Vast world above and below
Saturday, March 31, 2012
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Climate Change and the DPW?
Water Use is one element that connects climate change and the DPW, who manage our streets to keep them passable and pleasant. When challenged by climate change, water run off increases, but how do we estimate what the effects will be?
Last year, the Massachusetts Climate Adaptation Project, part of the MIT Science Impact Collaborative produced the report “Managing Risk: Helping Cities in Massachusetts Adapt to Climate Change. (http://web.mit.edu/dusp/epp/music/). This report featured case studies on climate adaptation efforts in Massachusetts cities and concluded that most cities in the Commonwealth have created climate action plans focusing on the mitigation of greenhouse gases,but few have made plans that address adapting to the inevitable impacts of climate change.
To help fill this gap in adaptation planning the Science Impact Collaborative created role-play simulations for public officials, city business and environmental leaders and concerned citizens learn more about managing the risks associated with climate change impacts.
Piloted in Gloucester Ma, the group of public officials were presented with the following scenario: River and stream levels have been remarkably volatile in the region around Evantown for the past decade, reaching record highs and lows. The major source of water both for the city and for area businesses and industry is the Foltz River, which experienced notably high water levels three years ago but has fallen to record lows for the past two years. A drought in 2008 brought the issue to a head as the city of Evantown was forced to implement a water conservation initiative due to low water levels.
The mayor has now convened five key stakeholders to discuss the three major decisions that will impact future use of the river—whether or not to increase water allocations to several different actors, whether and how to invest in improving the efficiency of the water infrastructure, and whether and how to improve residential water use efficiency. A key criterion in determining the merit of a particular set of options is how seriously the group takes the most extreme projected impacts of climate change.
This scenario allowed leaders to address climate change and sparked discussions between the participants and with other community members not present at the simulation about the types of climate impacts that may affect Gloucester and how the city could begin to address these issues.
We are bringing this information to the Amesbury Mayor's office in hopes his administration will be interested in following up on this opportunity to foster their own expertise as they practice a climate change scenario with other community leaders.
Environmental Connections- the Great Marsh
Over here is a group devoted to scientific study of the Massachusetts Great Marsh. Over there is a group devoted to its preservation. Among them are the every day folks who train ride through the Marsh and the citizens of the towns and cities nearby who benefit from its fish, clams, clean water, and beauty. Connecting these organizations and people who benefit is what I do best. All of it helps the Great Marsh to thrive as an ecosystem.
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Fresh Fish anyone?
Lately I've been thinking about fish. To eat. Which ones to eat? I'm trying to reduce my dependence on global warming activities, and fish are a good way of getting protein. My husband likes fish, and he's really not very good about vegetarian food. And I'm not very good about two sets of pots and pans and two menus.
So, being a committed locavore, and environmentalist, I've tried to merge the two, and found it very difficult. There seemed to be tradeoffs every place I tried.
First, lets look at being a locavore. Our consumer supported agriculture farm, Middle Earth, has a local fisherman, who fishes from Gloucester MA. We got fresh caught fish-fileted and deboned and everything. The fish he caught were flounder and cod. Good news on flounder, the EPA tells me that it has low levels of mercury. Whew, I knew there was a good reason I liked it. These are fished in the Atlantic.
Opps, Monterey Bay Aquarium tells me to avoid Atlantic flatfish. Why is this?
Flatfish
Pacific flatfish such as sole, flounder and halibut are a good alternative to those from the Atlantic, where historical overfishing has reduced populations.
Consumer Note
Over 13 species of flatfish [Glossary] are regularly caught in the Pacific. Common market names include sole, sanddab, turbot, plaice, fluke, flounder, and halibut. In most Pacific Coast seafood markets, many species of flounder are incorrectly referred to as soles. Pacific flatfishes, like their Atlantic cousins, are known as hirame when prepared for sushi.
Summary
Although Pacific flatfish populations are not considered to be low, there are ongoing concerns over bycatch and habitat impacts from bottom trawling. This method of catch impacts the seafloor, although bottom trawling on sandy or muddy seafloor (where flatfish often live) is less damaging than trawling over rocky or reef [Glossary] habitats. However, they are a good alternative to Atlantic flatfishes that have been overfished.
So now, I can't have flounder or halibut unless it is frozen and flown across the US to me.
OK what about cod? No way! Read what the Aquarium says about that!
Atlantic Cod
Avoid Atlantic cod from North America; it has been fished heavily for the past 50 years, resulting in massive population declines. Scientists agree that we are now fishing the last 10% of this population.
Summary
Despite strict management in the U.S. and Canada, cod populations remain overfished. Canadian populations are so low, that some are listed as endangered or threatened.
Most cod populations in the Northeast Atlantic are in extremely poor condition, with the exception of Icelandic and Barents Sea cod - which are a good alternative - when caught without trawl gear. Cod from these fisheries also have relatively better population levels.
