Research, Education, Outreach Summer 1995

SPOTLIGHT ON RESEARCH

The New Wars: Can America Save Battling Disease in the Lab and Bay Its Fisheries? Many U. S. fisheries — from coast to coast and in the Great Lakes — are facing BY MERRILL LEFFLER historic lows. Will new gear restrictions, limited entry or n the final decades of the last other management tools be century, oyster wars in the able to turn the tide? Have Chesapeake pitted watermen our fisheries, a public trust I against the oyster police and resource, become another each other as they battled over the casualty of the “commons”? riches of the Bay’s “winter gold.” On September 11, 1995, No more. at the National Press Club in With those riches gone, oyster Washington, D.C., the national wars in the final decade of this network of Sea Grant pro- century are being fought below grams will sponsor a public water, not by watermen but by issues forum entitled, “Can poorly defended and ma- America Save Its Fisheries?” rauding protozoans. Known as Panelists will include Michael Dermo (Perkinsus marinus) and Sissenwine, chief scientist for MSX (Haplosporidium nelsoni), these the National Marine Fisheries microscopic parasites have been Service; Bart Eaton, president battering oyster populations through- Probing the immune system of the oyster, of Trident Seafoods; Suzanne out the Chesapeake. One measure researchers witness a raging molecular Iudicello, vice president of the of this onslaught can be seen in battle between relentless parasites and the Center for Marine Conserva- commercial harvests — over these mollusc’s faltering defense mechanisms. tion; Billy Frank, chair of the last five years, harvests have fallen Northwest Indian Fisheries so low their landed value in , mistake. “This year,” he says, “we Commission; William Amaru, says Roger Mann of the Virginia have had the highest MSX infection a Northeast ground fisherman; Institute of Marine Science (VIMS), since 1959.” Wilma Anderson, executive “is less than the sale of one median Why are oysters so defenseless? director of the Texas Shrimp house in Hampton Roads.” Why aren’t they able to mount an Association; John Magnuson, So entrenched is Dermo on effective counterattack against Dermo University of Wisconsin; and bottom grounds in the Bay that even and MSX, as they have against other many others. in summers with good sets of new pathogens? Or conversely, why are For more information, call oyster larvae, the chances of oysters these protozoans so successful in Ben Sherman at Sea Grant’s surviving to harvest size by the eluding defenses the oyster immune national media relations office second or third year are at best slim, system throws at them? And can (301) 405-6381. at worst, nonexistent. According to anything be done to reverse the Eugene Burreson, a scientist at VIMS, devastation that these diseases have Dermo commands all of Virginia’s been wreaking? oyster bars except the upper James Until five years ago, there were few River. With all the emphasis on answers that evoked optimism, and no Dermo, people have tended to forget long-range plan for help. That is no MSX, says Burreson — that’s a (Continued on page 2) Oyster Wars, continued longer the case. In the last several years, says Roger Mann, “we have made quantum leaps in some areas of understanding.” One reason for these rapid advances has been a Congressionally funded program of research on oyster disease that has made consistent support possible on numbers of fronts, from molecular studies on the interaction between protozoans and the oyster immune system, to development of sophisti- cated techniques for monitoring the presence of Dermo and attempts at breeding strains of oysters that may eventually be able to resist the attacks of Dermo and MSX. The Cellular Front Once the Chesapeake’s most lucrative fishery, the oyster has fallen on hard times. ’s 1994-95 harvest of some 162,000 bushels represents a fraction — about Scientists have long known that 14% — of the harvests of only a decade ago. hemocytes, cells in the oyster’s circu- lating fluid, play a major role in fending off invaders. Analogous to through a microscope. “You could go metals, chemicals — affect its growth the human body’s white blood cells, blind,” he says. “These new method- and behavior. though far less sophisticated, hemo- ologies give you a chance to count “Culturing the Dermo cell,” says cytes are the oyster’s first line of three million cells, not 300.” Chris Dungen, a research scientist at defense: in general, when a microbe Many of these studies depend on the Oxford Cooperative Lab, “was a invades, the hemocyte binds, then large amounts of Dermo. Thanks to breakthrough whose major benefits surrounds the attacker, and engulfs recent breakthroughs, scientists now we have yet to realize.” Two paths of it in a process called phagocytosis. have that advantage. The ability to investigation, one in Gerardo Vasta’s The cells release bursts of toxic com- grow Dermo in continuous culture in lab at COMB and another in pounds, specifically reactive oxygen the lab resulted from a near-simulta- Mohamed Faisal’s lab at VIMS, have intermediates (ROIs) such as hydrogen neous discovery two years ago by been revealing molecular armaments peroxide, says Robert Anderson of Mohamed Faisal and Jerome F. La by Dermo that are especially provoca- the University of Maryland’s Center Peyre at VIMS, Sharon Shrunk and tive, though the work is in early for Environmental and Estuarine Stephen Kleinschuster at Rutgers stages of investigation. Studies (CEES). When Anderson University, and Gerardo R. Vasta and Mohamed Faisal and Jerome La exposes these hemocytes to Dermo, Julie D. Gauthier at the University of Peyre are tracking enzymes that however, the hemocytes engulf the Maryland System’s Center of Marine Dermo releases when it attacks an parasite but he doesn’t see the ROIs. Biotechnology (COMB). oyster cell. Called proteases, these The question, of course, is why not? enzymes break down oyster tissue Dermo may survive for a number of and likely contribute to the oyster’s reasons, says Anderson. The parasite We have made quantum demise. The researchers found that may prevent oyster hemocytes from Dermo can grow and divide in triggering the ROIs, it may for some leaps in our understanding hemocytes of infected oysters, reason be able to withstand them, or suggesting, Faisal says, that “factors it may produce substances that are other than hemocytes may be impor- toxic to hemocyte cells. Before having that capability, it tant in resistance.” New molecular tools have been was difficult to obtain Dermo in pure While they have observed the making it possible for Anderson and form. Moreover, says Anderson, you presence of Dermo in the Pacific other scientists to better examine the could not get enough of it. “Now oyster (Crassostrea gigas), that oyster chemical weaponry that both oysters you can make it by the bucketful — appears more resistant than the and protozoans deploy. For example, it’s duck soup.” Growing Dermo in (Crassostrea virginica). using molecular probes and chemilu- petri dishes makes it possible to Faisal is focusing on the possible minescent analysis to detect and study its life cycle and how different presence of special inhibitors in the quantify ROI production, Anderson environmental conditions — for . If he can identify these, no longer depends on counting cells instance, salinity, temperature, heavy he could potentially develop “pro-

