"Scientists must start dumping carbon dioxide into the deep ocean to see whether it provides a safe way of tackling global warming", a leading expert on climate change has said.
An article in the Guardian today suggested that in order to test the theory that carbon dioxide stripped from the exhaust gases of power stations and dumped in deep water would stay there for hundreds of years, large quantities, a series of experiments of around 1 tonne each, of CO2 should simply be "dumped" in to the ocean.
Wallace Broecker, of the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory at New York's Columbia University, says experiments must be carried out "promptly" and has called on environmental campaigners to drop their opposition to such schemes.
Writing for the Guardian, Broecker says: "While we know enough to say with confidence that deep ocean disposal of CO2 is certainly feasible, unless small-scale pilot experiments are conducted, information necessary to assess the impact [on sea life] will remain obscure. It is my view that a series of experiments involving one-tonne quantities of CO2 should be conducted."
He goes on to say "480bn tonnes of carbon dioxide could be safely dumped directly into the waters of the deep Pacific, equivalent to the carbon pollution from about 16 years of the world's current fossil fuel use".
Well to this statement all I can say is........ How do we know? Who says that it will stay there for hundreds of years and what happens when, at some point in the future the CO2 is re-released from the depths of the oceans into the atmosphere? If the situation in 300 years time is as critical as it is now.... and there is no reason to believe that politicians and world leaders will have been any more successful at combating climate change or curbing CO2 emissions then than they are now, the result of 480 billion Tonnes of CO2 being re-emitted into the atmosphere could be catastrophic.
Broecker then goes on to say "Worms and other organisms on the sea bed directly beneath the storage site would be killed" and says that the impact would be "trivial" compared to that of the fishing industry.
I am amazed at this cavalier attitude to the destruction of benthic life from someone of Broecker's standing and although I appreciate that research is vital to address the issues of climate change and CO2 emissions more research needs to be carried out on the long term effects of what amounts to the mass destruction of benthic communities and the effects of increased ocean acidity as a result.
Dumping CO2 into the oceans merely a stop-gap, a short term solution to a long term problem. If the general public believs that dumping excess CO2 into the oceans solves the problem, they will simply continue churning out CO2 in the belief that it can be just dumped and the problem will go away.
There has understandably been opposition to this proposal. Bill Hare of Greenpeace said: "The urgency of reducing emissions of CO2 has never been greater. But just as with an emergency in a heavy passenger jet, the crew should never rush in to hasty actions that will ultimately make a very bad situation a lot worse. Ocean disposal of CO2 is one such option. The position of Greenpeace and of other groups opposed to this option was based on research into the effects of ocean disposal of CO2."
Monday 23 June 2008
Sunday 22 June 2008
Bacteria Threatens Oyster Farming in the US Pacific
In his years working in the oyster business, Mark Wiegardt had never seen anything like it.
"It scared the bejeezus out of us," he said, speaking from the Whiskey Creek Hatchery in Netarts Bay, Oregon.
The thing that so frightened Wiegardt is invisible to the human eye. But its presence in the waters of the US Pacific coast has oyster farmers and scientists baffled, and threatens a shortage of the delicacy in oyster bars and delicatessens from Mexico to Canada, from Portland to Miami.
Vibrio tubiashii is a bacterium that kills shellfish at the larval stage. While it has come and gone sporadically since the 1960s, it took up residence on the US Pacific shoreline two years ago and has not gone away. Its presence led to the temporary closure of Whiskey Creek, one of the largest oyster hatcheries in the US, and has placed in jeopardy the business of others involved in the $111m (£57m) industry.
Mark Camara is a geneticist who works for the US department of agriculture in Newport, Oregon. He, like many in the tightknit scientific community in the Pacific northwest, has worked with Wiegardt to resolve the problems facing the industry.
Thanks to their efforts, including the introduction of a $180,000 filtration system, Whiskey Creek is now at 30-50% of its normal annual production of around 10bn oyster larvae.
"But between August and October we virtually produced zero larvae," said Wiegardt. "There's definitely going to be a ripple effect with this thing. We've told our customers, if you can find it somewhere else, get it."
