June 2008 Lobster Tales Atlantic Offshore Lobstermen’s Association
Whale Rope Funding Still Keeping Us on the Edges of our Seats!
By Bonnie tion date is still October 5, 2008 pass in a fairly similar format sever- I know you are all very concerned (see page 7 for information on the al weeks down the road. about the cost of the new sinking NMFS proposed date change), this Another sticking point is that the groundlines. As I am sure you are funding doesn’t seem extremely language states that NOAA will aware, I have been working dili- helpful to the lobster industry. receive $75 million for projects, gently with Senator Reed’s (RI) Since offering the 2009 language, one of which is to help lobstermen staff to bring about some relief, in Senators Snowe and Reed devel- with the purchase of new ground- the form of federal funding, for the oped language for the 2008 Sup- lines. The language isn’t specific as purchase of new line. Senator plemental Appropriations Bill. to how much funding will go to Reed put language in the 2009 That language, in two separate this project, therefore, we need to Appropriations Bill for $14 million, forms, passed both the House and wait, as we were asked to do by however those funds would not Senate in the last few weeks. Typi- our Congressional representatives, be available until at least October cally the two Houses would con- to see what “shakes out.” Should 2009. Since NMFS’s implementa- ference and a similar Bill would funding become available, I will move forward to be signed by send out information shortly there- President Bush (who will no long- after with instructions on how to er be our President in a few apply for the funds. If you have Inside this issue: months ☺). Unfortunately, the purchased sinking groundlines Whales—Pgs 2‐7 Supplemental Bill is the “War Bill” after 2006—don’t worry, you will
that our President has threatened not lose out, I anticipate that reim- Skates– Pg 8 to veto if other funding requests bursement will be available with are included, SO, we are waiting Habitat—Pg 8 certain criteria. Further details to to see what happens. However, I follow as soon as we know more. Olfish—Pgs 9‐ 10 am told that if he vetos it, it will
AOLA Website—Pg 11‐16 No ces—Pgs 17‐18 News Highlights…. SAVE A STAMP (and a forest) Hauler Update—Pgs 19‐25 July 1 2008 Gauge Changes Lobster Tales USCG No ces—Pgs 27‐29 now available as a full Area 3 minimum gauge in‐ color, hyperlinked, digital version Ar cles of Interest—Pgs 30‐40 crease to 3 1/2 inches. Area delivered directly to your email. To Lobster Laughs—Pg 41 3 ins tutes maximum gauge get added to our emailing list, and forgo your paper copy email hei‐ Adver sements—Pgs 42‐52 of 7 inches . di@offshorelobster.org See In depth stories inside Lobster Tales Page 2
Gear Recycling BY BONNIE
Covanta Energy has worked in the past with the New York Covanta currently has one “test” site in the port of New Department of Marine Fisheries, Massachuse s DMF, and Bedford, where they have placed containers to dispose of IFAW, on the NOAA’s Marine Debris to Energy Program. all types of used gear. Any fisherman can dispose of gear This program collects used fishing gear, which Covanta at the port, where it is stockpiled un l Covanta is contact‐ burns to create electricity that it provides to its custom‐ ed to pick it up. If you would like to dispose of gear now ers. I am presently working with the Na onal Fish and in New Bedford, you can do it by appointment only by Wildlife Founda on (NFWF), the agency that administers contac ng Tommy Vital @ 508‐989‐1195 or Victor @ 508‐ the program for NOAA, to work out a recycling program 400‐3687. If they do not answer just leave a voice mail that will work for Area 3 par cipants. message and they will return your call. I have explained to NFWF the complica ons associated I am also working on ge ng something started specifically with disposing of offshore lines; such as the length and for Area 3 par cipants in the near future. This would be weight of the lines, as well as the issue of trying to fit sig‐ another recycling opportunity, that may work in much the nificant amounts of gear in a pick‐up truck to be trucked same way as the Marine Debris Program, however it's too to a container. I believe they are finally beginning to un‐ early to say at the present me exactly what the program derstand. Hence, we are working to get a “roving” con‐ will look like. You can be sure I will keep you updated as tainer that will spend a month or so at each port, to allow soon as there is something to update you with! For both all fishermen to dispose of whatever gear they may have programs, disposal will be free, and I believe that rope, stockpiled. Then, further down the road, Covanta plans to traps, and other types of gear will be accepted into the place permanent containers in a subset of ports along the containers, as they are in New Bedford. coast for gear to be discarded.
Large Whale Take Reduction Team Meeting BY BONNIE
The TRT mee ng was held the last week of sense to the environmentalists and NMFS, April and lasted three days. NMFS original and is receiving further study. “...the reduction reason for holding the mee ng was to dis‐ Other exemp ons were discussed, includ‐ cuss next steps (a er sinking groundlines) in gear in Area ing ours and those for other small areas. to protect whales. The mee ng, however The Area 3 exemp on areas request was 3 was due to focused mostly around Maine’s proposal not given a great deal of a en on, howev‐ ‘lobster for an expanded exemp on area. Maine er, since I was unwilling to “trade”. Since provided informa on on the frequency of Maine had iden fied groundlines that management whales seen in the areas where they are would not be fished if they were permi ed and not reques ng exemp ons. They also in‐ their exemp on, NMFS immediately formed NMFS and other TRT members that protection for grasped onto an “endline trade‐off” as the if they were forced to fish sinking ground‐ common denominator by which all exemp‐ the whales, lines in the Maine rocky terrain, the regula‐ on plans should be measured. When I therefore it on would essen ally force fishermen to presented our exemp on plan I was asked fish singles, to avoid the sink line en rely; what addi onal measures would be “given didn’t count.’’” however, if they were given the exemp‐ up” as a “trade‐off,” my response was on, they would fish longer trawls with ten - NMFS/TRT response “NONE.” A er se ling everyone down, I fathoms between traps, thereby, theore - explained to the TRT that since 2002, Area to Area 3 trap cally , taking 10,000 miles of line out of the 3 lobstermen have reduced the number of reductions ocean as compared to fishing singles. This traps being fished offshore by over 62,000, manner of thinking seemed to make some thereby ALREADY removing 3,171 endlines CONTINUED NEXT PAGE Lobster Tales Page 3
Take reduction team Meeting continued from the water column, and therefore, the endlines re‐ considera on REAL trap reduc ons and the ACTUAL re‐ maining equate to approximately 0.05 per square nau cal moval of gear from the water. I pointed out that there is mile over the en re 127,000+ nau cal square miles of NO BETTER METHOD to protect whales than to take gear Area 3. I was horrified to get the response that the reduc‐ out of the water. I also informed the team that we had no on in gear in Area 3 was due to “lobster management other inten ons other than our gear reduc ons, to pro‐ and not protec on for the whales, therefore it didn’t tect whales. I informed them, also, that lobstermen are count.” red of being “guinea pigs” for experimental methods to This was said just before the mee ng ended, so I took the protect whales, and that it was me for ships and environ‐ opportunity to get on my soapbox and remind the “team” mentalists to do their part, either through mi ga on that the new Final Rule allowed for measures implement‐ efforts or financial commitments! I was asked to quickly ed in the fishery management process to be considered in draw up a document presen ng my views. That docu‐ the protec on of large whales, and that it was incorrigible ment follows below: that the “team” and NMFS was not currently taking into
Area 3 Sinking Line Exemption Document 1. Rational
The basis on which the Area 3, offshore industry requests sinking line exemptions in the offshore fishery hinges on safe- ty factors, time constraints, and economic considerations as a result of a complete groundline replacement process. Sinking groundline poses a problem to fishermen who fish in jagged and rocky habitat in the canyons. Hang-downs and snags off the deepwater canyons can pose a serious safety factor in both hauling and grappling back gear. Gear that remains unfound has been known to pose a serious safety factor to whales when “ghost fishing.” While most of the industry has begun to change-over some gear, most line has not yet been changed. Since the Area 3 industry has re- ceived no financial assistance, many in the industry have been waiting for some help to arrive. With the escalating costs of fuel and the poor catch, many can barely afford to go fishing at the present time, let alone purchase exorbitant- ly expensive groundline.
