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~ FUNDY
TIDINGS ~
July 2017 ~ Summer Issue | |
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HEADLINES:
C. Fundy/GOM and other News: | |
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1. 2018 BoFEP Science Workshop The 12th BoFEP Bay of Fundy Science Worksop will take place from May 9 -12, 2018 at the Agricultural Campus, Dalhousie University, Truro NS. The Workshop theme is “A Changing Fundy Environment: Emerging Issues, Challenges and Priorities”. Further information will be posted on the BoFEP Website Workshop Page as it becomes available.
2. Proceedings of 11th BoFEP Fundy Science Workshop Online The Proceedings of the 11th Bay of Fundy Science Workshop (2016) “Fundy in Flux: Challenges for Science, Policy and Society” (PDF 1.18 MB) held on June 9 – June 11, 2016 at St. Thomas University Conference Center, Fredericton, NB is now available online.
3. BoFEP 2017 ETF Shoreline Erosion Project BoFEP will be carrying out an Environmental Trust Fund project pertaining to shoreline erosion. With select landowners, BoFEP will ground truth a new methodology in development by the University of Moncton to determine vulnerability to shoreline erosion on the New Brunswick Fundy coast. The project will also involve providing funds, opportunity and venue for several First Nations on the New Brunswick side of the Bay to discuss the role of middens in their culture, past present and future and how they would like to see the middens cared for. If you are interested in having your shoreline evaluated, please contact BoFEP Chairperson at mjanowicz@hotmail.com. Also, if you have the skills and interest to coordinate this project, please contact the above e-mail address with a covering letter and a resume.
4. Report on Long-term Plankton Monitoring in St. Croix Estuary Online The following report is now available online: "A century of monitoring station Prince 6 in the St. Croix River estuary of Passamaquoddy Bay", (PDF 5.5MB) by F. J. Fife, R. L. M. Goreham and F. H. Page. June 8, Oceans Day, 2015. 165 pages. This is a collaborative project involving Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Environment Canada, Passamaquoddy people, and Bay of Fundy Ecosystem Partnership. It's purpose is to improve understanding of the diversity, concentration, and phenology of plankton populations in St. Croix Estuary, an integral part of Passamaquoddy Bay and of the Quoddy region.
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B. Partners and other
organizations: 1. New Whale Rescue Group in Fundy Until now, disentanglement rescues in the Bay of Fundy all rested on the shoulders of the Campobello Whale Rescue Team, even those just off the coast of Brier Island. Now the team from Campobello will be able to rely on the newly formed Fundy East Whale Rescue (FEWR) out of Brier Island. Full story. [Chronicle Herald]
2. Right Whale News Online The March 2017 issue of Right Whale News (PDF, 227 KB), a quarterly independent newsletter dedicated to the conservation and recovery of the North Atlantic right whale, features articles on right whales in the southeastern United States, a March 2017 workshop on right whales, a calendar of events, and other right whale news and notes.
3. CWF Efforts to Protect Right Whales in Fundy and Elsewhere With the recent death of six North Atlantic Right Whales in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, one percent of their population has just been lost in Canadian waters, a critical loss for the already highly endangered species, says the Canada Wildlife Federation. The organization is leading initiatives and research to support emergency response, reduce entanglement risks and raise awareness about this majestic part of our Canadian marine heritage. Complete Article. (Indo-Canadian Voice)
4. BoF Discovery Centre Spring Newsletter The spring newsletter (In with the Tide) of the Bay of Fundy Discovery Centre is now available online. It features articles on hiking on Digby Neck, the Hike NS 2017 Summit, COGS helps to develop outdoor classroom, burrowing sea anemones, yoga retreats on Brier Island, and improvements to the ferry dock.
5. Tidal Energy Research Projects Funded The Offshore Energy Research Association of Nova Scotia (OERA) has recently funded four tidal energy research projects. The following are the most recent winners:
More information on these projects.
