiau.ca *EVERYONE is welcome, but only registered members are entitled to vote.
2. BoFEP Membership Drive - New or Renewal Interested in the Bay of Fundy? Members are the heart of our organization. Membership is open to any individual or group who shares BoFEP's vision for protecting, conserving and sustainably using the Bay of Fundy ecosystem. Take a moment to sign up or renew today. Membership benefits. Your 2014/15 membership form and fees will be accepted up to and including the date of the 2015 AGM (Nov. 21, 1014, see below) to be eligible to vote at the AGM and to sit on the 2014/15 Steering Committee. The 2014/15 membership term will run to October 31, 2015. Download an application form at: Membership form 2014.
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B. Partners and other
organizations: 1. Meeting on Sustaining St. Croix Watershed The St. Croix International Waterway Commission and the International Joint Commission, with the support of the New Brunswick Environmental Trust Fund, will be hosting an international event "Sustaining the St. Croix Watershed: Research, Partnerships and Action" bringing together researchers, agencies, and members of the public to discuss current science within the watershed and assess future priorities for research and management. November 20-21, 2014 Huntsman Marine Sciences Centre, St. Andrews, NB Spaces are filling up quickly! Register before November 17th
2. New Book On Bedford Institute of Oceanography The Bedford Institute of Oceanography - Oceans Association has announced the publication of a major treatise, "Voyage of Discovery: Fifty Years of Marine Research at Canada’s Bedford Institute of Oceanography". Reviewing the history and marine research accomplishments at Canada’s Bedford Institute of Oceanography over five decades, the book edited by: D.N. Nettleship, D.C. Gordon, C.F.M. Lewis and M.P. Latremouille, summarizes BIO research results on the oceanography of Arctic and Eastern Canada in a series of 48 papers by past and present research staff from all oceanographic disciplines at BIO. http://www.bedfordbasin.ca/vod.php
3. Inaugural ESIP Newsletter Available The EcoSystem Indicator Partnership (ESIP) released its inaugural "Annual Newsletter - Activities and Accomplishments" (PDF, 1.8 MB) in July 2014. The ESIP, a committee of the Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment (GOMC), formed to help assess the health of the Gulf of Maine through the use of indicators in theme areas, such as aquatic habitats, climate change, contaminants, and coastal development. This first issue discusses past and future activities, the status of ESIP factsheets, updates on the online monitoring map, and important ESIP partnerships and projects.
4. September Right Whale News Available The September 2014 issue of Right Whale News (PDF, 70 KB), is now available for download. This quarterly independent newsletter, published by the North Atlantic Right Whale Consortium at the New England Aquarium, is dedicated to the conservation and recovery of the North Atlantic right whale. The current issue includes articles on right whale sightings in Cape Cod Bay, ocean wind energy, a calendar of events, and other right whale news and notes. Subscribe to Right Whale News.
5. Index of Right Whale News Available for Download The North Atlantic Right Whale Consortium (NARWC) has a downloadable Index of Right Whale News issues from 2004-2014 (PDF 22 pages). Published since 1994, Right Whale News is a quarterly newsletter providing information related to the conservation and recovery of the North Atlantic right whale and its habitats. The newsletter includes forums to express viewpoints, book reviews, links to publications, and information on people and events. Participation includes scientists, shipping interests, fishermen, policy makers, managers, educators, students, non-governmental advocates, and concerned citizens. An index for issues prior to 2004 is in the works.
6. Bay of Fundy Discovery Centre Newsletter Available The summer 2014 issue (PDF, 1.62MB) of "In with the Tide" is now available for download. This colourful quarterly newsletter of the Bay of Fundy Discovery Centre features article on Gulf of Main Institute (GOMI) projects on Digby Neck and the Islands as well as articles on local wildlife, oceanographic drifters, the balancing rock trail, lichens and GOMI news. The Centre's AGM will be held on Friday, 21 November at 2:50 pm at the Freeport development Centre on Long Island. A membership form is available on the back of the newsletter.
7. New Lobstermen Association In SW NS. A new member-supported association of lobster fishermen has been formed in southwestern Nova Scotia. The Coldwater Lobster Association will seek to enlist fishermen from among the 975 lobster licence holders in Area 34, including all of Yarmouth County and the western half of Shelburne County, as well as all of St. Marys Bay, ending at Digby. Chronicle Herald Article.
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Fundy/GOM and
other News:
1. Growing Opposition to Energy East Pipeline A small team of campaigners from the Council of Canadians, led by its indefatigable National Chairperson Maude Barlow has just completed a two week swing through the Maritimes to encourage people to think carefully about the economic, social and environmental consequences of the proposed Energy East Pipeline. They visited communities all along the pipeline route as well as Halifax and Cornwallis, Nova Scotia. There was a particularly good turnout at this latter event because there is growing concern about the potential threat of increased tanker traffic and oil spills in the Bay of Fundy. The theme of the presentations was "Energy East: Our Risk: Their Reward". For more details about this topic visit "Energy East: Where Oil Meets Water". Also see the report on this topic on the Ecology Action Centre website entitled, "The Energy East pipeline won't get built either".
