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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 ~
December 2010 ~ Winter Issue | |
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HEADLINES:
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A. BoFEP NEWS
1. Season's Greetings The Executive and Management Committee of BoFEP send warm wishes for a joyous holiday season and a prosperous and exciting New Year to all BoFEP members and partners. Lets continue to work together in 2011 to conserve the diversity and integrity of the Bay of Fundy ecosystem and thus promote the well-being of the coastal communities that depend on it.
2. BoFEP 2010 Annual General Meeting The 2010 BoFEP AGM was held on November 24th, 2010 at the Joggins Fossil Cliffs Centre at Joggins, NS. In his Report from the Chair, Peter Wells noted that: " we have now been in operation for just over 15 years! BoFEP is fulfilling a role being largely a virtual institute for the creation, sharing and using knowledge about the Bay of Fundy, to ensure the Bay’s long term ecological health, productivity (its living resources), and wise conservation of its species and habitats. Along with many other organizations around the bay, we can claim some successes in this role to date, with our focus on knowledge generation (research) and communication. However, like many organizations, BoFEP is faced with many day to day and annual challenges – some of ours are product niche, partner and general membership growth, continued operational and project funding, and succession planning for our core volunteers."
There were two special presentations by guest speakers at the meeting. 1. Gordon Fader, Atlantic of Marine Geological Consulting Ltd., Halifax, NS gave a talk entitled: "A New Look at Fundy: Energy and Dynamics". In it he discussed the following:
2. Gerhard Pohle, of the Huntsman Marine Science Centre) gave a talk entitled: "Census of Marine Life: what was it about, what did it accomplish and how are we connected?" The Census of Marine Life (CoML), the first global decade-long marine census (2000-2010), reported its findings (www.coml.org/Highlights-2010) to the world last month. With the mandate to assess the diversity (how many different kinds), distribution (where they live), and abundance (how many) of marine life, some 2,700 scientists from 80+ nations participated in 540 expeditions and countless hours of land-based research. Among its products CoML produced the most comprehensive inventory of known marine life ever compiled and catalogued (30 million records). This first baseline picture of ocean life quantified the known and unknown of marine biodiversity and documented historical changes that can be used to forecast, measure, and understand changes in the global marine environment. Locally contributions were undertaken through NaGISA, one of CoML’s 17 projects, aimed at inventorying and monitoring biodiversity from the intertidal and shallow subtidal. Highlights of results from CoML and NaGISA were presented
A copy of the draft (unapproved) minutes of the 2010 AGM is now available on line.
3. Membership Renewal for 2011 BoFEP is once again asking for your tangible support for 2011 Please renew your membership, or join BoFEP as a new supporting member. Support us individually or corporately. Simply visit http://www.bofep.org/join.htm and download, complete and mail a membership form. Membership is for the 2011 Calendar year. Dues should be received by April 30th. Receipts will be issued. If you have already joined, thank-you very much. As a BoFEP member, you directly support the programs, have an opportunity to participate in Working Groups, and have access to the website, notification of upcoming Fundy events through the quarterly Fundy Newsletter, and reduced fees for the Fundy Science Workshops. You also have the satisfaction of supporting tangible research and communication projects on the Bay of Fundy - a coastal region recognized for its diverse ecosystems, biodiversity, living resources, coastal communities and vibrant economy, and celebrated globally.
4. Bay of Fundy Science Workshop in 2011 Planning is 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 in New Brunswick. Discussions are 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. 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 Communications Strategy A copy of the draft BoFEP Communications Strategy is now available online. This communications strategy is a framework for ensuring that BoFEP has effective internal and external communications. It also provides guidelines for carrying out specific communications projects. It identifies measures needed to:
6. New Fundy Issue on Fossils Fundy Issue #31 entitled "Fundy's Fascinating Fossils: The Unique Palaeontology of the Bay of Fundy" is just about to go to the printers and will be distributed to members (another perk of membership!!!) early in the New Year.