2 • MARYLAND MARINE NOTES tease blockers” that would act D E R M O M S X something like antibiotics in fighting the parasite. Perkinsus marinus Haplosporidium nelsoni Still another molecular battle may be taking place over iron. Iron is critical for growth, both to parasites like Dermo and host organisms like oysters. Because iron is generally much less available than other metabolic needs, competition for iron between the parasite and the host cell is intense, says Gerardo Vasta. Vertebrates have developed strategies against malaria, Vasta points out, by producing iron-binding proteins to reduce the levels of iron available to malarial parasites — “this slows the parasite’s growth rate and reduces the pathogenicity of the infection.” Recent studies in his lab, Sites of major MSX infestation he says, “indicate that Dermo has a Sites of major Dermo infestation Sites where MSX is reported, but strong requirement for soluble iron no major outbreaks and its growth rates are correlated with iron availability.” Environmental factors in the Often inadvertently spread from place to place, oyster diseases have plagued stocks of the Chesapeake may increase the avail- popular mollusc through this country and abroad, and have largely ravaged the famed ability of iron. For example, low Chesapeake oyster grounds. Maps reprinted courtesy of Susan Ford, Rutgers University. concentrations of oxygen — or its complete absence (anoxia) — occur in the during summer months and trigger chemical reactions in the sediments that ity of oysters to Dermo. Fu-Lin Breeding for Disease Resistance release iron into the water. “This may Chu, also at VIMS, has done “The most important thing we’re help explain,” says Vasta, “why comparable studies with poly- doing that could make a difference in Dermo is more prevalent during the aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), the relatively near term is a cross summer months in oysters that are which, once released from the breeding program,” says Stan Allen of located in low dissolved oxygen combustion of fossil fuels, gather Rutgers University’s Haskins Shellfish estuaries like the Bay.” in Bay sediments. Laboratory on Delaware Bay. For Vasta speculates that “excessive The interrelated effects of some years, Hal Haskins and Sue iron accumulation in the oyster in multiple pollutants and the envi- Ford, also at Rutgers, have employed summer promotes proliferation of ronment remain a complex and traditional genetic breeding techniques Dermo, which may inhibit the oyster tangled web. to rear strains of oysters in Delaware from producing the oxygen com- While resource managers await Bay that are able to resist the devastat- pounds it needs to defend itself. By the results of such work in the ing impact of MSX. It is these MSX- better understanding environmental Chesapeake Bay, the Oyster resistant stocks, says Allen, which factors such as iron, it may be Disease Research Program has have also gone through one-and-a-half possible, he says, “to design strate- already laid the groundwork for years of Dermo exposure, that will be gies for blocking their proliferation.” addressing problems in other parts used in a region-wide planting effort Both of these investigations, while of the country, according to Jim to select for broodstock oysters they hold promise of practical McVey, National Sea Grant Pro- resistant to MSX and Dermo. applications, suggest the complexity gram Director for Aquaculture. Working with Ken Paynter of the of uncovering interrelationships “The techniques we have devel- University of Maryland College Park between parasitic disease and the oped for studying Dermo and MSX and Don Meritt, Maryland Sea Grant oyster immune system. There are are being employed to study as yet Shellfish Specialist and CEES scientist, other complicating factors. For unidentified microbial diseases that and with Eugene Burreson and Mark example, Robert Anderson and have had severe impacts on oysters Luckenback of VIMS, these researchers Eugene Burreson have shown in lab in other regions, juvenile oyster are deploying the specially bred studies how a pollutant such as disease in the northeast, and oysters in floating trays in the tributyltin, a bottom paint for protect- summer mortality in Pacific oysters Choptank River on the Eastern Shore ing boat hulls, upped the susceptibil- in the northwest.” (Continued on page 4)

