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~ FUNDY
TIDINGS ~
March 2012 ~ Spring Issue | |
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HEADLINES:
B. Partners and other organizations: C. Fundy/GOM and other News: | |
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The next meeting of the BoFEP Steering Committee will be held on Thursday, March 29th, 2012 from 1:30 pm – 4:30 pm in the Jennings Hall Banquet Room at Mount Allison University, Sackville, NB. If you will be attending please RSVP the BoFEP Secretariat as soon as possible. This meeting will be preceded by a meeting of the Management Committee from 10:30- 12:30 at the same location.
2. Changing of the Guard at BoFEP As reported in the last Fundy Tidings, Peter Wells stepped down as Chair of BoFEP in November. Vice Chair, Marianne Janowicz, stepped into the breach on an interim basis. Subsequently, she thanked Nominations Committee Chair, Mike Butler, for his dedicated efforts in finding candidates for a number of vacant positions on both the Management and Steering Committees. The following additional officers were nominated and accepted by the Management Committee: Chair, Peter Fenety; members at large of the Management Committee, Barry Jones and Lisa Isaacman and new Steering Committee member, Heather Breeze, with Aime Gromack as her alternate. The complete Steering and Management Committees are posted on the BoFEP website.
In an open letter to Management and Steering Committees, Marianne Janowicz thanked "the organization for having given me the opportunity to act as Chair during this transition time. I look forward to continuing my role as Vice Chair. There is much to do in the future but it is obvious we have a growing and strengthening organization with a Steering Committee that is taking its role seriously and contributing to the organization. I look forward to working with Peter Fenety to continue to increase the involvement of Steering Committee in the ongoing activities and to increase the profile of BoFEP and its collaboration with other stakeholders and sectors in the Bay of Fundy."
3. Talking Circles Project Ongoing On March 15th BoFEP hosted the 4th in a series of Talking Circles in St. Andrews NB . Over the last few years BoFEP has been partnering with various First Nations Groups in the Maritimes to organize Talking Circles on conservation. These events have been organized by Hugh Akagi, Chief of the Passamaquoddy Tribe in New Brunswick and Marianne Janowicz, vice-chair of BoFEP. According to the Mi'kmaq Spirit website "The talking circle is a traditional way for Native American people to solve problems. It is a very effective way to remove barriers and to allow people to express themselves with complete freedom." It further explains that "Everyone sits in a circle. The conductor of the circle will generally sit in the East. A token, such as a feather or a special talking stick, is passed clockwise around the circle. As each person receives the token, they may speak for as long as they wish, including addressing a topic brought up by another in the circle. When they have finished, they pass the token along. If someone does not wish to speak, they simply pass the token. The token may go around several times; when everyone has had the opportunity to speak as many times as they wish, the conductor ends the circle."
The BoFEP sponsored talking circles are designed to bring participants together to continue the process of understanding the First Nations approach to conservation compared to the conservation concept of the non-Native people in the region with the aim of finding ways to work together for the “health of the Bay”. Participants use shared values to identify elements of the coastal ecology that are particularly vulnerable; and to reach consensus on a series of actions that can be implemented at the community level to protect the vulnerable ecosystem components.
The 4th Talking Circle brought together a variety of participants, including representation from each of the Tribes around the Bay (Passamaquoddy, Maliseet, and Mi’kMaq), as well as from the science community, the ministries of various churches, the Maliseet Grand Council, and BoFEP itself. The goal was to continue exploring different relationships between the two cultures. The guest speaker at the event was Vera Francis from the Passamaquoddy Tribe who is studying law at UNB and spoke on the topic of the “Indian Act”.