Finally with the New England Fishery Management Council identifying and recommending measures, and NMFS prepar- ing to implement measures to protect deepwater coral in offshore canyons, it may be prudent to consider exemptions in those areas which could mitigate any possible interaction between coral and groundlines.
Rational to consider sinking line exemptions in offshore canyons: While it is well documented that whales traverse the offshore, Area 3 lobster resource, it is also well documented through NMFS Preliminary Summary of NMFS Gear Analysis for Entangled Large Whales for the Years 1997 through 2005, that of the 28 entanglements known to be a result of the US Lobster gear, only three (~10%) were suspected to be caused by offshore gear, and it is unknown where in area 3 those entanglements may have occurred.
Area 3 gear typically consists of one-mile long, 40-trap trawls, with a vertical buoy line at each end of the trawl. While an offshore trawl is longer and heavier than inshore lobster gear, and while the presence of whales is not disputed with- in Area 3, the Preliminary Summary documents the degree of risk to be less than what might otherwise be expected.
2. Areas Exemption Document Continued ● The areas in which exemptions are requested are those put forth by the
Area 3 industry as recommended in previous documents.
● Rational is documented above
● Exemption would occur year round, since it is impractical for industry to change groundlines mid-year.
3. Reasonable Trade-offs
Reasonable tradeoffs are already in place. Since 2003 Area 3 lobster fishermen have been reducing gear in the offshore fishery due to measures put forth by the industry through the Lobster Fishery Management Plan. The current FMP ac- complishes a trap reduction by, 2010, of 63,422 traps; which equates to 1585 trawls and 3171 end lines.
The number of allocated traps in Area 3, after the (present) final active trap reductions are completed in 2010, equal:
148,103 total traps = 3706 40 trap trawl = 7405 end lines
Calculating total numbers of end lines within the 127,073 square nautical miles encompassed within Area 3, that number equals .05 endlines per square nautical mile; which is a reduction from the 0.2 end lines reported out at the 2006 TRT meeting.
For the purpose of comparison and the TRT’s information, total numbers of traps allocated in Area 3 =148,103
Long Island Sound in 2006 = 167,914
Maine (as reported @ 2008 TRT) 3.3 million
Further, current management recommendations in Area 3, not yet implemented, call for a 20% conservation tax (which will result in 20% of the transferred traps being permanently removed from the fishery) when traps are transferred among fishery participants. Atlantic Offshore Lobstermen’s Association has also worked diligently to craft an industry funded trap buy-out plan which would permanently remove additional traps (over and above reductions required through an FMP) from the fishery; NMFS has not accepted this plan due to impractical Magnuson issues that have noth- ing to do with the lobster fishery. We are continuing to work with NMFS, and other fishery managers to move this pro- gram along.
Finally, for informational purposes, the offshore gillnet fleet is drastically smaller than the fleet that operates 20-30 miles from the beach.
Forecasted conservation benefits….
For the whales: gear that is being permanently removed from the water – posing continuous risk reduction. Conservation benefits for the fishermen in terms of allowed exemption areas….priceless!
Gear Marking
Exemption Document Continued
A certain color tracer can be placed in line that will be fished in the exemption areas.
Implementation Timetable
ASAP – preferably prior to being re-rigged with sinking line.
Strategic Monitoring
Coast Guard boardings. Further, industry will self-monitor the fleet, if for no other reason than self-preservation.
Contingency Plan
To be determined; go to sinking line?
Strategic Research
Allow the exemption areas and monitor for exemption are entanglements.
There has been no word on the exemp on plans, and I have no idea when we may hear, however, as many of you are aware, NMFS has extended the deadline for sinking rope un l April, 2009. Since learning of this, I contacted NMFS and let them know we appreciate the fact that we have a longer period to “not be considered criminals”, however, I re‐ minded them that I have said publicly and in wri ng that the offshore fleet would need at least one year to change over their gear. I explained that the industry is presently changing over slowly, however un l funding is made available…it will con nue to be very slowly. We MUST COMMENT on this Proposed Rule and basically say the same thing. Please see the following for comments and your choice of how to submit ( mail, e‐mail or fax)
For more information about the Proposed Rule to ex- tend the sinking rope implementation deadline go to the TRT website at http://www.nero.noaa.gov/whaletrp/
Comments for sinking line proposed rule to Postpone implementation to April 2009 BY BONNIE
F or p mo os re Comments can be sent ed inf htt Ru orm p:/ le a ● Via e-mail to: http://www.regulations.gov /w go tio ww to n a .n the bo ● Via fax to: 978-281-9394 ero T ut .no RT th a w e P ● Via USPS to: Mary Colligan, Assistant Reg. Adm. For a.g eb ro ov/ sit - Protected Resources wh e a al t etr NMFS, Northeast Region p/ 1 Blackburn Drive Gloucester, MA 01930
Here are some of my comment ideas:
● It has been stated publicly and in wri ng to NOAA Fisheries that the offshore lobster is a year‐round fishery, therefore, it will take AT LEAST one year to comply to the rule. April will not provide the necessary me for all gear to be switched‐out to sinking line.
● This Proposed Rule was designed to cater to the inshore fishermen who typically remove their gear in the winter months and return it to the water in the spring for the new fishing year.
● Available funding will further determine the ability for fishermen to comply with the rules….to the degree that they are able, given the me allowed.