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B. PARTNER AND OTHER ORGANIZATION NEWS
1. Fundy Energy Research Network (FERN) The Fundy Energy Research Network (FERN) is a non-profit organization created as a forum for fostering Bay of Fundy tidal energy-related research collaborations, identification of issues, information exchange and capacity building. The main roles and functions of FERN are:
For information about the network, becoming a member, and sharing and accessing research information through FERN, please visit http://fern.acadiau.ca or contact the FERN coordinator lisa.isaacman@acadiau.ca.
2. ACZISC News The Atlantic Coastal Zone Information Steering Committee (ACZISC) reports that Claudette LeBlanc recently retired as the ACZISC Project Officer. Our thanks to Claudette for all she has done over the years in disseminating information about coastal and marine activities around the world and in supporting BoFEP. The new project officer is Alexi Westcott who has taken over compiling and distributing the ACZISC Coastal Update e- Newsletter. She can be reached at: alexidbwestcott@dal.ca. To subscribe to this newsletter visit the ACZISC website at: http://aczisc.dal.ca/
3. Gulf of Maine Times The Fall 2010 edition of the Gulf of Maine Times includes news on efforts to protect seaside national parks, reduce stormwater runoff, and the work of students to educate the public about climate change effects. For details or to subscribe visit: http://www.gulfofmaine.org/gomt.
4. Right Whale News - unusual summer in Fundy The September 2010 issue of Right Whale News (PDF, 189 KB) is now available online. It includes an article entitled "2010: An Unusual Season in the Bay of Fundy". Right Whale News is a quarterly newsletter distributed electronically to participants in conservation and recovery of the North Atlantic right whale and its habitats.It is a publication of Associated Scientists at Woods Hole that is disseminated online through the courtesy of the North Atlantic Right Whale Consortium. The Editor is Jim Hain. Current and back issues of Right Whale News published between 1994 and 2010 are available at the North Atlantic Right Whale Consortium website, www.rightwhaleweb.org byselecting the Right Whale News tab. To subscribe, contact Heather Pettis at hpettis@neaq.org , and place “RWN Subscribe” in the subject line.
5. Nova Scotia's Coastal Consultation Report The report entitled "What We Heard 2010: Nova Scotia's Coastal Consultation" summarizes public input received from May to July 2010 on the State of Nova Scotia's Coast Report and on priorities and ideas for the Province's future Coastal Strategy. Additional consultation sessions on a draft Coastal Strategy are being planned for early 2011. Full report.
6. Tidal Energy Workshop Report A Tidal Energy Workshop was held on 13-14 October 2010 in Wolfville, NS. Topics included the status of research relating to tidal energy and research findings; environmental effects monitoring, resource assessment and extraction potential; and near and far-field effects. Workshop report and presentations.
7. Fishermen and Scientists Research Society Conference The 18th Annual Conference of the Fishermen and Scientists Research Society (FSRS) will be held on 24-25 March 2011 in Truro,NS. Details and Registration.
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C. FUNDY AND GULF OF MAINE NEWS
1. Acadian dikes breached near N.S., N.B. border On October 18, 2010 CBC News reported that "A 150-year-old agricultural dike will be breached to allow salt water to flood 16 hectares of the Tantramar marsh that stretches between New Brunswick and Nova Scotia." A 150-year-old agricultural dike will be breached to allow salt water to flood 16 hectares of the Tantramar marsh that stretches between New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. The Acadians built a complex system of dikes in the region more than a century ago. Those barriers remained in place and people in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia have been benefiting from them ever since as the land has become home to farms, the CN Rail line, and the Trans-Canada Highway. That is coming to an end on Monday as scientists began the process of breaching a 150-year-old agricultural dike.Tom Duffy, the manager of Atlantic operations for Ducks Unlimited, said the move to flood the marsh should create a debate over the region's system of dikes. "It should stimulate some serious discussion both in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia about the future of the dike system," Duffy said. The project has been two years in the making with experts from Acadia University, the University of New Brunswick and Mount Allison University asking themselves one important question while they were working on the plan. "How we can restore salt marshes, which in turn will protect those new dikes because it disperses a lot of energy that would be involved with the tidal action," Duffy said. Full story
2. Paper on Right Whale Conservation A new paper has been published in a recent issue of Marine Policy entitled, "Factors to Consider in Evaluating the Management and Conservation Effectiveness of a Whale Sanctuary to Protect and Conserve the North Atlantic Right Whale (Eubalaena glacialis)", by Patricia R .Hinch and Elizabeth M .DeSanto, Dalhousie University, Marine Affairs Program. The paper examines key factors used in protecting the migratory North Atlantic right whale within the Context of a marine protected area (MPA) system, using the Grand Manan Whale Conservation Area in New Brunswick as a case study example. Abstract.