SUMMER 1995 • 3 Oyster Wars, continued Chesapeake Bay — it will take consid- erably more than a few years to try to On Another of Maryland and in Mobjack Bay, replenish it. Front: Juvenile Virginia, and comparing their growth What’s Ahead and resistance to disease with local oysters. Surviving oysters will then be Until the Oyster Disease Research Oyster Disease sent to the shellfish lab for breeding. Program, research support on oyster “We’ll at least get a first read-out on disease had been spotty, largely As if MSX and Dermo were not survival,” says Allen. “If successful, because funding support had been enough, an apparently unrelated die- we’ll go from there.” spotty. It waxed and waned like MSX, off of young oysters begin hitting New While Dermo did not appear in which first showed up in 1957 ravag- England in the late 1980s. Known simply as “juvenile oyster disease,” strength in the upper Bay until the ing oyster beds throughout Virginia, moved up into Maryland, then re- this latest threat adds another culprit late 1980s, it has been an inhabitant to the list of oyster killers. of the Gulf of Mexico and other treated. Only over the last decade have Dermo and MSX dug in for what The disease appears to hit southern waters since about 1950, hatchery-reared oysters more than seems like the long haul. “These and was spotted in the Chesapeake those in the wild, according to Steve as early as 1954. Because southern diseases are not going away,” says Jordan, director of the Cooperative strains of oysters have been subjected Eugene Burreson. Oxford Laboratory. “It’s possible that to Dermo constantly for so long, these It is this near-elimination of the the die-offs are caused by stress,” he oysters may have developed natural oyster fishery that moved Congress says, from overcrowding in an immunities that Bay stocks, which are to fund the Oyster Disease Research aquaculture facility, for example — but he doesn’t think that’s it. terribly susceptible, do not have. “The Program. Most scientists and managers agree that in five years it has been a “Research has now shown that basic assumption,” says Paynter, “is the disease is transmissible,” he says. that geographically separated oyster critical factor in spurring rapid progress, not only in expanding our “We also know that higher salinities populations behave differently with cause expression of the disease.” understanding of oyster-parasite regard to Perkinsus. Some are simply According to Jordan, “Everything less susceptible.” interactions and in developing mo- bears the earmark of an opportunis- lecular tools to better study such tic infection.” interactions, but also in less heralded “There has been some research We now know that advances. “For example,” says Steve that suggests the involvement of Jordan, director of the Oxford Coop- Vibrio species,” says Jordan, “but so parasite abundance is erative Research Laboratory, a State of far that work is still inconclusive.” greatest in June, with Maryland and National Marine Fisher- Other work, undertaken by lower peaks throughout ies Service lab, “we now know that researchers like Eugene Small at the Dermo abundance is greatest in the University of Maryland College Park, the summer Chesapeake in June, with lower suggests that this juvenile oyster disease may be caused by a proto- peaks throughout the summer. This is zoan parasite, probably a ciliate of totally new information.” Such knowl- the family Ciliaphora. The College To test that assumption, Paynter is edge could be important for raising Park research team is currently working with Don Meritt and Pat and planting seed oysters. “We may examining oysters to determine the Gaffney from the University of Dela- be able to develop strategies for presence of suspect microorganisms. ware to try to identify those popula- better determining where and when “We recommend that oyster tions that are less susceptible to we move seed oysters for planting,” growers work with survivors from Dermo and disease progression. Using he says. stocks that have already been southern oysters from Texas, Louisiana While Stan Allen tempers his exposed,” says Jordan. These survi- vors have the best chance of having and Florida and strains from the enthusiasm because practical applica- developed resistance to the disease, Carolinas and Delaware Bay, they tions of research may seem slow in he says. are placing oysters in floating trays coming, the coordinated oyster The Frank M. Flower and Sons at different sites in the Bay, to begin disease effort, he believes, has been oyster company on Long Island, with, in the Wye River, Choptank important in many practical and subtle hard hit by the disease, is coopera- River and Mobjack Bay. “Our hope,” ways. “Everyone is using the Dermo ting closely with the University of says Paynter, “is to identify popula- culture now as the way to deal with Maryland, the Oxford Lab and others. tions that are less susceptible to handling practices,” he says. “There is The approach of using resistant Dermo and disease progression.” Pat a unity that has been brought about strains seems to be working for the Gaffney is doing DNA analysis. “If we by the funding source — it represents Flower oyster growers, with produc- tion once again returning to high do find differences,” says Paynter, a core of people who have to function levels. This is promising, since at one “then we may have a genetic marker together because the funding and the point the disease was cutting oyster to identify resistance.” region are small. It will make a production in some parts of the region As one scientist said, it has taken difference,” Allen says. “We hope it by as much as 50 to 90 percent. more than a century to deplete the will make a practical difference.” ■