● Offshore lobstermen NEED an exemp on un l December 31, 2009 to comply with the sinking line regula ons due to: Reality of ming necessary to change gear Amount of rope readily available for the huge amounts needed for the offshore fishery Cost associated with the line—even when funding is available (depending on when the funds become available) The me necessary to set up a GOOD recycling program Skate for bait BY BONNIE
The New England Fishery Management Council’s Plan De- NMFS, indicated that there was no other choice than to velopment Team was having a difficult time determining move forward, and while doing so try to collect better data, how to create management measures for skate, due to the however waiting for the data was not an option. She also fact that there is so little data available. Unfortunately, as reminded the Council that this was a rebuilding plan and with everything else, they were forced to use what little not a plan so severe as one might be when dealing with a data they had to formulate a Fishery Management Plan— depleted stock. ”best available data.”. At the most recent Council meeting, the Board discussed From the first time the PDT met they decided to split the measures brought forth from the PDT’s most recent meet- fishery into two segments, the wing fishery and the bait ing and several measures were agreed upon to be placed fishery. Recently the wing fishery has increased, while the into a Public Hearing document. The bait skate industry bait fishery has remained static and reasonably low at all recognized that cuts needed to be taken, however to avoid times, and discards from the mobile fleet has risen dramati- impossible daily trip limits, they recommended a plan that cally during the same time period. Industry representatives instead of daily trip limits, would allow interval TACs. In on the Council informed the Board that the bait fishery is that case, the fishermen would fish until the interval TAC not in a position to increase, in fact, it will likely decrease. was met, then the fishery would be closed for a week or so, The targeted bait fishery is held to other outside forces, and then reopened until the next TAC was met. This, such as demand. They are affected not only by the high again, seems to be the best alternative for the bait fishery, fuel prices, but also by the lobster industry, which is using as well as the lobster fishery as process allows for access to less bait because they are letting their pots soak longer, bait all year. rather than use fuel to run back and forth to the fishing The Council will review the completed document once the grounds. Board members stated they were uncomfortable Skate Committee has reviewed the PDT document, there- managing a fishery that cannot be split into individual spe- fore the Council will likely approve it at the August meet- cies and uses a broad brush to manage several species into ing. I will keep you apprised when the public hearing docu- two FMPs; bait and wing. While discomfort was stated, Pat ment is available and comments need to be submitted. Kurkul, Regional Administrator of the Northeast Region of
Habitat — deep sea corals BY BONNIE
Dave Preble, from RI, Chairman of the Habitat Commit- offered the following motion: tee, reported to the Council that there were several edits The Council initiate a joint management action with the to Phase I of the Omnibus Amendment that the Commit- Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council to protect tee agreed needed to be approved. The first was to up- deep sea corals. As part of this action, the Council would date the map to add 10 minute squares, the second was consider revising or removing the currently proposed to correct certain areas of the map that were incorrect HAPC designations in the canyons area and seamounts, (either spatially or topographically) and finally, they told in Phase I of the Omnibus Habitat Amendment. the Council that they wanted to remove the offshore canyons from the HAPC chart since they were designat- ed in a “sleazy” manner by protecting EFH for fish rather The motion was approved. So now, as I had requested than just protecting coral for the sake of protecting coral. at the Committee level, the canyons will not be “falsely” designated by association to other areas where data has been collected. Instead, designation will be a result of Well, a few of the Council members just about fell off real data and real areas where there is known presence their chairs. Sally McGee of Environmental Defense shot of coral. This study should take some time, therefore I do back that it took so long to agree to these designations it not anticipate strict management measures in the HAPC would be irresponsible and wrong to remove them; fur- areas that presently exist, however we still need to be ther Phase I was closed and it was time to move on to vigilant. Phase II and continue with Management options. She went on to say that she took offense at the term “sleazy,” since the Council worked for a long time prior to approv- Finally, while the new Magnuson language is still under ing the areas. Preble explained that since the Reauthor- review by NMFS, at present it seems the Council has no ized Magnuson Act allows for the protection of deep sea jurisdiction under gear types it does not regulate coral, the Committee would like to revaluate the designa- (LOBSTER), when discretionary (coral) rulings are consid- tions. He went on to say the Mid-Atlantic committee ered, OR unless they have ruled under EFH for a species member discussed areas that the MAFMC is looking at, they regulate. ☺ and suggested both Committees work together. He then Lobster Tales Page 8
U.S..— Canadian Migration Pathway? BY HEIDI
In the last ten months two vessels from the Shafmaster tain Begely of the Shafmaster Fleet in February of this Fishing Fleet have hauled in and re‐released 15 tagged year, near the U.S. boundary of the Hague Line in Sta s ‐ lobsters. All of these lobsters were tagged by a Nova Sco‐ cal Area 561, a straight‐line distance of more than 200 an fishing associa on, called the Eastern Shore Fisher‐ miles from her tagging loca on. She was then recaptured man's Protec ve Associa on (ESFPA), as part of a project a second me in late May, back in Canada, in 100 fathoms aimed at tracking the movements of mature, v‐notched of water located south of Nova Sco a in Canadian Lobster female lobsters between harbors and, consequently, Fishing Area 34. Her movement from Stat Area 561 back management areas (LFAs). ESFPA coordinator, Nellie Ste‐ into Canadian waters, represents a migra on of nearly 50 ven Baker, has provided us with the original tagging, and miles in 3 months. any other recapture, informa on for each of these lob‐ The ques ons I have now include: how common is this sters and I’ve provided her with our recapture infor‐ migra on path? Do female lobsters typically travel be‐ ma on. tween inshore and offshore areas? Do they o en migrate In early June, Nellie contacted me to tell us that one of between inshore Nova Sco a and the Gulf of the tagged lobsters hauled by Shafmaster has been re‐ Maine/Georges Bank? I will be looking into partnering recaptured back in Canada. This lobster was originally with scien sts and our Associa on counterparts to work tagged in July 2005 inshore in Canadian Lobster Fishing through some of these ques ons. Area 32 (near Halifax, NS.). She was then hauled by Cap‐
AOla’s newest Endeavor—Fishery Software BY HEIDI
The AOLA Board recently meet with Dr. Amos Barkai European Union, Africa and New Zealand and recent- of Olrac (Ocean Land Resource Assessment Consult- ly the federal fishery managers in Australia (think ants) to establish AOLA as the distributor for Olrac’s NMFS) hired Olrac to design and implement a fishery fishery related software programs. Amos offered AO- related data collection scheme that will replace all pa- LA this opportunity to partner with him as a result of per data collection (landing reports, catch reports, our highly successful partnership during the electron- fishing reports, dealer reports, observer reports, etc.) ic vessel trip report project. In fact Olrac has contin- for the entire country’s fleet. ued to build on the software we helped them design, I’ve developed a marketing plan which includes these called the Dynamic Data Logger, and they are now four potential target groups: 1) Government Agencies selling this product around the World. who regulate/manage fisheries, 2) Industry—via trade Once we work through the legal paperwork, AOLA associations and sector groups, 3) Academic scientists will be responsible for marketing the Olfish suite of who conduct research at sea and 4) Non-commercial software on the East Coast of the U.S. and Canada! In fishing, yet vessel related groups—such as recreational return we will receive 30% of the sale price on each fishing, aquaculture, and shipping industries. sale we make (including continuing yearly licensing If you have any ideas of specific groups that may be fees) and 100% of the profits from providing software interested in a software that can collect, manage, ma- training and technical support. With software run- nipulate, and report information while at sea, please ning between $1,000 and $2,000 per license, we let me know! Also, if interested I can send you an stand to due well in this business endeavor if we can electronic brochure discussing all the Olrac software land some sales. products. The Olrac software is truly amazing and there is a po- Please see the next page for more information about tential for a huge U.S. market, especially considering the Olfish suite of software. the increased demand for real time electronic fishery data collection. Already, the software is at work in the
What is OLFISH? OLRAC, a Cape Town based company has developed a fisheries so ware product, named OLFISH. OLFISH is capable of collec ng, analyzing, plo ng, mapping, repor ng, tracing and transmi ng alldata re‐ lated to commercial fishing opera ons. Data can be compressed, encrypted and digitally authen cated prior to transmission to the company ashore or to the relevant management authority. OLFISH can be used by skippers, fleet and company managers, scien sts, onboard observers, and compli‐ ance inspectors and fisheries management authori es. OLFISH includes a dynamic and user‐friendly report writer and, as such, it virtually eliminates the need for paper logbooks. OLFISH can, virtually, transfer each vessel in the fishing fleet into a research sta on able to collect a vast amount of valuable data with great
The So ware Components: Olfish caters for the capturing of all fishing and non‐fishing ac vi es of the vessel. Data can be recorded on the vessel version using one of two basic data logging and repor ng tools, these are:
1. Bridge Console – A GIS based, real‐ me data recording tool 2. OLFISH Dynamic Data Logger (DDL) ‐ A simpler method of logging data in real or non‐real me.
Both tools offer complete standalone data recording, repor ng and transmission solu ons. In addi on to the data recording tools OLFISH, includes three op onal added‐value tools, these are:
1. Data Centre – Browsing and edi ng tool, of all data captured by the OLFISH data logging u li es. The Data Centre includes a GIS component (Mapper), mul media viewer, ac vity calendar, ac vity tree, catch summary modules and many other viewing and edi ng u li es.