Robin Downey, executive director of the Pacific Coast Shellfish Growers' Association, said the industry was confident that it would find a solution.
"We don't have a broad geographical picture," she said. "We don't know if this is a blip or a trend. It may be something that happens every 100 years."
Claudia Hase, an assistant professor at Oregon State University's college of veterinary medicine, said the problem seemed to be affecting not just oysters but other shellfish, including clams, geoducks - popular in sushi - fin fish and possibly shrimp. And it is spreading, with instances noted in Florida.
"It seems like it could be a huge problem," she said.
As for the cause, Hase hints at something that few want to articulate. "No one wants to admit it," she said. "It's very political." The suggestion is that climate change is a factor in the enduring presence of the bacterium.
Whiskey Creek Hatchery hopes to be back close to normal by next spring, if it can extend its filtration system, and if the system continues to produce results. But Wiegardt is concerned that the problems are merely a symptom of a larger malaise.
"We're pretty concerned about what is going on with the dead zones," he said. "Is that a connection to global warming? That's the consensus."
"It scared the bejeezus out of us," he said, speaking from the Whiskey Creek Hatchery in Netarts Bay, Oregon.
The thing that so frightened Wiegardt is invisible to the human eye. But its presence in the waters of the US Pacific coast has oyster farmers and scientists baffled, and threatens a shortage of the delicacy in oyster bars and delicatessens from Mexico to Canada, from Portland to Miami.
Vibrio tubiashii is a bacterium that kills shellfish at the larval stage. While it has come and gone sporadically since the 1960s, it took up residence on the US Pacific shoreline two years ago and has not gone away. Its presence led to the temporary closure of Whiskey Creek, one of the largest oyster hatcheries in the US, and has placed in jeopardy the business of others involved in the $111m (£57m) industry.
Mark Camara is a geneticist who works for the US department of agriculture in Newport, Oregon. He, like many in the tightknit scientific community in the Pacific northwest, has worked with Wiegardt to resolve the problems facing the industry.
Thanks to their efforts, including the introduction of a $180,000 filtration system, Whiskey Creek is now at 30-50% of its normal annual production of around 10bn oyster larvae.
"But between August and October we virtually produced zero larvae," said Wiegardt. "There's definitely going to be a ripple effect with this thing. We've told our customers, if you can find it somewhere else, get it."
Robin Downey, executive director of the Pacific Coast Shellfish Growers' Association, said the industry was confident that it would find a solution.
"We don't have a broad geographical picture," she said. "We don't know if this is a blip or a trend. It may be something that happens every 100 years."
Claudia Hase, an assistant professor at Oregon State University's college of veterinary medicine, said the problem seemed to be affecting not just oysters but other shellfish, including clams, geoducks - popular in sushi - fin fish and possibly shrimp. And it is spreading, with instances noted in Florida.
"It seems like it could be a huge problem," she said.
As for the cause, Hase hints at something that few want to articulate. "No one wants to admit it," she said. "It's very political." The suggestion is that climate change is a factor in the enduring presence of the bacterium.
Whiskey Creek Hatchery hopes to be back close to normal by next spring, if it can extend its filtration system, and if the system continues to produce results. But Wiegardt is concerned that the problems are merely a symptom of a larger malaise.
"We're pretty concerned about what is going on with the dead zones," he said. "Is that a connection to global warming? That's the consensus."
Friday 20 June 2008
Portion of Lyme Bay is Permanently Closed toScallop Dredgers and Bottom Trawling
A ban on fishing in one of Britain's "richest" marine environments is to be implemented to protect its wildlife and seascape.
About 10% of Lyme Bay off Dorset and East Devon is to be permanently closed to scallop dredging and bottom trawling from July, Defra has announced.
The bay's reefs are home to an abundance of sea life including rare sponges, corals and starfish.
Conservation groups have welcomed the ban but some local fishermen are angry.
