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For up-to-date information about BoFEP meetings and other events visit: www.bofep.org/calendar.htm BoFEP Secretariat BoFEP Communications |
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~ FUNDY
TIDINGS ~
October 2010 ~ Autumn Issue | |
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HEADLINES:
B. Partner and Other Organization News: C. Fundy and Gulf of Maine News: D. Administrivia - [Subscribing, unsubscribing and submitting material] | |
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A. BoFEP News: 1. BoFEP 2010 AGM This year's Annual General Meeting with be held on Wednesday, November 24th from 1330-1600h at the Joggins Cliffs Fossil Centre in Joggins NS. In a letter to BoFEP supporters Chairman Peter Wells stated: "We are going to have a full agenda for the AGM (which will be circulated to you later and also posted to the website). It promises to be a very productive and interesting afternoon. There will also be a presentation by a special guest speaker - further details will be announced shortly. The meeting is one at which we report on what the BoFEP teams have accomplished over the past year, and also one at which you can help us plan for the future. We will, of course, be electing the new Steering Committee for 2010-11." He also extended thanks to Jenna Boon, Director, for hosting the meeting at the Centre. Lunch will be served ahead of the meeting (1230-1330h). Please come early so that you can visit the Centre and also tour the fossil beaches. If you plan to attend please RSVP to: secretariat@bofep.org .
2. BoFEP Steering Committee Meeting The next meeting of the BoFEP Steering Committee is scheduled for Friday October 22nd, 2010 from 1:30-4:00 p.m. in the Boardroom of the Canadian Wildlife Service in Sackville NB. All members of the Steering Committee are urged to attend. A draft agenda is available.
3. BoFEP Receives Funding for Project Proposal Environment Canada has provided funding for the 2010-11 fiscal year for BoFEP to carry out a two-pronged project in the Bay of Fundy area. The project is entitled: "Protecting the Bay of Fundy from Pollution from Land-Based Activities: a) Assessing Ecological Risks of Chemical Contamination; b) Working with Municipal Planners to Reduce Chemical Risks from the Urban Environment". The first part of the project would focus on Ecological Risk Assessment (ERA). ERA has three components – problem formulation, risk analysis (characterization of exposure, characterization of toxicity and ecological effects), and risk characterization. It is augmented by risk communication, where the risk assessment results are communicated to the risk manager. For this ERA, the problem formulation stage would consist of a detailed literature review of the primary sources of chemical pollution into the Bay of Fundy (including primary journals, grey literature, EC and other technical reports, and appropriate contaminant and toxicology databases), and their potential effects, and a hazard evaluation of key substances of special concern. The risk analysis would be a desk-top, modeling analysis of the exposures and effects, to key valued ecosystem components (VECs); commercial ERA software new on the market would be used. The risk characterization would be the final step, conducting both single source and combined source (cumulative effects) analyses of the risks, and developing risk quotients for both. The second part of the project is designed to increase municipal planners' awareness of the many complex linkages between land-based activities within their municipalities and the health and well-being of coastal habitats and communities of the Bay of Fundy.
4. Bay of Fundy Science Workshop in 2011 Planning is now underway for the 9th Bay of Fundy Science Workshop, which is tentatively scheduled for October 5-7, 2011. The 8th Workshop was held in Wolfville Nova Scotia and according to our usual rotational scheme the 9th will be held somewhere in New Brunswick. Discussions are presently underway with potential hosting organizations to hold it in Saint John, possibly in association with the Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment meeting, which is tentatively scheduled to be held in the city on October 4-5, 2010. It is anticipated that more details will be available at the BoFEP AGM in Joggins. In the meantime, if you have any ideas for specific theme sessions, or if you would like to participate in planning for the workshop, please contact workshop@bofep.org . Further updates will be posted on the BoFEP website www.bofep.org as they become available.
5. BoFEP Strategic Planning and SWOT Analysis Underway In an effort to provide clear directions for BoFEP as it continues to expand and evolve, the Outreach Working Group has been working with consultant Peter Etheridge to develop a more focussed Strategic Plan and carry out a rigorous SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) Analysis. A draft document is currently being reviewed by the management Committee. The draft document will then be discussed extensively at the next Steering Committee Meeting on October 22nd and also at the Annual General Meeting on November 24th.
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B. Partner and Other Organization News: 1. Coastal Zone Canada 2010 Presentations Available The "Coastal Zone Canada 2010 Conference" held on 25-29 July 2010 in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, focused on the challenges and opportunities of coastal management; linking land and ocean planning and management; strengthening coastal communities; and planning for the impacts of climate change. The Conference Statement and several of the paper presentations, including a keynote address on oil spills and the offshore and coastal environments, are available at: http://www.gov.pe.ca/czc2010.