2. Report Centre – OLFISH Report Centre is a GIS based analy cal and char ng tool which allows users to analyse and visualise recorded data in many different ways.
3. Fishing Consultant – The fishing consultant is a unique predic ve tool that can advise the user where to go fishing, based on previous years/months performance and based on a variety of
environmental informa on. AOLA Website (www.offshorelobster.org) Update BY HEIDI
Google Analy cs has launched a new service called Benchmarks. Benchmarks allows us to compare our website to 100s to 1,000s of other websites, which use Google Analy cs. We can compare ourselves to either sites of similar size or sites from similar organiza ons (coming soon). Below are 4 graphs comparing our website (the thicker/blue line) to sites of similar size, dur‐ ing the last month (April 21st‐May 21st). AOLA is above the benchmark for each metric: number of visits, percentage of visits from new visitors, average me on our website, and number of our website’s pages viewed each visit. This means our site receives more visits and more new visitors, and our visitors spend more me exploring more of our website, as compared to visitors on hun- dreds of similar sized websites.
TOTAL Visits (April 21 - May 21) AOLA
“Benchmark = the average number of TOTAL VISITS on a minimum of 100 other websites of similar size”
percent of visits by new visitors AOLA
Lobster Tales Page 10 AOLA Website (www.offshorelobster.org) Update BY HEIDI
Average Time Spent on Site
AOLA
Number of Pages Viewed During each visit
AOLA
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Lobster Tales Page 11 AOLA Online Gear Shop UPDATES www.offshorelobster.org/main/product
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Max gauge will be reduced by 1/8 inches per year in 2009 & 2010 for a FINAL Maximum Gauge of 6 3/4 inches.)
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The Association depends on a constant cash flow and your dues go a long way toward running our Association. Hauler Sheave/Rope Wear Preliminary Report with Images from Dick Allen (from 5/1/08 email/powerpoint)
The hauler configura on trials have produced drama c for a combined angle between the sheaves of 10 degrees results that have the poten al to significantly increase the when the sheaves are spaced apart and the rope is riding longevity of lobster trap groundlines. One thing that we deep. This compares to a minimum angle of 4 degrees for have learned is that small differences in haulers can make the machined sheaves, for a combined angle of 8 degrees. big differences in rope wear. Keep in mind that your The angle between the stamped steel sheaves starts wid‐ sheaves may not have the same characteris cs as the er and increases more rapidly from the center toward the sheaves that we have been tes ng, so our results may not outer rim. We were able to operate the stamped steel apply directly to your equipment. But our results may s ll sheaves with a 0.3" spacer between them, but point the way to avoiding problems or making improve‐ the rope was virtually destroyed by the hauler when we ments. tried to use a 0.3" spacer between the machined sheaves. The thickest spacer we could use between the machined The most notable results relate to the damage done to sheaves was 0.2" and you can see from the picture that the rope samples by a set of sheaves with obvious ridges the damage was s ll extensive. The rope damage caused le by the machining. These ridges can be plainly seen in by the machined sheaves compared to the stamped the first slide of the a ached Power Point presenta on. sheaves became comparable when there was no space We don't know whether this set of sheaves just happened between the sheaves and the rope was therefore not rid‐ to have more pronounced ridges, or whether they are ing deep, meaning that it was riding where the angle be‐ typical of hauler machining. Even if this set of sheaves tween the sheaves was wider. had more pronounced ridges, our research indicates that all machined surfaces have some degree of roughness, as Whereas the rope wear from the machined sheaves in‐ illustrated by the magnified image of a machined surface creased drama cally when we opened up the sheaves and in slide 2. This set of sheaves also has a variable surface let the rope ride more deeply, we didn't see much differ‐ angle that increases from the center out to the rim, ence in rope wear when we opened up the stamped steel which we specified to match the stamped steel sheaves sheaves. The only explana on that I can provide for that that are manufactured by Hydroslave. result is this: the rope squeezes more ghtly between the sheaves when the spacer is thicker and the angle between The obvious rope damage that we saw with this set of the sheaves is less; if the sheaves have machining ridges, machined sheaves contrasts with the lack of rope wear the ridges scuff more material off the sides of the rope as that was seen with 17" stamped steel sheaves manufac‐ the rope squeezes in more ghtly. If there are no machin‐ tured by Hydroslave. The difference in rope wear appears ing ridges, the squeezing of the rope does not cause a big to be caused by two or three factors. The most important increase in rope wear. The squeezing and scuffing of factor seems to be the ridges that are le by the machin‐ the rope when it rides deeply is obvious when we watch ing. Another factor is the depth at which the rope rides in the rope in the hauler under tension. the sheaves, determined by the thickness of the spacers between the sheaves. The third slide shows that the rope The take‐away message from our results so far is that sur‐ damage is considerably greater when the machined face smoothness of sheaves is cri cally important to rope sheaves are spread apart and the rope rides more deeply. wear. A wider angle between the sheaves also seems to This result may be more related to the angle between the reduce rope wear. For that reason, with variable angle sheaves at the point where the rope rides, rather than the sheaves it also appears to be important to use as thin a depth itself. spacer as possible and keep the rope riding out as far as possible. That makes the rope ride where the angle is wid‐ The angle between the two stamped steel sheaves in‐ er. creases constantly from the center toward the outer rim. The minimum angle on each sheave is about 5 degrees, The spacing between the sheaves may not be important CONTINUED NEXT PAGE with sheaves that have a constant 4‐degree angle. The last slide shows a comparison of ropes run in standard I will be doing more experimenta on with variable angle sheaves with two different spacers. The difference in sheaves to determine the importance of the angle be‐ rope wear is not appreciable, and there may even be tween the sheaves. Everything that I have seen so far in‐ more wear with the thin spacer. It makes sense that the dicates that it is be er to have a wider angle between depth at which the rope rides would not make much the sheaves as long as you s ll get the necessary grip. I difference if the angle between the sheaves is the same at will provide more informa on in the future on the angle any depth. With the same tension on the rope, the rope between the sheaves where the rope was riding with would take the same shape and contact the sheaves in different spacers in our trials. the same way regardless of depth. All of these trials have been done without sediment in the I am currently having the machined sheaves re‐machined tank, so that we can see the effect of the hauler configu‐ by Scandia with instruc ons to make the surface as ra on alone. When we have reduced the hauler damage smooth as possible and to match the surface profile of the to a minimum, we will try that set‐up with sediment. Hydroslave sheaves. I want to pinpoint the reasons for their widely different performance. See images below and on the next pages.
Notice—Images have been omitted in this version to reduce file size. To receive the images please con- tact [email protected]
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Maintaining Vessel Water ght Integrity CONTINUED...
Coast Guard EPIRB reminder
Beginning February 1, 2009 the Coast Guard will only monitor mayday calls broad- casted from digital 406 MHz EPIRB beacons. Older 121.5 MHz EPIRB distress signals will no longer be detected. Federal law requires that all 406 MHz EPIRBS be registered. To do this call 1-888-212-SAVE or go to www.beaconregistration.noaa.gov
line," the company said. The buoys "tell you someone's there."