Atlantic cod are groundfish, living along the seafloor at depths up to 1,312 feet (400 meters) on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. Fishermen often catch cod with bottom trawl gear, which involves dragging large nets across the seafloor. Trawling damages marine habitats and accidentally catches other marine life, that is then discarded as unwanted catch.
It seems that I can have Atlantic Mackerel, Pollack, Sardines, Striped Bass and Herring, according to the Blue Ocean Institute. We do eat farmed Mussels, and they are very ok. We also eat Tilapia, and Lobster. Let's look into all these on the EPA site.
Tilapia is ok, and but I can only have 6 servings (how much is a serving) of Lobster a month. Too bad because Lobster is cheap this year because Iceland banks were destroyed by the credit crisis, and so Canada couldn't afford to buy our Lobster. Opps, that's another post.
Pollack is ok, but King Mackerel is way off the charts with mercury. Is Atlantic Mackerel the same as King Mackerel? Not this far north I learn. So, what about north Atlantic Mackerel. Are they safe? Who knows?
Sardines are fine. But Striped Bass is the 6 servings category. (How much is a serving?) Herring are fine too. Boney but whatever.
My husband's favorite fish bar none is Salmon. He's from Seattle, after all. I'm really confused about Salmon. We're not supposed to eat the farmed kind, I understand. I have gone to the health food store and bought small amounts of very highly priced frozen wild salmon, flown in from Alaska.
Looks like Pollack from our local fisherman. No wonder Gloucester is in fishing trouble.
So, being a committed locavore, and environmentalist, I've tried to merge the two, and found it very difficult. There seemed to be tradeoffs every place I tried.
First, lets look at being a locavore. Our consumer supported agriculture farm, Middle Earth, has a local fisherman, who fishes from Gloucester MA. We got fresh caught fish-fileted and deboned and everything. The fish he caught were flounder and cod. Good news on flounder, the EPA tells me that it has low levels of mercury. Whew, I knew there was a good reason I liked it. These are fished in the Atlantic.
Opps, Monterey Bay Aquarium tells me to avoid Atlantic flatfish. Why is this?
Flatfish
Pacific flatfish such as sole, flounder and halibut are a good alternative to those from the Atlantic, where historical overfishing has reduced populations.
Consumer Note
Over 13 species of flatfish [Glossary] are regularly caught in the Pacific. Common market names include sole, sanddab, turbot, plaice, fluke, flounder, and halibut. In most Pacific Coast seafood markets, many species of flounder are incorrectly referred to as soles. Pacific flatfishes, like their Atlantic cousins, are known as hirame when prepared for sushi.
Summary
Although Pacific flatfish populations are not considered to be low, there are ongoing concerns over bycatch and habitat impacts from bottom trawling. This method of catch impacts the seafloor, although bottom trawling on sandy or muddy seafloor (where flatfish often live) is less damaging than trawling over rocky or reef [Glossary] habitats. However, they are a good alternative to Atlantic flatfishes that have been overfished.
So now, I can't have flounder or halibut unless it is frozen and flown across the US to me.
OK what about cod? No way! Read what the Aquarium says about that!
Atlantic Cod
Avoid Atlantic cod from North America; it has been fished heavily for the past 50 years, resulting in massive population declines. Scientists agree that we are now fishing the last 10% of this population.
Summary
Despite strict management in the U.S. and Canada, cod populations remain overfished. Canadian populations are so low, that some are listed as endangered or threatened.
Most cod populations in the Northeast Atlantic are in extremely poor condition, with the exception of Icelandic and Barents Sea cod - which are a good alternative - when caught without trawl gear. Cod from these fisheries also have relatively better population levels.
Atlantic cod are groundfish, living along the seafloor at depths up to 1,312 feet (400 meters) on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. Fishermen often catch cod with bottom trawl gear, which involves dragging large nets across the seafloor. Trawling damages marine habitats and accidentally catches other marine life, that is then discarded as unwanted catch.
It seems that I can have Atlantic Mackerel, Pollack, Sardines, Striped Bass and Herring, according to the Blue Ocean Institute. We do eat farmed Mussels, and they are very ok. We also eat Tilapia, and Lobster. Let's look into all these on the EPA site.
Tilapia is ok, and but I can only have 6 servings (how much is a serving) of Lobster a month. Too bad because Lobster is cheap this year because Iceland banks were destroyed by the credit crisis, and so Canada couldn't afford to buy our Lobster. Opps, that's another post.
Pollack is ok, but King Mackerel is way off the charts with mercury. Is Atlantic Mackerel the same as King Mackerel? Not this far north I learn. So, what about north Atlantic Mackerel. Are they safe? Who knows?
Sardines are fine. But Striped Bass is the 6 servings category. (How much is a serving?) Herring are fine too. Boney but whatever.
My husband's favorite fish bar none is Salmon. He's from Seattle, after all. I'm really confused about Salmon. We're not supposed to eat the farmed kind, I understand. I have gone to the health food store and bought small amounts of very highly priced frozen wild salmon, flown in from Alaska.
Looks like Pollack from our local fisherman. No wonder Gloucester is in fishing trouble.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
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