2. CZC 2010 Issues Charlottetown Declaration Participants at the Coastal Zone Canada 2010 Conference in Charlottetown PEI developed a statement "The Charlottetown Declaration: Calling All Canadians to Heal Our Coasts and Oceans" that urges more concerted action and high-level political attention to the now-clear challenges facing our coastal and ocean environments, economies and communities. The Declaration calls for bold and immediate action on three fronts: (1) the convening, by First Ministers, of a Canadian Summit on Oceans, Coasts and the Great Lakes in 2011; (2) the development of a Plan of Action from the Summit; and (3) the creation of the Canadian Council for Oceans, Coasts and the Great Lakes. Full Declaration .
3. Huntsman Visiting Fellowship Program Applications are invited for Visiting Fellowships at the Huntsman Marine Science Centre. The goal of this program is to bring scientists to St. Andrews to take advantage of collaborative research opportunities in the local community. Awarded funds must be spent at the Huntsman Marine Science Centre. Applications should include a CV, brief outline of proposed research (including names of local collaborators) and budget. The maximum cash award will be $3,000, but may be increased through reductions in billable on-site expenses. For more information, or to apply, contact the vice-chair of the research committee, Dr. Tillmann Benfey, c/o the Huntsman at huntsman@huntsmanmarine.ca
4. Coastal CURA Conference in June 2011 The Coastal Community-University Research Alliance (Coastal CURA) announces a conference "People in Places: Engaging Together in Integrated Resource Management" on June 26-29, 2011 in Halifax, NS, Canada. The overarching theme of the conference is: How can place-based communities become better engaged in natural resource integrated management? It will Focus on the inclusion of resource dependent communities, including aboriginal communities, in processes of spatial planning, integrated management and natural resource management. In addition to resource-based and aboriginal communities, the meeting will be of interest to governments, universities (academics and students), community based management and networking organizations, civil societies and NGOs, small scale natural resource industries and all those interested in finding ways to engage together to better manage natural resources. Call for Contributions: Those with an interest in the themes of this conference are welcome to attend. In addition, those who wish to present a specific contribution at the conference are welcome to submit a proposal by the deadline January 31, 2011. Participants will be notified by February 28th, 2011, about acceptance of their proposal, and will be asked to confirm their attendance through payment of the registration fee by March 31, 2011. Please submit abstracts online . There will be a limited number of travel bursaries available to offset direct costs of conference attendance for those in need of financial support. More information about the Coastal CURA and the upcoming conference. Inquiries can also be directed to: coastalcura@smu.ca or 902.420.5003.
5. Whale Car Naming Contest Results Terri McCulloch of the Bay of Fundy Tourism Partnership announced that the online voting for the name of the Bay of Fundy Whale Car overwhelmingly (317 out of 360 votes cast for the 4 finalists) supported the name "Humphrey" for the classy little VW Beetle Humpback. You can read more about the little bug and follow his many adventures all around the Bay by visiting Humphrey's Site.
6. Bay of Fundy Discovery Centre Association Newsletter The September 2010 issue of the colourful Bay of Fundy Discovery Centre association is now available on the BoFEP website. It features articles on the recent activities of the Gulf of Maine Institute (GOMI) in the Digby Neck and Islands area, the pleasures of cycling in the region, a visit to the Toymakers Marsh Wildlife Conservation Area at the foot of St. Mary's Bay and articles about exploring the natural history of the area. An archive of all issues has also been created.
7. Coastal Workshop Presentations Available In July 2010, the East Coast Environmental Law Association held a series of workshops in Nova Scotia entitled "Who Owns the Coast?" The workshop presentations are now available online.
8. Upcoming GOMCME Meeting The next meeting of the Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment and Working Group will be held in Portland Maine on December 6-8, 2010. One of the highlights will be a presentation on the Gulf of Maine Census on Marine Life: 10 Years of Research Findings and How These Findings Can be Applied to Management Issues in the GOM. For more information contact:theresa.torrent-ellis@maine.gov
9. GOMCME Habitat Restoration Grants Available The NOAA Restoration Center and the Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment have announced a request for proposals for their Habitat Restoration Grants Partnership. The Partnership provides funding and technical expertise aimed restoring native diadromous fish and other marine, estuarine and riverine species of regional significance. The projects, which are selected to offer long-term ecological benefits and promote effective community restoration, have focused on restoring degraded riverine habitats, salt marshes, eelgrass meadows and shellfish beds. Since its establishment, the GOMC-NOAA Habitat Restoration Partnership has funded 94 projects (totaling $3.25 million) extending across all jurisdictions of the Gulf, including Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. Together, these projects re-opened access to 144 miles of rivers and streams for river herring, Atlantic salmon and American eel, re-established access to 2,400 acres of alewife spawning habitat, and rehabilitated over 500 salt marsh acres. The deadline for optional letters of intent is 5:00 PM EST on November 29, 2010. Mandatory Applications must be submitted to the GOMC via the restoration online applications website (http://www.gulfofmaine.org/grantapp/) between February 2 and March 15, 2011. Successful applicants will be notified in early May 2011. For more information on the GOMC-NOAA Habitat Restoration Grants Program and the Partnership's Habitat Restoration Strategy, visit: http://restoration.gulfofmaine.org/ or contact the Maine Coastal Program's Habitat Restoration Coordinator, Slade Moore, at slade.moore@maine.gov.