"Once fully implemented, Rescue 21 will The "sonobuoys" can pick up sounds Coast Guard chief says provide communica ons along the U.S. made by everything from 25‐foot speed‐ coastline, Great Lakes region, Hawaii, boats commonly used in the drug trade to new C3 system ready Guam and San Juan. The system is ex‐ lumbering ships. If one passes through the pected to be complete in 2011 and will invisible net of buoys, informa on will be SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., March 17 (UPI) ‐‐ U.S. replace the Coast Guard's aging Na onal transmi ed by satellite to the Internet Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Thad Distress and Response system built in the and read by security officials on land or at Allen says its new communica ons system 1970s,' the company said. sea. is now ready. General Dynamics said its C4 Systems If a signal from a suspect boat is picked Allen, "in a recent visit to General Dynam‐ business unit was "the prime contractor up, the Coast Guard or police boats would ics C4 Systems, said the Rescue 21 pro‐ for the Rescue 21 program." have me to intercept it before it reaches gram is opera onally ready. Rescue 21 is land, Goward says. "It lets enforcement now the Coast Guard's primary command, authori es know what's going on, and if control and communica on system and is something bad's going on, we can re‐ effec vely loca ng vessels in distress and spond to it," he says. helping the Coast Guard rescue mariners in the regions in which it is deployed," The buoys would be placed roughly 20 General Dynamics said in a statement late Homeland Security to test miles apart and anchored up to 200 miles last month. offshore, so they would be far enough high-tech away from land not to pick up a lot of rec‐ "During his visit to General Dynamics, rea onal boats. Admiral Allen met with employees who buoys work on the system, par cipated in a pro‐ BY MIMI HALL The buoys also can differen ate between gram review and toured the Rescue 21 the "acous c signatures" of boats and the produc on facility," the company said. "calls and squeaks and noises" of whales, The federal government is preparing to dolphins and other creatures of the sea, "With every rescue made and life saved, test high‐tech buoys adapted from Cold says Walt Wright of Advanced Acous c we are seeing the return on our invest‐ War‐era Navy technology that could act as Concepts (AAC), one of two companies to ment in Rescue 21," Allen said. "Rescue 21 an offshore early warning system against get contracts to test the buoys from is helping the Coast Guard take the a terrorist a ack by sea. Homeland Security's Science and Technol‐ 'search' out of search and rescue. We're ogy division. proud of the strong partnership we have Finding boats that aren't supposed to be developed with General Dynamics to put heading for U.S. shores is a difficult task in Marine life noises would not be reported. this vital lifesaving tool into the hands of vast, some mes dangerous seas. Much of Neither would passenger boats nor cargo Coast Guard men and women." the surveillance is done by aircra and ships over 300 tons that transmit through satellites, which is very expensive work, the Automa c Iden fica on System. The "The Coast Guard recently announced Homeland Security spokeswoman Amy transmissions iden fy the boat and tell acceptance of Rescue 21 at Coast Guard Kudwa says. authori es where it's headed. Sector Jacksonville, Fla., bringing total system deployment to 11 regions, includ‐ The department hopes contractors can In 2006, Homeland Security gave out six ing Atlan c City and Eastern Shore, N.J.; create inexpensive buoys that can with‐ $100,000 contracts to encourage develop‐ Mobile, Ala., St. Petersburg, Fla., and Port stand rough water and don't require any ment of the buoys, Kudwa says. It has Angeles and Sea le, Wash.," General Dy‐ maintenance for at least a year. selected two companies, AAC and Lew‐ namics said. "We're looking for these to be very resili‐ Tech Company, and given them each ent," Kudwa says. For the round of tests $750,000 to run tests, which will start by "The Rescue 21 system is also covering beginning this summer, the buoys will August off the west coast. Kudwa did not the waters of Delaware Bay, Del., Long stay in the Pacific over the winter so offi‐ offer specifics, ci ng security. Island Sound, N.Y., New York City and cials can see how they hold up. Hampton Roads, Va. In addi on, it's Wright says his company aims to build the providing coverage in a cri cal area of "Our efforts in mari me security are buoys, each of which will be equipped New Orleans where the system was in‐ greatly dependent on our ability to know with a light and a camera, for less than stalled early in response to hurricanes what's going on, and in some ways, the $15,000 each. Katrina and Rita. In total, Rescue 21 is ocean is s ll the great unknown to us," providing life‐saving communica on cov‐ says Dana Goward, director of Mari me "We're going to make them as indestruc ‐ erage of more than 12,700 miles of coast‐ Domain Awareness for the Coast Guard. ble as we can," he says. Are pes cides killing Rhode Island lobsters? BY SAM BARI
Rhode Island lobstermen are worried don't have scien fic proof either way. Newport City Council member that a pes cide used to control the We don't know if the concentra on Charles Y. Duncan recently sent a fax development of mosquito larvae is of methoprene in the bay is harming to the Newport mayor asking for a killing young lobsters in Narraganse the lobster reproduc ve process, and resolu on to be put on the next city Bay and Rhode Island Sound. we don't know if it isn't. However, it council mee ng agenda that bans the stands to reason that nothing should use of any of the toxic poisons, such The product, sold under the trade be introduced to any fishery without as methoprene, in the mosquito name Altosid, is deposited in storm knowing the consequences." abatement program. He suggested drains to control the mosquito popu‐ that the city look to less invasive la on. Many of the storm drains in Patrick Heaney, a Rhode Island lob‐ methods of mosquito control. The Rhode Island's seaside communi es sterman who has been fishing out of results of the council's decision were empty directly into the bay. Newport for more than 16 years, not available at press me. agrees with Dellinger. In a le er to Altosid is made of methoprene, a lar‐ the editor of a local publica on, Hea‐ DEM response vicide, that when applied, reduces ney admonished the state's Depart‐ the number of adult mosquitoes and DEM Associate Director of Natural ment of Environmental Management thus reduces human risk from mos‐ Resources Larry Mouradjian an‐ in conjunc on with ci es and towns quito borne diseases such as EEE and swered ques ons about the mosquito across the state for dumping large West Nile virus. Rhode Island lobster‐ abatement program and the use of amounts of highly toxic poison into men and many environmentalists op‐ methoprene. the catch drains and sewers that pose the use of methoprene because empty into the bay. His le er was In an e‐mail Mouradjian said that eve‐ the chemical also kills lobster larvae. signed by 14 other local fishermen ry summer DEM and the Department The lobstermen argue that Maine is and people concerned about the wel‐ of Health administer a comprehen‐ the only East Coast fishery where the fare of the industry sive program aimed at mosquito con‐ lobster popula on is at acceptable, trol. The program began in 1999. The "The long‐term risks of this prac ce sustainable levels because, unlike program includes larvicide distribu‐ are becoming apparent to those who other East Coast fisheries, Maine on to municipali es. work in the lobster fishery in the bans the use of methoprene and lar‐ state," Heaney said. "The ongoing He also said, "Using mosquito larvi‐ vicides in its waters. Maine is also the incidence of shell disease and egg cide reduces the possibility that mos‐ only fishery where the lobster popu‐ mortality, we believe, is a direct re‐ quito adul cides would be needed. la on does not suffer from shell dis‐ sult of this environmentally ques on‐ Mosquito adul cides do have envi‐ ease. In all the other fisheries, Rhode able prac ce." ronmental impacts as they can affect Island included, lobster birth rates are non‐target organisms. Human health no ceably below normal. Rich Fuka, president of the Rhode risks are also associated with the use Island Fishermen's Alliance, Chris Lanny Dellinger, president of the of adul cides. Brown, president of Rhode Island Rhode Island Lobstermen's Associa‐ Commercial Fishermen's Associa on, "Rhode Island DEM makes metho‐ on, agrees that no conclusive scien‐ and Dennis Ingram, a board member prene available to municipali es for fic study is available that specifically of the Ocean State Fishermen's Asso‐ mosquito control as well as BTI, a be‐ names methoprene as the sole cause cia on, all agree. Rhode Island fisher‐ nign bacterium specific to killing mos‐ of decreasing lobster birth rates men want the state to stop using lar‐ quito larvae above ground. and/or shell disease in Rhode Island. vicide pellets in catch basins and "One half teaspoon of Methoprene "That's the point," Dellinger said. storm drains that empty into Rhode pellets are distributed to most under‐ "Nobody knows. Process of elimina‐ Island waters un l conclusive scien‐ ground storm water catchment basins on tells us it certainly is possible that fic data is available declaring the monthly for four months by commu‐ methoprene is the cause, but we chemicals safe. nity department of public works