6. Projects Study Marine Life Near Turbines Two projects that will conduct monitoring studies of marine life near tidal turbines received $500,000 in funding from the Offshore Energy Research Association of Nova Scotia (OERA), the Nova Scotia Department of Energy and INNOVACORP. OERA said the research results will lead to greater understanding of the complex relationships between tidal energy development and the biological and physical ocean environment. Full article. [Hydroworld.com]
7. New NS Coastal Mapping Project The Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC) announced a pilot research project to better understand the coastline inlet areas of Nova Scotia, which provide biologically diverse habitat and support an abundance of marine life. The project will use state-of-the-art airborne topo-bathymetric lidar technology to generate detailed maps of the shallow near-shore zone, where the use of traditional mapping methods is limited. More information.
8. Help CCNB Promote Bay of Fundy The Conservation Council of New Brunswick is partnering with Small Change Fund and Nick Hawkins Photography to create a Virtual Tour to show the world the amazing vibrancy and diversity of the Bay of Fundy as well as the challenges it is facing. The aim is to capture a broad perspective of the Bays features – from the air, from boats, and on the sea bottom. This work will be compiled into an ESRI Story Map, a powerful tool that allows CCNB to compellingly, and accessibly, show people just what is so special about the Bay. Help CCNB spread the word about this worthy crowdfund campaign by sharing this appeal on your Facebook wall, Twitter feed, and other social networks. More details and make a donation.
9. ASF 2016 Annual Report Now Available The Atlantic Salmon Federation has posted a digital version of its Annual Report for 2016 entitled "Pushing the Boundaries of Conservation" on its website. It details work by ASF staff over the past year. It includes research team publishing the first ever study to track multiple Atlantic salmon in the northern oceans, completing major work on the 16-year $63-million Penobscot River Restoration Project, and a challenge that could change aquaculture in Canada for the benefit of wild fish.
10. Fundy Geological Museum Adds New Features The Fundy Geological Museum in Parrsboro has added a new tourism experience, called “Tidal Reveal, Dig for Canada’s Oldest Dinosaurs,”This was one of several highlights of the 2017 season announced recently. Visitors to Fundy Geological Museum this summer will not only have the chance to take part in an actual dinosaur dig, they will get there by a zodiac boat ride along the scenic Fundy shore. Full article. [Amherst News Citizen-Record] Also see: Fundy Geological Museum launches new dinosaur dig (Video 30 sec) (Chronicle Herald)
11. Fundy Baykeeper Program Wins ASF Award The Atlantic Salmon Federation has selected the Conservation Council of New Brunswick’s Fundy Baykeeper program as its T.B. ‘Happy’ Fraser Award recipient. The ASF has presented this award every year since 1975 to an individual or organization that displays a long-term commitment to wild Atlantic salmon conservation on a regional or national level. The Baykeeper program’s leader, Matthew Abbott, accepted the award at a gala dinner at the Algonquin Resort. More details.
12. Irving Oil seeks to Restrict EA for Energy East Pipeline A CBC report entitled "Irving Oil opposes new assessment criteria for Energy East pipeline" notes that Irving Oil is asking the National Energy Board to not adopt two new criteria for its environmental assessment of the Energy East pipeline. With a straight face, Irving claims the project will not influence greenhouse gas emissions.
13. New Book and Talks About Tides The Nature Conservancy of Canada is sponsoring a series of presentations "Tide Talks" around the Maritimes in conjunction with the release of the book "Tides: The Science and Spirit of the Ocean", by author Jonathan White. Locations include Charlottetown (July 10), Moncton (July 11), Saint John (July 13), and Halifax (July14). More information. To RSVP.
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| C.