4. Stormwater and Wastewater Management Workshops Successful The Ecology Action Centre, in partnership with BoFEP, hosted Stormwater and Wastewater Management workshops in Digby, NS and Saint John, NB in late February. The workshops attracted a range of participants including municipal and provincial government officials, planners, consultants and non-government organizations (25 participants in Digby and 48 in Saint John). The focus was on ways to reduce the impacts of stormwater runoff, including flooding, erosion and degradation of water quality, using low impact development techniques such as rain gardens, retention ponds and bioswales. The participants were also introduced to the emerging issue of pharmaceuticals in municipal effluent and impacts these drugs pose aquatic life. A final report for workshop participants will be available by mid April. These gatherings were a follow up to three workshops "Tools for Healthy Watersheds" also involving planners held in March of 2011 in Digby, Saint John and Sackville that discussed links between watersheds and coastal waters of the Bay and identified priority concerns pertaining to planning in watersheds. Reports and presentations from these earlier workshops are available online
5. Long-time BoFEP Supporter Retires After 35 years of dedicated service, David Duggan retired on February 29 from the DFO Oceans Brach at BIO. David has been a champion for intergovernmental collaboration and was instrumental in the recent establishment of Memorandum of Understanding with the Province of Nova Scotia on Coastal and Ocean Management. He was an active member of BoFEP's Minas Basin Working group and has always been very supportive of all things Fundy. We extend thanks to Dave for all his efforts over the years and wish him a long and fulfilling retirement.
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B. Partners and other
organizations: 1. Call for Nominations for 2012 GOMCME Awards The Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment is calling for nominations for its annual recognition awards. It seeks nominations for a deserving volunteer or professional individual or group for a Visionary Award, an individual volunteer for the Longard Award, a professional for the Susan Snow-Cotter Leadership Award, a business for the Industry Award, and a community or group within a community for the Sustainable Communities Award. The deadline for nominations is April 30th, 2012. More information , including nomination forms, guidelines and previous award recipient.
2. Massive Call for Moratorium on Aquaculture in NS More than 50 business, conservation and economic development organizations are supporting a letter to Nova Scotia's premier calling for a moratorium on aquaculture expansion in the province. The tourism industry is particularly concerned by the degradation of coastal waters and viewscapes that typically accompany large-scale salmon farming. Lewis Hinks , the provincial program director for the Atlantic Salmon Federation stated that open-pen salmon farming has “potentially significant” environmental and economic consequences for tourism, commercial fisheries, coastal water quality and rebuilding wild Atlantic salmon populations. However, the provincial government is turning a deaf ear to the plea indicating that it is committed to aquaculture development regardless of the environmental consequences or the detrimental impact on existing fisheries and harm to other users of the coastal zone. More information. CBC News Report about moratorium. CBC News Report on Government's rejection of moratorium. You can e-mail your views to: The Premier and the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture.
3. Documentary Film on Coastal Management The Coastal Community University Research Alliance (Coastal CURA) has produced an informative documentary film entitled: "A Coastal Partnership: Maritime Stories of Integrated Management" in association with local filmmaker Sarah Bood. It is about local communities being involved in decisions about local resources and local spaces. The film contains success stories and important lessons about the role of local values, the realities of sharing space and access to resources, and the process of increasing local participation in coastal management. It is an educational tool that will be of interest to teachers, students and the general public - as well as an effective communications tool to present to government officials and political representatives. Watch it.
4. 2011 Annapolis River Report Card Available This annual report card on the health of the Annapolis River, based on data collected by a dedicated group of ten volunteer River Guardians is now available. This ongoing (since 1992) citizens science project helps to assess the health of the river as well as determine long-term trends in water quality. The program is coordinated by the Clean Annapolis River Project (CARP).
5. Coastal And Estuarine Workshop, Halifax, May 10-13 The Atlantic Canada Coastal and Estuarine Science Society (ACCESS ) will hold its 2012 conference on May 10-13 at Dalhousie University in Halifax. Abstracts in any area of coastal and estuarine science or for the special symposium "Seagrass ecology, restoration, and management" should be submitted by April 2, 2012. Information and registration.
6. Second OBIS Canada Newsletter Available The January newsletter of the Ocean Biogeographic Information System (OBIS) Canada is now available online. OBIS Canada is the Canadian node of the International Ocean Biogeographic Information System (OBIS), which is an international federation of organizations and people sharing a vision to make worldwide marine biogeographic data freely available over the internet. It is a web-based provider of global geo-referenced information on marine species, providing a single entry point to expert databases on species and habitats and offers a variety of tools for visualizing relationships between marine species and their environment. OBIS is also the information component of the Census of Marine Life Program. OBIS Canada is responsible for dissemination of data and information about the biodiversity of Canadian waters. It is also the information component of the Canadian Center for Marine Biodiversity.
