Bodega Bay (CA) scientists weigh impact of ocean acid levels on shellfish

Posted on September 10, 2009 by Al Bergstein

Related to our threads on ocean acidification, and it’s possible impact on our multimillion dollar shellfish industry.
By BOB NORBERG <mailto:bob.norberg@pressdemocrat.com>
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT 9/6 Press Democrat

The danger from increasing levels of acid in the ocean, which could devastate California’s shellfish industry, is under investigation by Bodega Bay scientists.

It is painstaking work that requires the team to wade through knee-deep mud at Tomales Bay to collect native Olympic oysters and then raise their young in salt-water tanks under conditions that mimic climate change.

“Very little is known about how ocean acidification is unfolding, other than it is,” said Susan Williams, director of the Bodega Marine Laboratory, which is part of UC Davis. “We are already seeing dramatic effects.”

The evidence is seen in the dissolving shells of some mollusks and disappearing mussel beds. And researchers, with the backing of more than $4 million in University of California and federal funds, are trying to identify the long-term consequences of the ocean’s changing chemistry.

More at
http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20090906/articles/909069979

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NY Times on the local fish net removal project

Posted on August 26, 2009 by Al Bergstein

Great work by our local NW Straits Initiative team (with kudos’ to Ginny Broadhurst and Jeff June), who have brought back $4.6 million in stimulus money to fund the efforts to get divers to go down and remove sunken abandoned fishing nets (known as ‘derelict gear removal’). The nets, which continue to kill sealife, have been mapped prior to this, and will now be removed. 40 new local jobs are created for a few years, some local boats are hired to get the divers down, and the Sound and Straits are helped be rid of the scourge of the abandoned nets. A win all around for taxpayers. Read the whole story at The New York Times (link below) or link to the NW Straits website off the left side of this page:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/25/us/25fishnets.html?ref=todayspaper

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Hood Canal Oxygen Levels Dropping Fast – Kitsap Sun

Posted on August 24, 2009 by Al Bergstein

8/23 HOOD CANAL Hood Canal, known for its deadly oxygen problems, has experienced record-high levels of oxygen since the beginning of the year — but a day of reckoning could be approaching. Researchers have never seen dissolved oxygen levels that stayed as high as they did during the first four months of 2009. That includes measurements taken from 1952 through 1966 and again from 1998 until today. At the moment, the average oxygen concentration remains in a healthy range, but it has been declining rapidly since May. Nobody can predict how low the oxygen level will go as summer turns into fall. When levels become low, the risk of a sudden fish kill increases under certain wind conditions.

More at: http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/aug/23/hood-canal-on-an-oxygen-high-but-coming-down/

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Navy decides not to do sonar training in Puget Sound – Chris Dunagan

Posted on August 6, 2009 by Al Bergstein

Chris Dunagan of the Kitsap Sun uncovers the news that the Navy has apparently decided to not do any more sonar training use in Puget Sound. Good news for our marine wildlife. —-read the whole story and comment if you wish at…http://pugetsoundblogs.com/waterways/2009/07/30/some-sonar-questions-are-answered-others-remain/

—————

The Navy has decided not to conduct training exercises involving sonar within Puget Sound. That information was revealed in a proposed incidental take permit for the Northwest Training Range Complex, now subject to public review under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. See my story in today’s Kitsap Sun.

While this decision no doubt will be a good thing for area marine mammal populations, I’m still a bit confused about the extent to which sonar may be used in non-training conditions.

Use of sonar in the testing of equipment and new technologies will come under a separate take permit for the Naval Undersea Warfare Center, based at Keyport.

But, according to a statement I received from the Navy, that still leaves open the use of sonar for “safety and navigation,” “testing,” and “maintenance.”

As I understand the process, if the Navy were to harm marine mammals in one of these procedures without obtaining a take permit in advance, the Navy would be in violation of the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

more at the link above…

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Final Draft Jefferson County SMP available

Posted on August 4, 2009 by Al Bergstein

The Planning Commission has finished their work on their Draft SMP, and now the document is heading into the next round, which is to be edited by the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC), and seek the next round of comments from the public by Sept 8th. This deeply flawed document, compromised at many environmental levels by members of the planning committee who have vested economic interests in the outcome (both aquaculture and supposed “environmental” supporting  homeowners on the shoreline), is neither fish nor fowl. Much of the work done by the able staffers, consultants, STAC and SPAC volunteers has been diluted beyond worth. There will be little positive outcome to the environment from this document, only more of the same destruction of habitat and wildlife. Add to that the fact that the county does little if nothing in the way of enforcement, and my only reaction is, let’s pass it since this is as good as well get from this group of commissioners, and see whether the Board of County Commissioners,  or Ecology, will help modify this document to actually get protections in for the environment. Thanks to Jill Silver and others for helping me focus some of my earlier comments on this post so that my intent was more clear.