Environment Secretary Hilary Benn said: "Lyme Bay is one of Britain's richest environments, and the measures we have announced today will protect the reefs and the wildlife that depends on them from the most damaging fishing methods." It's catastrophic for inshore fishing, we feel let down, disappointed and disgusted
Nick Prust, South West Inshore Fishing Association
The fishing ban will cover 60 square nautical miles of Lyme Bay, from West Bay in Dorset to Beer Head in Devon.
The area will be off-limits to fishing boats which drag nets along the seabed. Wildlife groups had argued this was damaging the environment.
Dr Jean-Luc Solandt of the Marine Conservation Society said: "In the end, most fishermen and conservationists want the same thing - sustainable fishing which has limited impact on the marine environment."
Fishing organisations said they were furious and felt betrayed that a gentleman's agreement to allow them to fish in certain parts of the bay and leave others alone had been rescinded by the Government.
Nick Prust from the South West Inshore Fishing Association said: "It's catastrophic for inshore fishing. We feel let down, disappointed and disgusted."
Jim Portus from the South West Fish Producer Organisation said: "I'm devastated, it will mean a £3m annual loss for the local economy. It's not a happy day for inshore fishing."
More marine reserves are likely to be announced in the forthcoming marine bill.
Monday 16 June 2008
End Test
Well, yesterday I sat the last exam of my foundation degree (Fingers Crossed!) It was the culmination of two years hard work, two years of being poor and two years of travelling 100 miles a day just to get to Falmouth Marine School! It has also been two years of amazing fun during which I have made some wonderful friends and done things that I have wanted to do since I was a child. I wouldn't change a thing..... well actually, a bit more money would have been nice but I guess you can't have everything!
My final Coastal Zone Management lesson consisted of an end test encompassing all the topics that we had looked at over the last year.
Using The Devon Maritime Forum as an indication of best practice, we applied conflict resolution ideas to current Coastal Zone Conflicts such as dredging, mangrove destruction, sea defences and coastal erosion. I concentrated on fish farming and aquaculture as it is a subject that I am particularly interested in having researched it in my first year for an assignment.
My ambitions for the future..... assuming I pass my exams are pretty much the same as they were when I started this degree. I am hoping to continue into the third year either in Plymouth or Cambourne and after that I am considering studying for an extra year to complete a Masters Degree.
After that Iam hoping for a job in research.
bob.earll@coastms.co.uk is an excellent website to search for jobs within the marine industry and recently there was ajob advertised for a Benthic Taxonomist which I would be very interrested in.
www.newscientistjobs.com/jobs/job/zooplankton-analyst-plymouth--10410417.htm was advertising a job for a zooplankton Analyst which I would also be interested in.
I guess you will have to watch this space.........
My final Coastal Zone Management lesson consisted of an end test encompassing all the topics that we had looked at over the last year.
Using The Devon Maritime Forum as an indication of best practice, we applied conflict resolution ideas to current Coastal Zone Conflicts such as dredging, mangrove destruction, sea defences and coastal erosion. I concentrated on fish farming and aquaculture as it is a subject that I am particularly interested in having researched it in my first year for an assignment.
My ambitions for the future..... assuming I pass my exams are pretty much the same as they were when I started this degree. I am hoping to continue into the third year either in Plymouth or Cambourne and after that I am considering studying for an extra year to complete a Masters Degree.
After that Iam hoping for a job in research.
bob.earll@coastms.co.uk is an excellent website to search for jobs within the marine industry and recently there was ajob advertised for a Benthic Taxonomist which I would be very interrested in.
www.newscientistjobs.com/jobs/job/zooplankton-analyst-plymouth--10410417.htm was advertising a job for a zooplankton Analyst which I would also be interested in.
I guess you will have to watch this space.........
Mangrove destruvtion Leaves Burma at the Mercy of The Sea
It was claimed in the BBC news today that the destruction of mangrove forests in Burma, which usually form a buffer between rising tides, ever inccreasing wave size and storms and the residential settlements, left coastal areas exposed to the devastating force of the weekends cyclone.
A study or the 2004 Asian Tsunami found that areas with healthy mangroves suffered less damage and fewer fatalities.