7. Royal Society Report on Marine Biodiversity Available The Royal Society of Canada Expert Panel on Ocean Climate Change and Marine Biodiversity has just released its final report "Sustaining Canada's Marine Biodiversity: Responding to the Challenges Posed by Climate Change, Fisheries, and Aquaculture". The panel's task was to assess the state of Canadian marine biodiversity and look for ways to sustain it. As well, it was asked to review whether Canada is meeting its national and international commitments to sustain marine biodiversity — that is, whether it has done enough to provide healthy, safe and prosperous oceans for the benefit of Canadians today and in the future. The report scathingly notes that "There are several reasons for Canada’s failure to be the leader it should be in protecting ocean ecosystems and sustaining marine biodiversity. Fisheries and oceans are not a government priority. There is a major conflict of interest at Fisheries and Oceans Canada between its mandate to promote industrial and economic activity and its responsibility for conserving marine life and ocean health. This conflict of interest is exacerbated by the absolute discretion that the minister of Fisheries and Oceans has to make decisions." Many of the sections of the report are relevant to the Bay of Fundy. It points out that "Major offshore areas including the Bay of Fundy, the Gulf of Maine, and the central and eastern Arctic are not part of integrated planning." Terms of reference. Executive Summary. Full report.
8. International Oceanographic Meeting in Halifax in October The 2012 General Meeting of the Scientific Committee on Oceanographic Research (SCOR ) will be held on 21-23 October in Halifax, NS. The meeting will be hosted by the Canadian National Committee for SCOR and events will take place at Dalhousie University, the Bedford Institute of Oceanography, and the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. SCOR focuses on promoting international cooperation in planning and conducting oceanographic research, and solving methodological and conceptual problems that hinder research. Scientists from thirty-two nations have formed national SCOR committees. More information and registration.
9. Public Lecture on Gold Mining in NS A free public lecture entitled "A Noble Legacy: The History, Geology, and Future of Gold Mining & Exploration in Nova Scotia" will be presented by Dr. Jacob Hanley of the Department of Geology, Saint Mary’s University on Monday, April 2, 2012 at 7:30pm. It will be given in the Windsor Lecture Theatre, Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, 1723 Hollis St. (use Bedford Row entrance), in Halifax. The lecture is sponsored by the Nova Scotia Institute of Science (NSIS) as part of its 150th anniversary celebration.
10. Opposition to Increased Forest Cutting in NB A total of 45 organizations ( environmental, wildlife and woodlot owner groups) in New Brunswick have signed a request to stop the increased harvesting of trees on crown lands. They affirm that "they do not want government to sacrifice long-standing conservation measures on Crown land to provide a temporary increase in wood supply for the forest industry." The groups are urging the Minister of Natural Resources " to support the conservation of our rivers, our wildlife, and our forest ecosystems by refusing to weaken the existing standards, and encourage industry to increase their purchases of wood from New Brunswick's private woodlot owners." More information.
11. Aquaculture Canada 2012 in PEI The Aquaculture Canada 2012 conference, to be held on 27-30 May 2012 in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, is a national meeting of the Aquaculture Association of Canada. The theme of this year's conference is “New Frontiers: Bridging Technology and Economic Growth”. Information and registration.
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Fundy/GOM and
other News:
1. Plans to Extract Rare Earth Elements from Minas Mud? A mining company, Rare Earth Mineral Sands Inc. is gearing up to extract rare earth elements such as cerium, lanthanum and neodymium from the ochre mud of the upper reaches of the Minas Basin. The area of interest includes about 9,488 hectares in Cobequid Bay and the adjacent Shubenacadie River. The company has already raised much of the funding required for an exploratory drilling program and mineralogical assessment. This year it is hoping to complete work on dredging equipment design and an environmental assessment., with hopes of beginning production in 2013. The plan is to dredge the mud into a floating processing facility, extract the minerals of interest and return the mud to the seafloor. This will unquestionably have major ecological consequences for the benthic habitats in the region. More information.
2. 50th Anniversary of Silent Spring Silent Spring, widely considered to be one of the most influential books of the 20th century, celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. It was penned by Rachel Carson, a former US Fish and Wildlife Service marine biologist then working independently due to the success of her other publications – Under the Sea-Wind, The Sea Around Us, and The Edge of the Sea. All of Carson’s books are still in print. Silent Spring, initially featured in the New Yorker and published in September 1962, became an instant best seller; it describes the rampant use of pesticides and the ecological effects that they may have on wildlife and supporting food chains. So why is the book still so famous and what influence has it had on individual lives and society as a whole? Commentary by Peter Wells.