Fundy/GOM and
other News:
1. Fundy Footpath Hiking Trail The Bay of Fundy is famous for the world's highest tides, but the spectacular trail along its north shore is used only by a handful of clued-up walkers. Launched in 1998, the 41km Fundy Footpath already follows the longest stretch of wild Atlantic coastline between Florida and Labrador. From next year, a new section will extend the trail to 50km, after a $500,000 trail upgrade last year. Full story. [The Guardian]
2. Dining on Fundy's Seafloor Dining at the bottom of the ocean makes for an unforgettable experience in Nova Scotia. The Flying Apron Inn and Cookery offers an unusual dinner on the mudflats at BurntCoat Head Park, location of the highest recorded tides in the world. “There’s only about six days a year we can do this. We have to get out the tide tables and pore over them. Every two weeks, there’s only about two days that will work.” Full story. [Toronto Star]
3. Fundy Seaweed Parkinson's Cure? A seaweed that can be found growing in the Bay of Fundy could be the key to unlocking a cure for Parkinson's disease. A recent article "An extract of the marine alga Alaria esculenta modulates α-synuclein folding and amyloid formation". Neuroscience Letters 544: 87-93, February 2017 suggests a possible medical use for Winged Kelp, a brown seaweed common in the bay of Fundy. Dr. Thierry Chopin is a marine biology professor at the Saint John campus of the University of New Brunswick. He's also one of the study authors. He says the lightbulb went off thinking about extreme temperature variations this seaweed has to endure. News report. Abstract of Scientific paper. Full text of paper (PDF)
4. Controversy and Confusion Dogs Fundy Tidal Power The testing of tidal power turbines in the upper Bay of Fundy continues to generate heat and headlines about the feasibility, engineering challenges, ongoing progress and environmental impacts of the various proposed and deployed turbine designs. The following is a partial compilation of some of this diverse commentary:
5. DNR-Sanctioned Clearcutting Devastating SW Nova Forests An article in the Digby Courier entitled "Forest ecologist uses science to show clearcutting must stop" describes the continuing assault on our forests by large forestry companies, aided and abetted by the department of Natural Resources. Donna Crossland says clearcutting must stop if forests in Nova Scotia are to survive and support healthy wildlife populations. In spite of such pleas, scientific reports from reputable advisory committees, a plethora of scientific studies to the contrary, and pre-election promises (?) from the province's political leaders, DNR continues to bend to the wishes of the forestry industry by pushing wholesale clearcutting as the only viable harvesting technique. They want single species, even age fibre farms, not sustainable, functional, multi-use forests. The bureaucracy in the department is dominated by former members of the forestry industry. Only a wholesale clearcutting of management within the department is likely to ensure a more scientifically enlightened approach to forest management in Nova Scotia. See also: Clearcut leaves 'big, ugly, bald spot' across from Wentworth ski hill. [CBC News]
6. Annapolis County Calls for Clear Cutting Moratorium CBC News reports that Annapolis County in southwest Nova Scotia is pushing back against the provincial government and a mill consortium over concerns it has with clear cutting, and is urging for a moratorium on the practice in its region. The county wants Crown land that falls within its boundaries excluded from an agreement between the province and WestFor, a consortium of 13 mills that manages western Crown land. The warden has twice asked the province to leave land within Annapolis County out of the agreement for one year. He also wants to see a copy of the licence agreement, but the response to both requests has been no. Kudos to Annapolis for standing up for the interests of its citizens and for diverse and healthy forests. Full report. (CBC News)
7. Shubenacadie Canal Restoration A century and a half ago, the Shubenacadie Canal was an engineering marvel. It connected one river, seven lakes and a connection with Halifax Harbour, Port Wallace and Maitland to ensure that goods could be transported from the Halifax Harbour to the Bay of Fundy across land rather than by sea. Thanks to collaboration between the Shubenacadie Canal Commission and the Halifax Regional Municipality, that part of the story is being brought back to life in downtown Dartmouth via the Shubenacadie Canal Greenway. Complete article. [Dartmouth Tribune]
8. Windsor Causeway Gates Fail "The Town of Windsor experienced its first tide in more than 40 years early Thursday (April 13) as tonnes of salt water flooded Lake Pisiquid from the Avon River. It could have a significant impact on local ecology for decades. The two 13-tonne steel sluice gates that regulate the tidal flow at the Windsor Causeway failed to close at midnight". (Full article and video) [Chronicle Herald]
9. EA for Highway 101 Twinning at Windsor Causeway "The environmental assessment registration for twinning a treacherous stretch of Highway 101 that includes the Windsor Causeway has been filed by the provincial Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal. The Highway 101 Twinning Three Mile Plains to Falmouth Project must be filed in accordance with the Environment Act. It’s considered a Class I undertaking because it disrupts more than two hectares of wetland." The project will also include upgrading the existing tidal gate mechanism, called an aboiteau, at the Avon River causeway that protects the town of Windsor and Falmouth from flooding. The detailed design of the project is expected to be completed in 2018 but some construction could be initiated in the fall of 2017. It is anticipated that construction will take approximately five years. (Full article) [Chronicle Herald]. See also Public opinion divided on cross-river twinning on Highway 101. On June 27, 2017, the NS Minister of Environment released a decision concerning the review of the Highway 101 Twinning Three Mile Plains to Falmouth Project. The undertaking has been approved subject to a number of conditions. More information pertaining to this review.