Scientists Claim "No Warming Within the Next Decade"
Gulf Stream Image Courtesy of NASA
It was reported today that a group of German researchers have developed a new climate change model that suggests that, because the Earth is entering a natural cooling phase, which appears to happen roughly every 60-70 years, the temperatures will stay roughly the same as they are at the moment and counter the effects of greenhouse warming. Some scientists have welcomed this research claiming that it enables them to plan for a better future with a degree of accuracy however scientists also claim that by about 2020, the temperatures will once again be rising sharply. The Atlantic Multicedal Oscillation (AMO) or Gulf Stream as most people know it as appears to be the key to the new predictions.
Mullion Harbour Report
The solid granite piers of Mullion Harbour was built in the 1880's and was paid for by Lord Robartes of Lanhydrock to compensate fishermen for several bad pilchard seasons. The National Trust acquired Mullion Harbour in 1945 as a gift from Mr A Meyer along with the winch house at the top of the slipway which pre-dates the harbour walls themselves.
The historic walls at Mullion Harbour have needed regular and costly repair ever since, as the Atlantic waves have battered the exposed harbour with ever increasing ferocity.
The National Trust commissioned a report to assess the options for the harbour in view of threatened sea level rise and increased wave heights.
All possible options were considered and the local community were involved in discussions about the future of the harbour.
In view of the ever increasing cost of maintaining the harbour walls, The National Trust has made the decision to only undertake minor repairs until the harbour is damaged at some point in the future by the increasingly violent storms that batter the harbour. At which point, The National Trust will carry out a managed retreat of the harbour structure until it reverts becak to an open cove as it was just a 150 years ago.
RSA Strategy
RSA Strategy Consultation Coming In November 2007
At a recent meeting between Sea Angling Representatives and DEFRA in London the first draft of the Recreational Sea Angling Strategy was released. This top secret document was not supposed to be for the eyes of the general fishing community until its release for consultation. The document was been leaked onto several internet forums, allegedly by a member of the Sea Anglers Conservation Network who received it via a mass email of the groups members with the message attached that the document was for the eyes of the groups membership only - A membership of less than 600.
The document itself gives a background to the strategy and outlines numerous issues allegedly beneficial to sea angling. However many anglers after reading the document are finding there is little in the document of any benefit at all to anglers and a whole lot that could be considered quite damaging to the sport.
This report is part of an article by the Whitby Sea Anglers Assocoaition
At a recent meeting between Sea Angling Representatives and DEFRA in London the first draft of the Recreational Sea Angling Strategy was released. This top secret document was not supposed to be for the eyes of the general fishing community until its release for consultation. The document was been leaked onto several internet forums, allegedly by a member of the Sea Anglers Conservation Network who received it via a mass email of the groups members with the message attached that the document was for the eyes of the groups membership only - A membership of less than 600.
The document itself gives a background to the strategy and outlines numerous issues allegedly beneficial to sea angling. However many anglers after reading the document are finding there is little in the document of any benefit at all to anglers and a whole lot that could be considered quite damaging to the sport.
This report is part of an article by the Whitby Sea Anglers Assocoaition
Sea Level Rise Threat to Rare Bitterns
One of Britain's rarest birds whose numbers climbed back from near extinction a decade ago faces a new threat from the sea.
Habitat creation helped the bittern grow from a low of 11 males in 1997 to at least 51 recorded by the RSPB and Natural England last year.
The bird, known for its booming call, is commonly found in the freshwater reed beds of Suffolk and Lancashire.
But the RSPB warned these coastal sites could be lost to rising sea levels.
Speaking at a conference at the RSPB's Potteric Carr Nature Reserve in South Yorkshire, Dr Mark Avery, RSPB conservation director, said the Bittern population relied on breeding grounds such as the Minsmere Reserve along the Suffolk coast.
Foghorn-like cry
"A substantial area of new reed bed will urgently need to be created away from the coast, and the threat of climate change-driven, sea level rise," Dr Avery said.