10. Geomatics Conference in Fredericton The Geomatics Atlantic 2010 Conference will be held on 28-29 October 2010 at the Delta Hotel in Fredericton NB. In honor of the 50th anniversary of the UNB Geodesy and Geomatics Engineering department the theme of the conference will be "Surveying the past, mapping our future".¯ The conference program will include exhibitions, keynote speakers, technical presentations, and social events. To view the program and to register visit: http://www.geomaticsatlantic.com .
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| C. Fundy and Gulf of
Maine News:
1. Paper on Salt Marsh Restoration Project at Walton River NS. Ecological re-engineering of a freshwater impoundment for salt marsh restoration in a hypertidalsystem. Ecological Engineering, Volume 36, Issue 10, October 2010, Pages 1314-1332 D. van Proosdij, J. Lundholm, N. Neatt, T. Bowron, J. Graham. Abstract .
2. Tidal Turbines Staged from Digby? On September 30, 2010 the Digby Courier reported that representatives of the French power generation company Alstom were in town to investigate the possibility of using the port facilities as a staging area for its tidal power turbine that it hopes to install at the test site in the upper Bay of Fundy in 2012. Full story.
3. Turbine Impacts on Marine Mammals and Fish? On June 17, 2010 a CBC report raised questions about how a fin whale was killed in the Upper Bay of Fundy. Apparently fishermen in the area are concerned that the whale may have struck a tidal power turbine off Parrsboro. Earlier, the companies responsible for the turbine reported that blades had been broken on its subsea unit that weighs 200 tonnes. Nova Scotia power says there is no indication that the damage was caused by a whale strike. Submerged logs, or deadheads, have been advanced as a possible cause. Full story.
Mike Dadswell, a biology professor at Acadia University, also reported in a June 30 posting on FisherNet that since the turbine was installed two dead Atlantic Sturgeon washed up in Scotts Bay, an event which he has never seen before in this area. He states that : "These events are similar to the dead sturgeon downstream of the Annapolis turbine. One thing a turbine does if it kills fish is attract scavengers….. [that] concentrate around the turbine which ,makes them susceptible to passage". He further suggests that :"We should try to put together a network to have people report in the dead, etc critters they are finding on the beaches in Minas Basin, Minas Passage, Minas Channel and Scots Bay.. Big stuff survives the gulls and other scavengers and makes it to shore. The animals to watch for are: whales, porpoise, seals, sharks (including dogfish), striped bass and sturgeon. Sturgeon are the toughest and will survive dead the longest, (as well as whales). They need to alert us, freeze the find and/or take a picture of it. Any such reports can be sent to: mdadswell@eastlink.ca
4. Irving Backs Out of Tidal Research Project in NB In June 2010, CBC reported that Irving Oil Limited has abandoned its rights to 11 submerged crown land locations in New Brunswick as potential sites for tidal power development. The company, working in partnership with the Huntsman marine Science Centre in St. Andrews, cited "policy concerns and uncertainty around the true viability of tidal technologies", as bearing on their decision.
5. Community Mapping Initiatives in Atlantic Canada The Government of Prince Edward Island has implemented "Community Accounts", a comprehensive information system of community, regional, and provincial data. The system allows users to generate tables and illustrative graphics on key social and economic indicators organized by geography and data topic - http://communityaccounts.ca/PEI. Both Newfoundland and Labrador (http://www.communityaccounts.ca) and Nova Scotia (http://www.gov.ns.ca/communitycounts) have previously established similar systems.
6. Interesting Fundy Marine Sightings Frigatebird -On July 24, 2010 June Swift of Brier Island reported that while out whale watching she saw a Magnificient Frigatebird about 4 miles off the Island along Moore's Ledge. Pictures and details . Dead Right Whale - On August 23th, 2010 the Digby Courier reported that a dead right whale had washed ashore near Sandy Cove on Digby Neck. It was the third found dead in three week as along the Atlantic seabord. Full story and pictures. Orca - On September 14, 2010 a lone male Orca was spotted by Brier Island Whale and Seabird Cruises. Details and picture. Right and Sperm Whales - Moira Brown , a senior scientist at the New England Aquarium and with the Canadian Whale Institute wrote to say " It was quite a strange season for the right whales in Fundy, very few in number this year. Instead we were rewarded with sightings of sperm whales, pilot whales and white beaked dolphins ... all squid eaters. Some colleagues sampling plankton found little in that department, which explains why the rights were few."