4 • MARYLAND MARINE NOTES Bay Commission Asks: Are Blue Crab Stocks Stressed?

Legislators of the tri-state Chesa- Notes, February-March 1994.) said. He described telephone calls peake Bay Commission heard a Rothschild noted that the survey from seafood distributors asking cautionary report on the famed gives resource managers data that whether or not they should be Chesapeake blue crab at their most are independent of harvest statistics planning to take their businesses recent meeting, held May 5, in Piney (which are affected by variables in elsewhere, if the Chesapeake’s blue Point, Maryland. University of Mary- fishing effort and success rates). crab harvest should fall. For now, land researcher Brian Rothschild told W. Pete Jensen, head of Tidewa- Jensen said, Maryland is remaining the tri-state body of legislators that ter Fisheries for the Maryland quite cautious about the future. Jack while the ongoing Baywide crab Department of Natural Resources, Travelstead, head of the Virginia survey showed a series of rises and reported that Maryland had estab- Marine Resources Commission’s falls, the 1994 data indicated a low lished a Blue Crab Steering Commit- Fisheries Management Division, harvest, relative to the number of tee, and that the state was keeping echoed Jensen’s concern, and said people fishing for crabs. a close eye on the winter crab that his agency had a great deal of According to Rothschild, in 1994 survey, the crab harvest and other confidence in the Baywide winter the blue crab fishing effort was key indicators. Crabbers, he said, crab survey now in place. greater than ever, while the catch are now required to keep a daily At the end of the session, Jensen remained flat. Rothschild pointed out log of their catch, which they turn announced to the Commission that that figures were tentative, since in each month. “Our thinking is Dr. Brian Rothschild, the University of harvest statistics are still being calcu- this,” said Jensen, “we want to Maryland researcher who has helped lated for the Virginia fishery. In react before there is a crisis.” with much of the stock assessment Maryland, the 1994 harvest took a Waiting until a commercial species work for blue crabs and other strong dive from the very good drops below critical levels before species, would be leaving Maryland. landings of 1993. acting, he said, ultimately costs Dr. Rothschild, who has accepted a Resource managers often measure everyone much more in social and position with the University of catch against effort, with the expecta- economic impacts. Massachusetts, as director of the tion that more effort should result in Jensen said that he is aware of Center of Marine Science, Environ- higher catches. If, however, stocks are the ripples created by potential ment and Technology, has served as being fished at capacity, additional management decisions. “Even a faculty member and researcher at effort will yield little additional catch. discussing additional controls on the the CEES Chesapeake Biological Such appears to be the case for the crab harvest can cause concern,” he Laboratory since 1980. Chesapeake blue crab in 1994, though researchers and resource managers alike caution against drawing conclu- sions based on survey results gathered for less than a decade. Rothschild and others have been undertaking extensive monitoring of the Chesapeake blue crab stocks since 1991, working with funds from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and others. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources monitors the upper Bay; the University of Maryland Center for Environmental and Estuarine Studies (CEES) monitors the middle Bay; and the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) monitors the southern Bay. Monitoring takes place each winter, when crabs are bedded down in the mud and remain relatively stationary. To sample the bottom, Crabs are big business in the Bay — annual harvests of some 100 million pounds bring researchers use a metal dredge like about $186 million to Maryland and Virginia. As effort increases, resource managers the one used in Virginia for winter worry about fishing pressure, especially on female crabs, which are now increasingly harvesting of crabs. (See Marine making it to market alongside male crabs, or “Jimmies.”