Lobster Tales Page 25 CONTINUED NEXT PAGE CONTINUED Are pes cides killing Rhode Island lobsters? workers that we train," Mouradjian "Fish have a different structure and I thing to assure that the health of the said. know of no impacts on their develop‐ fishery is not at risk, he said "DEM will mental processes," he added. again be reviewing methoprene use He explained that two iden cal train‐ to understand the alterna ves prod‐ ing sessions are held each spring for Mouradjian stated, "Various research ucts, advances in scien fic data and municipal employees. Most employ‐ documents have raised ques ons on cost/benefit to the program. ees who make the applica ons a end the poten al offsite movement and a session every two years and learn impacts of methoprene and like prod‐ "We will provide improved direc ons, about any new developments. "All ucts. Lab research has shown 'dosage' alterna ve products or other pro‐ municipali es in total have been impacts on developing lobsters, gram enhancements as deemed best. trained," Mouradjian said. which demonstrates if unnaturally Disease monitoring con nues to doc‐ high concentra ons of methoprene ument presence of EEE, West Nile He also outlined the training pro‐ were to occur in the presence of de‐ and other cri cal pathogens as pre‐ gram. "The training entails several veloping lobsters damage could be sent in our communi es and this too speakers speaking on the topics of: observed. Lab tests only have docu‐ must be factored." Pes cide usage and safe pes cide mented this as far as I know. handling, mosquito larval habitats When asked about the chances of an and diseases, pes cide toxicology and "DEM has on two separate occasions EEE or West Nile Virus epidemic if the modes of ac on, and laws, licensing, in years past consulted with URI and mosquito popula on isn't controlled, and regulatory issues. other scien fic partners to review the he said that EEE and WNV risks are scien fic literature and the possibili‐ higher with higher mosquito popula‐ "Each community has a mosquito es of damage outside the catch ba‐ ons and added that the risk is diffi‐ control contact person that is to doc‐ sins. cult to quan fy. ument to DEM's mosquito abatement office the monthly applica ons that "Tests were done to measure the Jamestown has par cipated in the are made in their community. Alt‐ chemical concentra ons seen outside state program since its incep on, but hough documenta on received back the basins and all concluded with the the town does not monitor specific by DEM is incomplete, each commu‐ results that no detec on was deter‐ results. "We rely on DEM," Public nity receives only that amount pro‐ mined beyond very short distances so Works Director Steve Goslee said. por onal to the number of catch ba‐ the 'risk' was judged negligible to or‐ "There was a public hearing before sins in their community." ganisms beyond the mosquitoes in the program started when DEM came the catch basins. DEM provides very to the Town Council." Mouradjian explained that metho‐ clear and defini ve direc ons for use prene pellets sink, and are very un‐ by the communi es so that the im‐ likely to be flushed out of a basin, See next week's Press for the results pact work and the use are in align‐ based on an experiment conducted of a University of Rhode Island study ment," Mouradjian stated. by DEM in 2000. He said there was no on the use of the larvacide. evidence that methoprene affects When asked if the DEM is doing any‐ lobsters in nature. Review of lobster industry planned AUGUSTA – An effort to have Maine's signature seafood certified as sustaina- lobster industry certified as "sustainable" ble by the London-based Marine Stew- is moving forward with the hiring of a ardship Council, which evaluates fishing Canadian company to review the state's practices worldwide. lobster industry. Fisheries that are certified can use a seal The Governor's Working Group on that assures consumers that the seafood Maine Lobster Sustainability said Thurs- was not overfished or harvested in a day it has contracted with Moody Ma- way that harms the ocean. With con- rine Ltd. of Nova Scotia to begin an sumers demanding more "green" food overview of the industry. products, task force members say the lobster industry stands to lose out if it The group is working to have Maine's A Mysterious Disease Afflicts Lobster Shells: Some‐
thing's ro en in the state of New England's favorite crustacean BY SARA E PRATT In the late 1930s, lobstermen in Rhode same me. Island began to no ce strange black spots The Lobster Shell Disease Ini a ve on the shells of lobsters being held in “Similar shell disease can be seen in any Verslycke has examined the effects of tanks. By the 1980s, a similar condi on, crustacean, but never to this extent,” he human‐made chemicals on invertebrate now known as lobster shell disease, start‐ said. “The levels we’re seeing here are hormone systems, including those that ed to appear in wild popula ons. really unusual.” regulate mol ng.
Then in the mid‐1990s, a more virulent The epidemic could be the result of an “Lobsters can actually molt out of shell form of the disease emerged in southern accumula on of factors, Verslycke said. disease,” he said, “but if they are exposed New England waters. The black spots Marine animals face many threats these to a chemical that limits their capacity to turned into deep holes in lobsters’ outer days, including warming ocean tempera‐ molt or otherwise interferes with their shells. Holes o en fully penetrated the tures, fishing pressures, and increased hormone systems, it would make them shell, causing the hard shell to fuse with exposure to chemical pollu on from in‐ more vulnerable to any kind of addi onal so membranes underneath. The disease dustrial sources and pes cides. stress.” le lobsters suscep ble to bacteria or viruses and interfered with their ability to Researchers have found that the disease In 2006, Verslycke and WHOI colleagues molt their shells and grow. In extreme is not contagious from lobster to lobster, John Stegeman and Judith McDowell cases, the en re shell ro ed, killing the as is o en the case with other lobster were among nine teams of researchers lobsters. diseases. That leads to suspicions that funded by the $2.3 million New England physiological imbalances or compromised Lobster Research Ini a ve, established Although the lobster meat itself is not immune systems may be impairing lob‐ by Congress to study the causes and con‐ affected, the unappe zing appearance of sters’ ability to fight off the disease, he sequences of lobster shell disease. Under afflicted lobsters makes them much hard‐ said. Previous studies have found higher the ini a ve, scien sts from several ins ‐ er to sell whole. levels of certain chemicals in shell‐ tu ons (including the University of Mas‐ diseased lobsters than have been found sachuse s, the University of Rhode Is‐ “Nobody would want to eat the thing,” in healthy lobsters. These chemicals have land, the New England Aquarium, Boston said Bill Adler, execu ve director of the been shown to disrupt the crustaceans' University, and the Marine Biological La‐ Massachuse s Lobstermen’s Associa on. hormones systems, which could lead to a boratory) are inves ga ng the roles that The disease was a big factor in the 50‐ wide range of detrimental effects. microbes, contaminants, and other envi‐ percent decline in lobster catches in Buz‐ ronmental factors, such as warmer ocean zards Bay between 1998 and 2004, which “At this point we’re trying to get an idea temperatures, may play in increasing forced many lobstermen out of business, if these lobsters are indeed exposed to lobsters’ vulnerability and fostering the he said. At the me more than half of the chemicals at such levels that it leads to a spread of the disease. lobsters in coastal areas of southern New lesser capacity for them to cope with England and Long Island Sound were these diseases,” Verslycke said. The WHOI study will examine how envi‐ affected by shell disease. ronmental stresses, such as chemical ex‐ One clue comes from observa ons that posure, might change the way specific More recently stocks have begun to re‐ make lobstermen especially nervous: genes are expressed, or turned on or off, cover somewhat, Adler said, but up to 30 reports of egg‐carrying female lobsters in diseased lobsters, as compared to non‐ percent of southern New England lob‐ shedding diseased shells with unhatched diseased ones. These genes produce pro‐ sters are s ll affected, and the disease eggs s ll a ached. teins that regulate the lobsters’ immune has started to show up in other areas, and hormone regula on systems. including Nova Sco a and Maine. “This obviously means something is going wrong with their hormone regula on,” “Our approach would allow us to evalu‐ What makes lobsters suscep ble? Verslycke said. “It doesn’t make sense for ate whether genes associated with these Researchers do not yet know what causes them to molt while they’re carrying processes are indeed differen ally ex‐ the disease or makes lobsters suscep ‐ broods. Normally, that is a very finely pressed between healthy and shell‐ ble, said Tim Verslycke, a biologist at tuned process that is hormonally regulat‐ diseased animals,” Verslycke said. “In Woods Hole Oceanographic Ins tu on. ed.” other words, we are hoping to find clues That point is reflected by the disease’s at the molecular level that indicate why name: epizoo c shell disease. “Epizoo c” “That’s where the fear of shell disease some animals are ge ng diseased and simply means an outbreak of a disease comes in,” Adler said. “There goes the others not.” affec ng many animals of one kind at the future stock.” Steps take to protect lobster; fishing group starts educa- on program to warn of dangers of plas c in Bay of Fundy. BY NATALIA MANZOCCO