2. Nova Scotia Bans Fracking? Nova Scotia's Energy Minister Andrew Younger announced in early September that the Liberal government plans to introduce legislation in the fall prohibiting hydraulic fracturing in shale oil and gas projects in the province. He stated that "Nova Scotians have indicated that by a wide margin they are concerned about hydraulic fracturing and they do not want it as part of onshore development of shales in Nova Scotia at this time.” However, not everyone is convinced that the proposed legislation will go far enough to completely halt fracking. For a variety of opinions see:
3. New NB Premier Also Considers Fracking Moratorium A Canadian Press news story entitled " NB Premier Designate Gives Fracking Moratorium Priority" suggests that the newly elected premier of New Brunswick, Brian Gallant, may also put the brakes on fracking in his province. It notes that "The moratorium ... was a key plank in the Liberal campaign platform in the election, which gave the party a majority government.
4. Concerns about Alton, NS Gas Storage Facility Commercial fishermen are adding their concerns to those of the Mi’kmaq and recreational fishermen over a natural gas storage facility proposed for Colchester County. The $130-million underground natural gas storage facility is planned for the Alton area. By taking water from the Shubenacadie River, its proponent, Alton Natural Gas Storage LP, a subsidiary of AltaGas Ltd., plans to flush out huge salt caverns. The briny water will then be piped back into the river. The Striped Bass Association has also officially added its voice to those who oppose the Alton natural gas storage project.
5. Tidal Energy Generating News In recent weeks there has been a steady stream of articles chronicling the progress of the tidal power industry's ongoing attempts to harness the rushing waters of the Bay of Fundy. A selection of these include:
6. Tidal Energy Handbook Available A Tidal Energy Community Engagement Handbook has been developed to support community and stakeholder engagement for the Community-Feed-in-Tariff program and to specifically support those projects related to tidal energy development. This handbook provides a step-by-step guide to community engagement for usage by all stakeholders involved in tidal power development including municipal, provincial, industry and academic interests. The Handbook builds on the Community and Business Toolkit for Tidal Energy Development developed by the Acadia Tidal Energy Institute at Acadia University.
7. NS Study Dismisses Closed Containment Aquaculture The Nova Scotia Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture commissioned and released a report entitled “Feasibility of Land Based Closed-Containment Atlantic Salmon Operations in Nova Scotia”. While the report admits that closed containment salmon aquaculture is "technically feasible" it concludes that its "commercial viability remains to be proven". This in spite of citing many examples of successful operations involving a wide range of freshwater and marine species, including salmon. The report largely glosses over the fact that closed containment systems have never received the massive public subsidies, or steady government research support that open pen aquaculture has received. It also ignores the fact that closed containment systems don't enjoy the huge environmental subsidy given to open pen operators because they are freely allowed to dump wastes, toxic chemicals, garbage and other noxious products into coastal waters free of charge.
8. Land-based Salmon Farms Get Sustainability Nod The Atlantic Salmon Federation (ASF) reports that three land based, closed-containment salmon farming operations have received a top sustainability ranking by the Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch program. "The timing of this sustainability ranking couldn't be better as we work to raise the profile of the environmental benefits of growing farmed Atlantic salmon on land," said Jonathan Carr, ASF's Executive Director of Research and Environment. For more information view: benefits of land based, closed-containment farming.
9. Who Wrote DFO's New Aquaculture Regulations? In August, the department of Fisheries and Oceans quietly released proposed Aquaculture Activities Regulations which it claims aim to “resolve uncertainties in the application of various federal acts, eliminate overlap and duplication issues, and reflect the unique circumstances of aquaculture”. This, the biggest change in regulation since the industry began in the 1970s, is viewed by many as a major caving in to industry demands and a serious weakening of laws protecting the marine environment and wild fish species. These new regulations would give blanket-authorization to fish farms to dump aquatic drugs, pesticides and waste into wild fish habitat. They would drastically reduce government oversight of deposits by aquaculture companies into fish habitat. The proposed regulations are the latest in a series of laws from the federal government that favour industry at the expense of wild fish and our environment. A few commentaries: on the proposed regulations Glaring gaps in proposed regulations. Diluting fisheries act to further salmon farms Selling wild fish down the river Problems with aquaculture regulations
10. NS Needs Rigorous Aquaculture Regulations In a recent article entitled "Importance of rigorous aquaculture regs cannot be overstated" in the Halifax Chronicle Herald, columnist Bill Black looked at Nova Scotia's draft report on aquaculture regulations that is now being reviewed and may soon provide the basis for government's oversight of the industry in Nova Scotia. He concluders that "We cannot have a successful resource economy without credible and effective regulation".