"We know it takes at least 10 years for a newly created reed bed to support nesting bitterns but don't know how long existing sites will be able to survive against the ravages of climate change."
A type of heron, the bittern is more often heard than seen with males emitting a foghorn-like cry which can be heard up to two miles away.
Natural England has also said alternative reed beds need to be created inland to support the bird, such as the Great Fen Project, which aims to restore 7,000 acres of fenland habitat in Cambridgeshire.
Sir Martin Doughty, chairman of Natural England, said: "Natural England supports a more sustainable approach to managing the coastline, not only for bittern but also for the entire range of wildlife on the coast.
"We need to take action now."
Habitat creation helped the bittern grow from a low of 11 males in 1997 to at least 51 recorded by the RSPB and Natural England last year.
The bird, known for its booming call, is commonly found in the freshwater reed beds of Suffolk and Lancashire.
But the RSPB warned these coastal sites could be lost to rising sea levels.
Speaking at a conference at the RSPB's Potteric Carr Nature Reserve in South Yorkshire, Dr Mark Avery, RSPB conservation director, said the Bittern population relied on breeding grounds such as the Minsmere Reserve along the Suffolk coast.
Foghorn-like cry
"A substantial area of new reed bed will urgently need to be created away from the coast, and the threat of climate change-driven, sea level rise," Dr Avery said.
"We know it takes at least 10 years for a newly created reed bed to support nesting bitterns but don't know how long existing sites will be able to survive against the ravages of climate change."
A type of heron, the bittern is more often heard than seen with males emitting a foghorn-like cry which can be heard up to two miles away.
Natural England has also said alternative reed beds need to be created inland to support the bird, such as the Great Fen Project, which aims to restore 7,000 acres of fenland habitat in Cambridgeshire.
Sir Martin Doughty, chairman of Natural England, said: "Natural England supports a more sustainable approach to managing the coastline, not only for bittern but also for the entire range of wildlife on the coast.
"We need to take action now."
Students Tackle Coastal Erosion
In 2005, students from the University's Geography department at Lancaster University used coloured pebbles to get a better understanding of erosion of the Lancashire coast. In order to find out more about how sediment moves on the Wyre coast and how effective existing sea defences are at preventing erosion, coloured metal pebbles, floats and environmentally friendly dyes were added to seawater to monitor currents and sediment movement to gain a better understanding of how the beach interacts with existing structures.
The tests, carried out by students Catherine White and Kirsty Minnis under the supervision of Coastal Engineering staff at Wyre Borough Council, Dr Suzana Ilic and Andy Quin from Lancaster University Geography department, began on Tuesday, July 26 2005
Students will worked on a section of beach from Fleetwood to Cleveleys, paying particular attention to the usefulness and efficiency of existing sea defences known as groynes. Groynes are low walls built out from the coast into the sea to prevent the movement of sand, shale and pebbles along the shore. Wyre Borough Council plans to make a series of improvements to existing sea defences. This local study will generate new data that will help the council to make informed choices about the future protection of the coast.
Sea Defences
As Chaucer once so eloquently wrote, “Time and Tide Wait For No Man”. This seems to be especially true in this uncertain time of escalating climate change. As the IPCC predicts global sea level rise of anything between 20cm and 80cm by 2080 as a result of climate change (IPCC 2007), threats of flooding to low lying land, accelerated coastal erosion, and saltwater intrusion into freshwater habitats is becoming an ever increasing problem. Management techniques and sea defences are now becoming vital along the shorelines of the United Kingdom. These rising sea levels not only threaten wildlife and fragile habitats and put at risk some of our most valuable coastal habitats and natural features which may be progressively lost or drowned, they also threaten residential property, coastal industries and economies, tourism and our road and rail infrastructure.
Current Methods of sea defence, although not particualrly pleasing to the eye are obviously essential for the protection of our coasts. There are several methods of hard engineered protection used around the coastline at the moment.