SAINT JOHN ‐ Think twice about where you put that plas‐ some mes find fish popula ons that are maybe five per c bo le. It might end up poisoning the Bay of Fundy's cent male," Laufer said. "I think it's kind of scary." lobster popula on, the Fundy North Fishermen's Associa‐ The illness has reached epidemic status in some New Eng‐ on warns. land waters, but it is not known if the disease has reached The associa on has started an educa on program warn‐ the Bay of Fundy's lobster popula on. ing fishermen and other waterfront patrons of the dan‐ "In our sampling, we haven't seen any," said David Ro‐ gers of plas cs, which are believed to have contributed to bichaud, a biologist at the Huntsman Marine Science Cen‐ a recent epidemic of lobster shell rot in New England. tre in St. Andrews. "Marine debris has been a huge problem in this area for a The prevalence of shell disease depends on factors like while," said Maria Recchia, the associa on's execu ve water temperature, as well as pollu on, he said. director. "But the fishermen are quite aware of what happened (in "It's coming from all sides ‐ fishing boats, aquaculture Long Island Sound), and want to prevent anything that sites, recrea onal boaters, land‐based sources. For the could happen," he said. popula on here, I think it's a pre y significant problem." Fundy fishermen need to be mindful of Laufer's findings, The risk to the bay's lobsters, however, is a new facet to since plas c li er is commonly found in the bay. the pollu on problem. "Most of the debris we pick up is plas c," Recchia said, Hans Laufer, a professor at the University of Connec cut, adding that plas c rope from fishing boats frequently gets has spent the last four years inves ga ng the link be‐ loose and is le floa ng in the water. tween the plas c byproducts, called alkyphenols, and In addi on to holding beach cleanups, the associa on has shell rot. posted signage at nine of the bay's wharves, indica ng the In recent years, the disease has become an epidemic in risk to sea creatures and imploring fishermen and other Long Island Sound (located between Connec cut and Long patrons to recycle their plas c products. Island, N.Y.) affec ng up to 70 per cent of some lobster popula ons at its peak. "There seems to be a direct rela onship between plas c compound breakdown and shell disease," Laufer said. The alkyphenols are absorbed into the lobster's blood‐ stream and inhibit the chemicals that keep the shell hard, which makes them more suscep ble to bacteria and other infec ons that eat away at the shell. "The lobsters try to molt out of the old shell," Laufer said. "If it's just mild enough, they recover. If it's serious, of course, it kills them." Although plas cs can eventually disintegrate in water, they aren't biodegradable. The chemicals remain in the water and are eaten or ab‐ sorbed by marine species. Laufer adds that lobster aren't the only creatures harmed by the compounds. "There is evidence that some of these compounds get into fish, and they will reverse the sex of the fish. You can Undersea detec on system helps to guard against colli- sion with ships BY BETH DALEY
April 7, 2008 lion over the 25‐ to 40‐year life of the project, is ini ally In the deep, cold waters off Massachuse s, the world's being paid for by Excelerate Energy, which recently fin‐ last 350 or so North Atlan c right whales search for each ished construc on of New England's first offshore lique‐ other with so , drawn‐out "whoops" and "moos." The fied natural gas port, 13 miles southeast of Gloucester. If a ethereal sounds travel for miles in the dark undersea to second proposed port is built nearby, it will share the help the leviathans meet to mate and share feeding costs of the network. Federal officials demanded the mon‐ grounds. itoring system because vessels delivering gas will steam through the whale‐laden sanctuary. Now, scien sts are using those calls to help the whales survive. Ten yellow buoys are now spaced 5 miles apart in a 55‐ mile stretch of the shipping lanes around Cape Cod, head‐ They have developed a cu ng‐edge underwater listening ing into Boston. Each buoy is equipped with an underwa‐ system to protect the creatures from their number one ter hydrophone that can detect right whales within 5 killer: ships. The Massachuse s Bay network can track miles. If a buoy detects a whale, the natural gas ships are right whales by their signature call ‐ and in as li le as 20 required to slow from 12 to 10 nau cal miles per hour minutes warn mariners to slow if they're too close. over the next 24 hours near that buoy ‐ and posi on The devices are also giving scien sts unprecedented in‐ someone on board to search for whales by sight. While sight into how the creatures change behavior to respond the speed change is small, research shows that a lookout, to the cacophony of man‐made noises in the bay. combined with slower speed, significantly reduces whale strikes and deaths. "We need to listen to these whales" to save them, said Christopher W. Clark, director of Cornell University's Bioa‐ Researchers sadly joke that there are so few North Atlan‐ cous cs Research Program, which developed the technol‐ c right whales le in the world they can iden fy each ogy with Woods Hole Oceanographic Ins tu on. one personally by naturally roughened skin patches on the tops of their heads. Those small numbers mean that Clarks said an increasing number of pipelines, cruise ships, even one death of a breeding female could contribute to tankers, and construc on projects are drowning out the the species' ex nc on. whales' so calls, making it difficult for them to connect. Clark has evidence that the whales simply don't "whoop" The dark‐colored whales ‐ so‐named because they were when the bay gets too noisy. the "right" whale to kill for oil because they floated when dead ‐ have never made a comeback a er being hunted "In the world of right whales, we know it's a noisy place to nearly to ex nc on in the 1700s. Many of the creatures live," Clark said in an e‐mail. "Underwater [is] not much get tangled in fishing gear, but scien sts say ships are different than living on the tarmac at Logan." their major killer: At least one‐third of all the right whales Today, Clark's lab is launching listenforwhales.org to allow that died in the last decade died from ship strikes. the public to see where whales are being detected in the The creatures feed on zooplankton near the sea surface, busy shipping lanes that run through the bay's Stellwagen o en right in the path of ships entering or leaving Boston. Bank Na onal Marine Sanctuary. Visitors to the website Ship captains o en don't know they have hit whales un l will also be able to listen to whale calls and learn more they find them wrapped around the bow in port. about the creatures. "If a ship over 65 feet in length going 12 nau cal miles an The listening system, which is es mated to cost $47 mil‐ hour hits a whale, data shows that whale is most likely "It's like when you put a microphone out of your car win‐ going to die," said Leila Hatch, regional marine bioacous c dow going 5 miles per hour, it's the same thing in the wa‐ coordinator for the Stellwagen sanctuary, which came up ter column ‐ it picks up all the noise as the buoy goes up with the concept of the listening system. "We need to do and down in the water," said John Kemp, the Woods Hole our best to make sure ships are in different places than engineer who, with his colleagues, spent four years de‐ whales." signing a solu on. The team ul mately came up with a Un l now, researchers tracked right whales on boats or in "gumby hose" that allows the hydrophone to remain sta‐ airplanes. But the search was o en thwarted by bad onary and not pick up sea noise. weather, darkness, and an expansive sea where even a 50‐ Clark says the devices are already showing that the whales ton whale can be hard to spot. are in the shipping lanes far more o en than researchers Scien sts have long been working on a be er way of lo‐ had thought. And New England Aquarium right whale re‐ ca ng the creatures by their dis nc ve call. Clark, of Cor‐ searcher Sco Kraus says the devices will help him and nell, knew that right whales made audible upcalls ‐ that other scien sts be er understand whale movements at so "whoop" ‐ that could be isolated from the background night and in bad weather ‐ and help build the case that all hum of the ocean. But the buoy team had to overcome ships should be required to slow down when whales are technological problems to design a system that could hear nearby. the whale, verify the sound, and then quickly tell mariners. "At the end of the day, we want these devices to help One of the trickiest challenges: figuring out a way to hear ships and whales co‐exist," said Dave Wiley, the sanctu‐ the whale over the din of the buoy system that holds the ary's research coordinator. hydrophone, an underwater listening device.