SUMMER 1995 • 5 Bay Trust on the Web Protecting Fishing for a The Chesapeake Bay Trust now has Maryland’s Coast a web address for those interest- Future on TV ed in grant opportunities, deadlines Maryland’s coastal bays will and other information, including become part of the National Estuary Fishing for a Future, the 30- application forms. Located in Annapo- Program, clearing the way for a minute video written and lis, Maryland, the Bay Trust is funded comprehensive plan to protect and directed by Michael W. Fincham by the purchase of Bay license plates, manage these important natural and produced by the Maryland a special state income tax check-off resources. Maryland Secretary of the Sea Grant College in coopera- and private donations. The Trust, Environment, Jane Nishida, and tion with the National Oceanic celebrating its tenth anniversary this Secretary of the Department of and Atmospheric Administra- summer, has raised some $12 million Natural Resources, John Griffin, tion, will air on Maryland Public since its inception, funding more joined other federal, state and Television (Channel 22) on than 1,500 Bay-related projects. local officials to announce EPA’s August 23 at 7:30 PM. Accord- The Bay Trust’s new internet approval of Chincoteague, Sinepux- ing to MPTV, Fishing will address is: http://www2.ari.net/ ent and Assawoman Bays into the immediately precede Maryland home/cbt. For more information, national program. State of Mind, the series hosted call Thom Burden (410) 974-2941 According to MDE, Maryland’s by Scott Simon that highlights or use e-mail: [email protected]. coastal bays provide approximately research and education under- 25% of the state’s total seafood way throughout the University landings, and tourist spending there of Maryland System. Fishing for accounts for more than $2 billion a Future, which documents a Alliance Announces annually. For more information, call new catch-and-release ethic, Quentin Banks (410) 631-3003. won a CINE Golden Eagle Watershed Watch Award this spring, the third The Alliance for the Chesapeake such award garnered by Bay has launched “Watershed Watch,” Striped Bass Fincham for his work in film a new information service aimed at and video. giving communities the resources to Research Study initiate their own efforts to help protect and restore the Chesapeake Incorporating information watershed. Watershed Watch includes available up through April 1994, an 800 telephone number, upstream the Striped Bass Research Study field trips, assistance in learning Report for 1993 details monitoring about tributary strategies, contact lists studies, gives a status report on the of key people and agencies, home- fishery and summarizes manage- owner education materials, speaker ment activities. The report covers lists and other information. To learn all four major anadromous stocks more about Watershed Watch call of striped bass along the Atlantic the Alliance at (410) 377-6270. coast, specifically those spawning in the Roanoke River (North Carolina), the Chesapeake Bay (Maryland and Virginia), the World Aquaculture Delaware River and the Hudson River (New York). Society The report gives a nod to research on acid rain, habitat Libraries and others interested in degradation and other problems, obtaining the latest aquaculture but cites overfishing as the primary information from the World Aquacul- cause of the decline of striped bass. ture Society can contact the WAS For more information, contact the home office for a list of special prices U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) Catch-and-release can help save our and offers for such publications fish populations — if done properly. at (410) 573-4500. The as: the Journal of the World Aqua- That’s the message of two videos report was prepared by the FWS, culture Society; the quarterly maga- available from NOAA and Maryland the National Marine Fisheries zine, World Aquaculture; and the Sea Grant, Fishing for a Future and Service (NOAA), the National book series, Advances in World Keeping Score. For a price list for Biological Service and the Atlantic these and other Sea Grant videos Aquaculture. Call Juliette L. Massey States Marine Fisheries Commission. call (301) 405-6376. (504) 388-3493.