3. Report Confirms Economic Value of Wild Salmon A recent economic study by Gardner Pinfold Consulting Economists Inc . has demonstrated that wild Atlantic salmon accounted for almost 4,000 full-time jobs in eastern Canada and were worth a whopping $255 million in 2010. In spite of strong public support for wild salmon conservation, the Atlantic Salmon Federation (ASF) notes that "DFO budgets related to wild Atlantic salmon have declined by nearly 75% since 1985". In the meantime, research efforts and funding support for farmed salmon have mushroomed. The AFS is calling upon the government to at least return funding for wild salmon programs to 1985 levels. Bill Taylor, AFS President states, "We are not asking for a hand-out. We are asking for a reasonable investment in restoration, conservation and protection that will pay dividends in future wild Atlantic salmon returns to our rivers and economic returns and employment to Canadian communities." ASF Press Release , Executive Summary and full economic report.
4. Tidal Turbines to be Deployed in 2012, 2013? The replacement turbine for the one that failed soon after installation in the Minas Channel and was retrieved is now likely to be deployed in 2013 according to Nova Scotia Power and its Irish partner OpenHydro. The replacement might be a scaled-up 16-metre version of the 10-metre closed fan unit that failed, although NSP might also consider a windmill-like, open propeller turbine. Yet another proponent plans to deploy its turbine later this year, while two other consortia plan to wait until 2013. Full story.
5. Electrical Cable to be installed in Minas Passage A public forum in Parrsboro sponsored by Force was told that the installation of the sub-sea power cable required for the proposed tidal turbine test units will take place in August this year. Work is already proceeding on an electrical power substation nearby that will convert the energy coming ashore before it reaches the power grid. A right of way is also being cleared to allow for connection of the substation to the grid at New Prospect, located north east of Parrsboro. Full article.
6. Feedback on Draft NS Coastal Strategy Available The final version of the Nova Scotia Coastal Strategy is scheduled to be released in the summer of 2012. In the meantime, feedback received during the public consultation on the Draft Strategy is now available online.
7. Book on North American Commercial Fisheries The 2012 Edition of “The Commercial Fisheries of the United States and Canada” is now available. This is the definitive guide to North American fishes and fisheries, covering the entire commercial fisheries in both the US and Canada, including migrating species. The volume provides a concise overview of North America's commercial fisheries with almost all species indexed and referenced according to the latest scientific and market name conventions. 420 pages. Cost $135. Preview of Book.
8. Article on Wolfville Harbour An article in the January issue of the Kings Co. Advertiser featured Wolfville Harbour, once celebrated as “the world's smallest registered harbour”. The article discusses the history of the harbour and changes over the last several decades, particularly the significant erosion that has occurred. It is based on interviews with retired Acadia University biologist Sherman Bleakney and marine historian Dan Conlin. Full article.
9. Southern Wolf Island, NB Protected Southern Wolf Island, one of the most significant Islands in the Bay of Fundy, has been donated to The Nature Trust of New Brunswick by Connors Bros. Clover Leaf Seafoods Company. The island is part of the Wolves Archipelago, located in the Bay of Fundy about 10 kilometres from Black’s Harbour. Ron Schindler, executive vice president and managing director of the company, stated that “Southern Wolf Island is a spectacular island with a sensitive ecology that we are very pleased to offer it to The Nature Trust of New Brunswick to ensure that it is protected and treasured. It has been our pleasure to partner with the Trust in building on the already impressive stock of conserved islands and lands in Charlotte County.” Full story.
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Fundy Tidings is circulated Quarterly to members of BoFEP and others who have expressed an interest in BoFEP and its activities. If you know someone who might like to receive Fundy Tidings, or if you would like to be removed from the Fundy Tidings mailing list, e-mail a request to communications@bofep.org .
For more news items about BoFEP, its partners and the Bay of Fundy periodically check the BoFEP "What's New" page at: http://www.bofep.org/whatnew.htm.
Back issues of Fundy Tidings are archived at: http://www.bofep.org/tidings.htm
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