7. Climate Change and New Brunswick Municipalities A new study "Capacity for Climate Change Adaptation in New Brunswick Municipalities" aimed to determine: the current state of knowledge related to climate change; the concerns of officials and/or staff about climate change and its effects; the capacities that municipalities have to deal with climate change issues; the plans, resources etc. that have been put in place; and what needs to be done to build more capacity and resources to deal with a changing climate at the local government level. Full report available at: http://www.mta.ca/rstp/etf_rstp_%20municipal_cc_adaptation_final.pdf
8. Illegal Pesticide Use in NB Aquaculture? On September 21, 2010, CBC Atlantic reported that Environment Canada has launched four active investigations into the alleged illegal use of the pesticide Cypermethrin at four aquaculture sites in the Bay of Fundy. Maria Recchia, an official with the Fundy North Fishermen's Association, said she's concerned by the latest results. "We know it's toxic to all crustaceans and that's a problem not only for our fisheries but for the environment," Recchia said. No charges have been laid to date and the investigations continue. This isn't the first time the pesticide has been found in the Bay of Fundy. In 1996, about 50,000 lobsters were found dead in a pound near St. George. Tests revealed they were exposed to cypermethrin. Many people at the time blamed the aquaculture industries in the area for the pesticide getting into the water. Full story.
9. Sea Lice Outbreaks at Salmon Farms An article in the September 24, 2010 issue of Quoddy Tides reports that warm water temperatures this past summer may have contributed to widespread infestations of sea lice in fish farms in Passamaqoddy and Cobscook bays. Area Fishermen have been concerned about the potential effects on lobsters and other species of the chemicals used to control the outbreaks. The article describes some of the approaches that have been employed to reduce the infestations. Full article.
10. New Book on Fundy Environmental Icon Mary Majka Mary Majka, long-time resident along the shores of Shepody Bay is a Fundy environmental icon. A fabulous biography of her written by local author Deborah Carr has just been released. If you enjoy a gripping biography, this is a must read. The book covers all of Mary’s life, starting in Poland, surviving WWII, immigrating to Canada, settling near Riverside-Albert in NB, and becoming interested in the mudflats and migratory birds that fly through the area every summer and fall. The chapters on Mary’s contributions to the conservation of the mudflats and the establishment of the Western hemispheric Shorebird Reserve at Mary’s Point are required reading for the avid conservationist. The book is well written, illustrated and researched, and is based in large part on many interviews with the subject herself. The book is highly recommended and will make for a great Xmas present for the birder in your life! [Review by Peter Wells] Here is Another review. To read more about the story behind the writing of Sanctuary, visit author, Deborah Carr’s blog, Carr, D. 2010. Sanctuary. The Story of Naturalist Mary Majka. Goose Lane Editions, Fredericton, NB, 2010. 247p.
11. New GeoPark in Saint John The UNESCO sponsored Global Geoparks Network has announced that the Stonehammer Geopark will become one of 76 such designated areas worldwide and the first in North America. The new park extends from Norton to Lepreau Falls and encompasses Rockwood Park, Dominion Park,, Reversing Falls, Hampton Lighthouse and the Fundy Trail, a total of 2,500 square kilometres. The Geopark designation is designed to highlight geological areas of global importance in order to aid in their protection, promote their educational value and foster appreciation of their scientific importance. More information. GeoPark Website.
12. New Article on Nitrogen Inputs into GOM Estuaries Latimer, J.S., Charpentier, M.A., 2010. Nitrogen inputs to seventy - four southern New England estuaries: application of a watershed nitrogen loading model. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science. Volume 89(2):125-136. (September 2010). Abstract and TOC.
13. Archaeological Dig at Debert A CBC video (2 mins. 11 secs) highlights an ongoing archaeological dig at Debert, Nova Scotia to study artifacts left by palaeoindians who lived in the area some 13, 000 years ago. View video at: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/nova-scotia/story/2010/08/26/ns-video-debert-dig-native.html
14. New Fundy Ocean Maps Online The Ocean mapping Group at the University of New Brunswick has added to their inventory of ocean mapping products for Fundy and south western New Brunswick. Mapping.
15. Online Information on Coastal Landscaping The Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management has established a website on coastal landscaping. The website includes information on: the benefits of coastal landscaping; techniques; tips for planting, installation, and maintenance; and sample landscape plans for a coastal bank, a coastal bank with an existing seawall, and a coastal dune. Check it out. | |
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D. ADMINISTRIVIA Fundy Tidings is circulated Quarterly to all registered 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, simply e-mail a request to communications@bofep.org . For more news items about BoFEP, its partners and
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