6 • MARYLAND MARINE NOTES Conferences, Etc.

Environmental Finance Head for the Mountains Gartlan Addresses Conference As the leaves begin to fall, the Mid- Land Managers The Second Annual Mid- Atlantic Highlands Coordinating Council Virginia State Senator Joseph Atlantic Conference on Environ- will hold a conference at the Canaan Gartlan, who has a long history of mental Finance will be held on the Valley Resort and Conference Center in involvement in Bay watershed land College Park campus on Septem- Davis, West Virginia, October 24-26. issues, will address the conference ber 13-14. Like last year’s confer- The Council, newly formed this past of Northern Virginia Land Managers ence, panels and presentations May, is dedicated to the sustainability of in Prince William County on August will focus on the challenge of the Mid-Atlantic Highlands, an area that 2. The conference is open to the funding environmental projects in includes the Appalachian Mountains and public for a $10 fee and will cover an era of tight money and de- parts of Pennsylvania, Maryland, West a range of land use issues, including manding environmental problems, Virginia and Virginia. commercial waste disposal, wastewa- such as the control of nonpoint- The conference will explore the ter treatment, wetlands planning, source pollution. Unlike last year, history of the Mid-Atlantic Highlands urban forestry and other topics. this year’s conference will be and its current ecological and economic For registration information, call the available to attendees at the condition, examine case studies and Virginia Cooperative Extension University of New Mexico, and the offer field trips to nearby resource Service in Prince William County University of Tennessee, as part of and restoration projects. For more (703) 792-6285. a satellite uplink designed and information, call Ron Preston, U.S. directed by the University of EPA, (304) 234-0245. Maryland School of Public Affairs. The Conference is sponsored Submerged Lands Conference by the University of Maryland’s The 14th annual Submerged Lands Environmental Finance Center Management Conference will take place Maryland Marine Notes (EFC), part of an expanding Volume 13, Number 3 network of universities focusing in Annapolis, Maryland September 24- on the issue of environmental 28, 1995. Covering a wide range of finance, an effort supported by the topics, the conference will include Maryland Marine Notes is published sessions on the Chesapeake Bay and six times per year by the Maryland Sea U.S. Environmental Protection Critical Area Program, the Great Lakes, Grant College for and about the marine Agency (EPA). The EPA’s Office of the Gulf of Mexico, Long Island Sound research, education and outreach Resource Management is cooperat- community around the state. ing with five EPA regional offices and other areas. Specific topics will include casino This newsletter is produced and around the country to mount this funded by the Maryland Sea Grant educational and assistance pro- gambling on public waters, harbor issues — including a focus on Baltimore College Program, which receives gram. For more information, call Harbor’s “renaissance” — the manage- support from the National Oceanic and Elizabeth Hickey, EFC Coordinator ment of declining fish and shellfish Atmospheric Administration. Editor, (410) 405-6383. The Maryland EFC Jack Greer; Art Director, Sandy Harpe. is hosted by the Coastal and stocks, aquaculture, submarine archeol- ogy, submerged lands management Send items for the newsletter to: Environmental Policy Program at Maryland Marine Notes and other issues. For more information, the Maryland Sea Grant College. Maryland Sea Grant College write the Maryland Board of Public 0112 Skinner Hall Works, P.O. Box 1510, Annapolis, MD University of Maryland 21404-1510. College Park, Maryland 20742 phone (301) 405-6376 fax (301) 314-9581 e-mail: [email protected] web: http://www.mdsg.umd.edu