Update: 8/6/2009 – This thread and the comments that followed it publication, were made all the more relevent to me tonight. My wife and I saw ‘Food Inc’.  I think it’s enormously important that commissioners, and citizens who are concerned about the environmental (and legal) effects of large scale agribusiness, see this film. While only some kinds of aquaculture (fish farming comes to mind)  are starting to resemble the land based food delivery systems documented in this film, the chilling impacts of the corporations on the debate is an all too familar chorus to the comments that follow this article.
The Planning Commission Final Draft SMP Recommendation is now available:
· Online – http://www.co.jefferson.wa.us/commdevelopment/Shoreline_PCFinalDraft.htm

· Review Copy – At our DCD Front Desk, County Library & Bookmobile, Clallam Library in Forks

· Hard Copy – Pick-up at our DCD Front Desk

· Digital Copy available upon request


DCD will submit a final staff recommendation to the Board of County Commissioners on August 17.  The Board will open public comment on the PC Final Draft SMP August 19 and a public hearing will close public comment on September 8.

Filed under: Government, Jefferson County | Tagged: , | 7 Comments »

Black Point opposition to meet and eat

Posted on July 19, 2009 by Al Bergstein
  • The Brinnon Group will meet July 24 at 6 pm at the Timber House in Quilcene.
  • We will eat and socialize from 6 to 7.
  • From 7 to 8 we will meet.
  • Contact Barbara at brinningroup@gmail.com for more details.
  • Web site is brinnongroup.org

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Quilcene Estuary Pollution id’ed

Posted on July 19, 2009 by Al Bergstein

Updated by Greenfleet Monitoring, results are now in on samples taken in Quilcene estuary in last weeks. Apparently the ugly looking pollution was a summer algae bloom. This is exactly the kind of information on an ongoing basis that we need to better understand our Sound and Hood Canal. More at:

http://www.greenfleetme.org/headlines.htm

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Opposition to Brinnon Resort files appeal

Posted on July 8, 2009 by Al Bergstein

7/5 Peninsula Daily News Brinnon Group appeals judge’s decision backing big resort By Jeff Chew Peninsula Daily News BRINNON — An attorney representing residents opposed to a 252.6-acre master-planned development planned at Black Point has appealed a Thurston County decision supporting the resort. Gerald Steel, representing the Brinnon Group, said he filed an appeal Thursday afternoon in the state Court of Appeals challenging a Thurston County judge’s decision supporting Jefferson County, Canadian developer Statesman Group and the Western Washington Growth Management Hearings Board. In June, Thurston County Superior Court Judge Richard Hicks ruled in favor of Jefferson County’s argument that the public and the Brinnon Group were granted ample time to participate in the Hood Canal development’s planning process. More at http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20090705/news/307059991

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Orcas not present in Sound, concerns grow…

Posted on June 15, 2009 by Al Bergstein

Watching our Waterways has an interesting piece today on the lack of both salmon and Orcas in Puget Sound.  Our lack of rain so far this summer could be making this situation worse, as salmon seem to come in when the rain helps them find their home streams.

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Ruling OKs Brinnon resort, but opponents consider appeal – PDN

Posted on June 10, 2009 by Al Bergstein

6/10 Peninsula Daily News -By Jeff Chew-Peninsula Daily News

BRINNON — The attorney representing residents opposed to a 252.6-acre master-planned development at Black Point and Pleasant Harbor Marina improvements — the Brinnon Group — said Tuesday that he and his clients will consider appealing a Thurston County judge’s decision rendered Friday.

Thurston County Superior Court Judge Richard Hicks supported Jefferson County and Canadian developer Statesman Group in ruling the public and the Brinnon Group were granted ample time to participate in the Hood Canal development’s planning process.

More at
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20090610/news/306109984

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