10. Replacement of Petitcodiac Causeway Underway Replacing the 49-year-old causeway with a 240-metre steel girder bridge across the Petitcodiac River in New Brunswick is meant to improve traffic flow and help restore one of the most important ecosystems in Atlantic Canada. The first phase of construction — the bridge's substructure — has commenced and is slated for completion July 2018. Three tenders will follow, including one to be issued this fall for the bridge's superstructure. The deck, roadwork and gate decommissioning will follow and the last tender will be earthworks and the channel's excavation, with the project scheduled for substantial completion in 2020. Full article. (Daily Commercial News)
11. Possible MPAs Concern Fishermen "The federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans wants to double the number of marine protected areas around Nova Scotia next year". "It identified 52 special areas within the 475,000-square-kilometre region along Nova Scotia's Atlantic coast and in the Bay of Fundy that are in the running for the designation." "But the proposed protections have fishermen worried." (Full article) [Chronicle Herald]
12. NS Seeks to Block New MPA's The Nova Scotia government, ignoring the scientific consensus and succumbing to pressure from the fishing and offshore energy industries, has asked the Federal Government to stop creating any more Marine Protected Areas (MPA's). They argue that other provinces should do more in this regard before Nova Scotia should be called upon to designate more areas. The Chronicle Herald reports that Nova Scotia Fisheries Minister Keith Colwell … in an April 27 letter to the province's fish processors [said] "We are concerned about the economic impacts and have indicated to the federal government that we are not presently supporting the designation of additional areas around Nova Scotia,". Admirably, the Federal Government has committed to protecting 10% of Canada's coastal waters (presently about 1% protected). It is too bad that the Provincial Government doesn't share this enlightened vision. So much for aspiring to be a world class centre for ocean sciences. Complete article. (Chronicle Herald). Fortunately, it appears that the Federal Government is going ahead with its plans. CBC News reports that "The federal minister of Fisheries and Oceans Canada has responded publicly for the first time to Nova Scotia's formal request to him that Ottawa stop setting aside any more marine protected areas off its coast. Dominic LeBlanc said there will be no change from its target to preserve five per cent of Canada's oceans by the end of this year and 10 per cent by 2020. Complete article. See also: Ecology Action Centre slams Liberals for waffling on marine protected areas (Chronicle Herald)
13. Musquash Estuary MPA Expands Four properties that include forest, wetland and coastal wildlife habitat are being added to the Musquash Estuary reserve near Saint John, NB. The Nature Conservancy of Canada is expanding the reserve by 397 hectares, making it the largest conservation area in the province. The group says that with these donations it now has protected more than 2,100 hectares at Musquash, the only fully functioning river estuary remaining in the Bay of Fundy. Complete article. (National Post)
14. Land-based Salmon Farming is the Future An article in UnderCurrentsNews.com entitled "Land-based salmon farming: the numbers now make sense" suggests that Land-based salmon farming is closer than ever before to being a financially viable alternative to traditional net pens. With supply growth from traditional farming dwindling due to biological challenges and tighter regulatory controls, and new licences expensive or impossible to secure, land-based is increasingly an answer.