Printed with soybean ink on recycled paper containing 10% postconsumer waste.

SUMMER 1995 • 7 End Notes

centerpiece of a package of educa- on coastal shellfish populations. She Noteworthy tional materials produced in collabo- hopes to gain new insights into the ration with the MSU Department of ■ adaptive mechanisms by which Life of the Lakes Michigan Sea Fisheries and Wildlife. The package coastal shellfish cope with multiple Grant’s The Life of the Lakes: The includes a brochure with back- stressors in their environment and to Great Lakes Fishery, a package of ground information on the Great use those insights to develop man- educational materials about the Lakes fishery; a curriculum guide to agement strategies for contaminated world’s greatest freshwater fishery, Great Lakes fishery educational shellfish stocks. recently received two national materials; and a set of six posters, awards. The 55-minute broadcast- one for each of the lakes and one quality video component was for the Great Lakes Basin. named Best Environmental Film of The complete package costs $40. Publications, Etc. 1994 in the 32nd annual Michigan (Individual components can also be Outdoor Writers Association’s purchased. Canadian orders add 15% ■ A Look at Lightning Lightning National Outdoor Travel Film for postage and handling. Orders strikes abound during the summer Festival. The Teddy Award is named under $100 must be prepaid.) Order and increase as one heads down the for former U.S. President Theodore from Michigan Sea Grant Extension, Atlantic coast to Florida. Florida Sea “Teddy” Roosevelt, long associated 334 Natural Resources Building, Grant has produced both a 24-page with American conservation. MSU, East Lansing, MI 48824-1222, booklet ($2) and a video ($15) detail- In addition, Agricultural Commu- phone (517) 353-9723. ing the threat of lightning to sailboats nicators in Education (ACE) has and steps one should take to minimize awarded the entire Life of the Lakes the risk of damage caused by lightning package a silver certificate in the ■ Sea Grant Director Wins Pew strikes. Write Florida Sea Grant, Uni- educational materials category of its Award Judith McDowell, Sea Grant versity of Florida, P. O. Box 110409, national critique and awards compe- Director at the Woods Hole Oceano- Gainesville, FL 32611. (Make checks tition. ACE is the professional graphic Institution, has been awarded payable to the University of Florida.) association of communicators who a 1995 Pew Conservation Scholars work in universities for agriculture Award. Pew Scholars receive $150,000 and natural resources departments over a three-year period to support ■ Global Biotechnology A new and colleges. their work in environmental science, publication details the expansion Produced by Michigan Sea Grant with a focus on biological diversity. of marine biotechnology in several in cooperation with Outreach McDowell, who received her Ph.D. industrialized nations. The Global Communications at Michigan State from the University of New Hampshire Challenge of Marine Biotechnology, University (MSU), the video program in 1974, plans to use her award to 372 pp., by Ray Zilinskas, Rita Colwell, has been broadcast by more than 30 examine the interactive effects of Doug Lipton and Russell Hill, is avail- Public Broadcasting System affiliates natural and anthropogenic stressors, able from Maryland Sea Grant for nationwide. The video is the such as toxic chemical contaminants, $24.95. To order call (301) 405-6376.

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8 • MARYLAND MARINE NOTES