Gabions are wire mesh baskets filled with cobbles or crushed rock. They are filled insitu, often with locally available material and therefore have a relatively low capital cost. Because they are flexible and porous they can absorb some wave and wind energy, thereby reducing the scour problems associated with impermeable sea defences such as concrete seawalls. Gabions can be placed as sloping “mattresses” or as near vertical cubic baskets. The latter are intended for bank or cliff stabilisation and are not normally suitable for use in shoreline situations.
Current Methods of sea defence, although not particualrly pleasing to the eye are obviously essential for the protection of our coasts. There are several methods of hard engineered protection used around the coastline at the moment.
Gabions are wire mesh baskets filled with cobbles or crushed rock. They are filled insitu, often with locally available material and therefore have a relatively low capital cost. Because they are flexible and porous they can absorb some wave and wind energy, thereby reducing the scour problems associated with impermeable sea defences such as concrete seawalls. Gabions can be placed as sloping “mattresses” or as near vertical cubic baskets. The latter are intended for bank or cliff stabilisation and are not normally suitable for use in shoreline situations.
The above image shows cobble filled gabions
Groins are man-made structures designed to trap sand as it is moved down the beach by the longshore drift. As the longshore drift current approaches the groin, it is forced to slow down and change direction. This chance in velocity causes sand suspended in the current to be deposited on the up-drift side of the groin. As the current then continues around the groin, it becomes turbulent and actually contributes to erosion on the down-drift side of the groin.
Groins and wooden revetments
Revetments both rock and wooden versions are widely used in areas with important backshore assets subject to severe and ongoing erosion where it is not cost effective or environmentally acceptable to provide full protection using seawalls The function of permeable revetments is to reduce the erosive power of the waves by means of wave energy dissipation in the interstices of the revetment. Rock revetments may be used to control erosion by armouring the dune face. They dissipate the energy of storm waves and prevent further recession of the backshore if well designed and maintained. Revetments may be carefully engineered structures protecting long lengths of shoreline, or roughly placed rip-rap protecting short sections of severely eroded dunes.
Rock Revetments.
Concrete Sea Wall Coastal Defences.Beach Management Plans
This week in CZM we looked at Beach Management Plans.
We were divided into 2 groups and each group had to come up with a management plan for a beach of their choice.
Interestingly, the 2 groups came up with totally different Plans.
Our group, Group 1 with Myself, Rowene, Alex, Joe, Seb and Tony, decided on a planned retreat, letting the sea level rise and coastal erosion take its natural course and when necessary, moving the car park, the cafe and the Farm on the hill at Gwythian and Godrevy to alternate locations.
http://www.havant.gov.uk/council/Coastal/Vol2ap11.pdf here is a Beach Management Plan with a policy similar to the one our group came up with. It is a "Do Nothing" approach with a managed retreat for specific areas eg the Alverstoke Road. Having lived in RNH Haslar Near Alverstoke for several years I was unaware that this was an issue but reading the report I was curious to see the plans.
http://www.state.hi.us/dlnr/occl/files/Erosion/BeachManagementPlan.pdf
At this link, there is a Beach Management Plan similar to the one devised by Group . Except this is not A UK beach but one in Maui!!
Lyme Bay Coastal and Marine Management
Whilst in the library last week I came across a fascinating article about the Lyme Bay Reef and the work the Devon Wildlife Trust is doing in the area with regard to Marine Spatial Planning so that all key stakeholders within the Lyme Bay area are taken into consideration. On this website there is a link to the report that has been compiled in order to evaluate the best use of the bay within it's ecological limits.
First Blog for CZM
For one of my assignments in my first year as a Marine Science student, I rsearched and wrote about the negative impact that aquaculture has on the environment, in particular, the effect that sea lice have had on wild salmon, virtually wiping out the stocks of wild salmon in Scotland.
In the New Scientist this week there is compelling eveidence that this is now also happening in Canada.
http://environment.newscientist.com/article/dn13046-sea-lice-may-be-driving-wild-salmon-to-extinction.html
In the New Scientist this week there is compelling eveidence that this is now also happening in Canada.
http://environment.newscientist.com/article/dn13046-sea-lice-may-be-driving-wild-salmon-to-extinction.html
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