15. Fundy Land-based salmon Farm Expands An article entitled "Sustainable Blue Invests $9M in Land-based Salmon Farm" reports that the Hants County fish farm that produces premium-grade Atlantic salmon is investing $9 million in an expansion that will more than double its production capacity. Sustainable Blue's expansion will see it increase production to 500 metric tonnes of fish from 200 metric tonnes. [Localxpress]. See also Fish farm gets cash injection {Chronicle Herald]
16. Shubenacadie Striped Bass Stage Comeback DFO biologists are finding that striped bass seem to be making a comeback in the Shubenacadie River in the inner Bay of Fundy. Now, in addition to counting, measuring and noting fish previously tagged or injuries from angling, the Fisheries Department is expanding monitoring efforts on what is the only healthy population of striped bass in the Bay of Fundy. Full article including video. [CBC News]
17. Introduced Chain Pickerel a Threat to NS Fish Stocks Chain Pickerel, an introduced, invasive, aggressive predator, are spreading in Nova Scotia lakes and threatening native fish species. They were first recorded in Digby County in 1945 and up until the 1970's were still largely confined to Digby and Yarmouth counties. They have subsequently spread to a third of the 46 watershed areas in NS, including the LaHave River system. Chain Pickerel Creating Havoc among Nova Scotia Fish Stocks . (Chronicle Herald)
18. MP's Push for More Fundy Tourism Eight Maritime MPs are plotting ways to double tourism numbers
in the Bay of Fundy and they hope local residents can help. In the next five
years, they want to boost tourism numbers and bring more attention to its
many sights.
Full article including 8:02 min audio clip of Bill Casey on Bay of Fundy
Tourism. [CBC] 19. Another Fundy Geopark in the Offing? Plans are afoot for a UNESCO designated Fundy Geopark in the upper bay of Fundy. It is expected that the draft nomination application for the Cliffs of Fundy Geoparkwill be submitted to the Canadian National Committee for Geoparks next spring and could be sent to UNESCO later in 2019. If successful, the geopark could be approved in early 2020. There are presently two geoparks in Canada, including ones in Saint John, N.B. and northern Alberta. A global geopark is a designation that would attract international tourists wishing to explore the connections between globally significant geological sites, local communities, cultures and natural ecology. Complete article (Amherst News Citizen-Record)
20. Harvard Fossil Hunters Explore Blue Beach The Chronicle Herald in an article entitled "Harvard team fossil hunting at Blue Beach" reports that Scientists from the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard University are on the hunt for some special fossils that haven’t been located anywhere else in the world, other than Scotland. Blue Beach, located outside Hantsport on the shores of the Avon River, has some of the oldest carboniferous rocks known to man. The article includes a short video (1:01 min).
21. Lobster Landings Report Available The following report is now available online: A. Serdynska and S. Coffen - Smout. 2017. Mapping Inshore Lobster Landings and Fishing Effort on a Maritimes Region Statistical Grid (2012 – 2014). Can. Tech. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 3177:28 pp. It includes an analysis of Maritimes Region inshore lobster logbook data reported at a grid level and Bay of Fundy Grey Zone data reported at the coordinate level.
22. Concern About Marine Life Kills in Fundy The mysterious die off of large numbers of fish in the Bay of Fundy generated a great deal of concern. The issue was summarised in the previous issue of Fundy Tidings. More recent comments include:
23. Videos from Gulf of Maine Seafloor This summer, you'll have the chance to explore the ocean floor from the comfort of your living room. A team of researchers have deployed a three-tonne, remotely-operated vehicle (ROV) to the bottom of the ocean. The team plans to study the Gulf of Maine starting this month (June). They'll move to the Gulf of Saint Lawrence in August. The ROV is equipped with sampling tools, robotic arms and a high-definition camera. See news report (CBCB News). See videos. (Oceana).
24. Students Deploy Tidal Drifters in Fundy Students at Kings County Academy are learning about science and oceans in a project that involves deploying tidal drifters in the currents of the Bay of Fundy. The drifter, consisting of sails , a buoy, an aluminum frame and a satellite transmitter, can be tracked online every four hours. It was deployed at 5 a.m. June 21, and located off of the coast of Seal Island – between Yarmouth and Pubnico – the following morning. The data collected by the drifters will be used by Acadia University and NOAA. Dr. Anna Redden, director of the Acadia Centre for Estuarine Research, said the drifters will collect information about how plastics and debris move in the surface waters, why various sites in Nova Scotia have different currents and tides, and what impact climate change may have on the surface waters in the Bay of Fundy-Gulf of Maine system. Full article. (Kings County Advertiser - Kings County Register)
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