11. Sea Lice Detrimental to Wild Salmon A team of top international scientists from Norway, Scotland and Ireland reviewed 300 published studies on the effects of sea lice and have now concluded that sea lice have negatively impacted wild sea trout stocks in salmon farming areas in Ireland, Scotland and Norway. Salmon farms act as a breeding ground for sea lice due to high fish densities.
12. Parks Canada And Aquaculture Industry Join Forces? In an article entitled "Project to save wild Atlantic salmon in Bay of Fundy begins", CBC News Reports that Parks Canada is partnering with the aquaculture industry on the five-year$2.6 project to raise smolts from three rivers in pens at sea. Atlantic salmon smolts don't survive by themselves in the Bay of Fundy, so they will be transferred to cages run by Cook Aquaculture until they become adults, under the five-year project. However, Jonathan Carr, the executive director of research and environment for the Atlantic Salmon Federation, commented that he supports the project, but he also wants money spent on figuring out why the salmon are dying in the ocean.
13. New Brunswick Climate Change Adaptation The “New Brunswick Climate Change Adaptation Project Profiles” (8 pages) contains information on a range of New Brunswick Environmental Trust Fund (ETF) adaptation projects funded for 2013-2014. This includes a wide range of projects pertaining to climate change, sea level rise and adaptations as well as a brief description of the latest adaptation toolkits. There is also information about a study that explores the status of "municipal climate change adaptation around the Bay of Fundy" conducted by the Gulf of Maine Council Climate Network .
14. Scientists Report GoM Warming Faster Than World Oceans CBC news recently carried an Associated Press story entitled "Gulf of Maine warming faster than 99% of world's oceans: study. Long-established species of commercial fish departing for colder waters". It notes that, "the statistic — accepted by scientists at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration — underscores particular fears about the Gulf's unique ecosystem and the lucrative fishing industries it supports for three U.S. states and two Canadian provinces." It goes on to elaborate that "Until 2004, Gulf temperatures were increasing by about 0.05 degrees per year since 1982, about in line with worldwide trends, said Andy Pershing, chief scientific officer at the Gulf of Maine Research Institute and the man behind the 99 per cent figure. But then the pace accelerated to about a half-degree per year — nearly 10 times faster. Scientists are not certain why."
15. Climate Trends and Impacts in GoM The Gulf of Maine Council’s bi-national Climate Network has released its September 2014 Outlook (PDF, 1.4MB), a quarterly e-bulletin with information on regional climate adaptation events and resources. US and Canadian meteorologists share data and collaboratively plan the Outlook, which provides insight into both short-term weather and longer-term climate trends. These are issued every March, June, September and December. You can request to be added to the mailing list to receive the Climate Network bulletin and Gulf of Maine Region Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook.
16. Effects of Ocean Acidification in NW Atlantic A recent DFO science article entitled, "Ocean Acidification in the Northwest Atlantic: Exploring Effects on Marine Life and Ecosystem Processes” details research on the possible effects of ocean acidification in the northwest Atlantic, particularly involving cod and lobster.
17. A Better Way to Manage Fish? In a recent issue of Island Journal, published by the Island Institute, an article "The Passamaquoddy Alternative" by Paul Molyeaux, suggests that native peoples of the region have much to teach us about managing fish stocks. It concludes that in order "to cultivate a healthy resource base, accessible to as many fishers as possible, they may want to consider adopting a more-indigenous approach to resource management. It begins with respect for all things, including each other and the ecosystem we all depend on."
18. SCAS Reviews Pertaining to Fundy Region The Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat (CSAS) coordinates the peer review of scientific issues for the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. Recent Scientific Advisory Reports of interest for the Bay of Fundy include:
19. World's Scientists Denounce Harper's War on Science More than 800 scientists from around the world have signed an open letter to Prime Minister Stephen Harper decrying what they call a rapid decline in funding and freedoms faced by Canadian government scientists. "Earth to Canada: Science Needs You," proclaims the headline over the letter that was published in October as an ad in the Ottawa Citizen newspaper. In closing it stated "We urge you to restore government science funding and the freedom and opportunities to communicate these findings internationally." Clearly yet another black eye for Canada's reputation in the international arena.
20. Rock Snot Under Wraps - More Muzzling of Government Scientists? Yet another example of blatant attempts to stifle discussion of scientific issues was revealed by the Canadian Press in an article entitled " Bureaucracy Rock Snot". A simple request by CP to talk to the DFO expert on Rock Snot or Dydimo for an article produced a flurry of bureaucratic activity of astonishing proportions, seemingly designed to stifle any discussion. Apparently, a bloom of Didymo could be linked to climate change, which in turn may be linked to burning of fossil fuels such as tar sands. These hot button links seem to have rung political alarm bells in Ottawa, where anything remotely reflecting negatively on tar sands extraction demands political intervention and stonewalling. Calvin Sandborn, a lawyer with the Environmental Law Centre at the University of Victoria, suggests that "Politically sensitive issues are red-flagged for tight political control".
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