3. Salmon Farming and Pesticide Use The Atlantic Salmon Federation (ASF) reports that in October salmon Farmers in New Brunswick are temporarily allowed to use the restricted pesticide Alphamax (deltamethrin) against sea lice, which worries fishermen and environmentalists. New Brunswick (NB) has obtained permission from Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency for fishers to use the restricted pesticide against sea lice in Atlantic salmon farms as an emergency use between 15 October and 31 December 2010. For more details visit: http://www.asf.ca/news.php?id=588
4. First Census of Marine Life Released The "First Census of Marine Life 2010: Highlights of a Decade of Discovery" was released in September 2010. The Census was a 10-year international effort undertaken to assess the diversity, distribution, and abundance of marine life. The Census addressed these issues globally, and engaged over 2,700 scientists from around the globe. The report, which includes a description of the Census research projects and organizational structure can be found at: http://www.coml.org/highlights-2010.
5. Severn Barrage Project Torpedoed - for now In October, the the UK Government decided not to back a Severn Barrage project in Fundy’s sister estuary in England. The Severn Estuary has been subject to many expensive feasibility studies by consultants over the past two years. However, there is nothing to stop a private consortium putting something forward still….or Government finding more resources in years ahead. For more information visit: http://www.stopthebarrage.com/. Copies of the feasibility study summary report and associated background documents can be accessed via the seven tidal power website (www.decc.gov.uk/severntidalpower).
6. 2010 Canadian Marine Ecosystem Status and Trends Report DFO has released a 38 page report on the health of Canada's marine environment. It identifies some of the emerging issues on the Scotian Shelf and in the Gulf of Maine:
Worrisome knowledge gaps include:
Additional information Full report
7. Wild Salmon Released in Fundy Wild salmon have returned to spawn in Fundy National Park waters thanks to a salmon recovery project initiated by a national recovery team. Fundy National Park, Fort Folly First Nation, and ASF biologists recently released adult wild Atlantic salmon into the Fundy waters as part of a gene-banking project. The project began after a 1999 survey found fewer than 250 adult salmon returned to 40 Inner Bay of Fundy rivers annually. These streams and rivers had a historical population of 40,000 salmon. For further information visit: http://www.asf.ca/news.php?id=605
8. Georges Bank Drilling Moratorium Extended Nova Scotia has introduced legislation, extending indefinitely, a moratorium on oil and gas exploration on the Canadian portion of George's Bank, a sensitive marine ecosystem off the south coast of the Province. More details.
9. New Invasive Species Website for NB Alien creatures are invading our rivers and lakes in increasing numbers, threatening the survival of many native species, such as wild Atlantic salmon. A recently launched web site is designed to share information on freshwater invasive species that may impact New Brunswick. It includes information on howYOU can help and how you can report them. To learn more, visit - http://www.nbaquaticinvasives.ca/en/
10. Farmed Salmon Escape in Large Numbers The Atlantic Salmon Federation reports that recent escapes reported by the salmon farming industry include13,000 off Deer Island and 33,000 off Grand Manan. There is evidence that other escapes occurred earlier in the fall that went unreported despite requirements of the industry to do so. The Atlantic Salmon Federation (ASF) is calling on government and the aquaculture industry to provide transparency and compliance in reporting escapes from open net cages in the Bay of Fundy. For details visit: http://asf.ca/news.php?id=617
11. CBC TV Program on Bay of Fundy CBC's "Land and Sea" recently aired an episode featuring the Bay of Fundy with local author and naturalist Harry Thurston as a special guide. View Program. | |
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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
the Bay of Fundy periodically check the BoFEP "What's New" page at:
http://www.bofep.org/whatnew.htm. |
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