A visual alert is avail- able on the Right Whale Listening Net- work page 24/7. This particular image represents detections on May 8 2008,. An extraordinarily large pod of nearly 200 Right Whales visited Cape Cod Bay and Stellwagen Bank dur- ing late April and early May before moving north.
Paper Version Readers: Enter this URL, http://listenforwhales.org/, to visit the whale listening network. E-Version Read- ers: please follow the hyperlinks throughout the text. NOTE—to view the websites associated with each external article, double click on the article’s logo located in the title bar (i.e. Boston.com, the Jamestown Press, etc.) White House Blocking Whale Protec on Rule
Mul ple White House offices are working in concert to block a environmental and homeland security rulemakings, according new policy that would expand federal protec ons for the North to an OMB Watch analysis. Atlan c right whale. The offices, including the office of Vice President Cheney, are ques oning the findings of scien sts at The interference in NOAA's effort to protect right whales is be‐ the Na onal Oceanic and Atmospheric Administra on (NOAA), ing coordinated by the Office of Informa on and Regulatory the agency a emp ng to finalize the rule. Affairs (OIRA). OIRA rou nely reviews and comments on federal agency rulemakings and solicits the opinions of other offices or NOAA is proposing speed limits on large ships traveling in Atlan‐ agencies. However, it is rare for White House offices to conduct c Ocean whale migra on areas during seasons when the right their own research or to see such extended back‐and‐forths. whale is most ac ve. NOAA says collisions with ships are a ma‐ jor cause of death of the right whale — one of the most endan‐ Waxman wrote to OIRA Administrator Susan Dudley asking for gered whale species in the world. an explana on of the White House's role. Waxman wrote, "I ques on why White House economic advisors are apparently Newly released memos sent from NOAA staff to White House conduc ng their own research on right whales and why the Vice officials indicate the White House is trying to undermine NO‐ President's staff is challenging the conclusions of the govern‐ AA's conclusion that collisions with ships need to be reduced. ment's scien fic experts." The memos were obtained by the Union of Concerned Scien sts and released by Rep. Henry Waxman (D‐CA) on April 30. President Bush installed Dudley by recess appointment in April 2007 a er opposi on from public interest groups, including In one memo, NOAA staff responded to objec ons from the OMB Watch, and labor unions. Those groups argued Dudley is White House Council of Economic Advisors (CEA). CEA reana‐ ideologically opposed to government regula on and that she lyzed sta s cs in a model intended to determine the rela on‐ would put special interests ahead of public need. ship between ship speed and the risk to right whales. CEA tweaked certain data points to alter the model's outcome and In his le er to Dudley, Waxman notes, "The appearance is that suggested the rela onship is not as strong as NOAA had first the White House rejects the conclusions of its own scien sts concluded. NOAA rejected CEA's claims and called its analysis and peer‐reviewed scien fic studies because it does not like the "biased." policy implica ons of the data."
Another memo shows an uniden fied White House office ques‐ The right whale rule has been stuck at OIRA since February oned NOAA's data on the birth rate of right whales and sug‐ 2007. Under Execu ve Order 12866, which governs the federal gested the species popula on is increasing more quickly than rulemaking process, OIRA is supposed to complete its review in NOAA had concluded. In response, NOAA officials said they no more than 120 days. OIRA also reviewed the rule before NO‐ "used the latest, peer‐reviewed, scien fic data when developing AA ini ally proposed it in June 2006. the rule," as required by law. Environmental advocates and White House cri cs believe OIRA NOAA also con nued to defend its proposal in the memo. NO‐ should discharge the right whale rule quickly because of immi‐ AA wrote that the op on to impose speed limits was chosen nent danger to the species' survival. According to NOAA, only because it would "protect right whales while also minimizing about 300 of the mammals remain. Two right whales have been economic impact to the shipping industry." NOAA selected the struck by ships, and one has likely died, in the me the rule has speed limit op on from more than 100 policy op ons consid‐ been under OIRA review, according to Waxman. NOAA officials ered. warn that even one more dead female could set the species on an irrevocable path toward ex nc on. A third memo shows interference by the office of Vice President Cheney. According to the memo, Cheney's staff "contends that Congress is considering a bill that would end the OIRA review. we have no evidence (i.e., hard data) that lowering the speeds On April 24, the Senate Commerce Commi ee approved a bill of 'large ships' will actually make a difference." In response, (S. 2657) that would require NOAA to quickly finalize the rule. NOAA staff cited records of collisions in which right whales were That bill now awaits considera on by the full Senate. A compan‐ killed or seriously injured and again argued in favor of ship ion bill has been introduced in the House (H.R. 5536). speed limits.
Cheney does not o en involve his office in specific rulemakings. However, the most frequent targets of his a en on have been Lobster Tales Page 31 Cer fica on of Mexican Lobster Fishery is Win for Environment and Lobster Fishermen: First La n American Fishery to be Recog‐ nized by MSC Ecolabel Means Good Business and Sound Conserva‐ on, Says WWF
Mexico City ‐‐ Consumers and ins tu‐ community has made its living from The right to use the MSC ecolabel onal suppliers have a new and im‐ the lobster fishery. We are proud to earned by the fishery helps assure portant opportunity to support sus‐ get MSC cer fica on as recogni on consumers that their seafood product tainable fishing prac ces in the devel‐ to the many years of coopera on and was caught in an environmentally oping world thanks to the newly an‐ care of our marine resources," said sustainable and responsible manner, nounced Marine Stewardship Council Jesus Camacho, president of helping solve, not contribute to, cri‐ (MSC) cer fica on of the Baja Califor‐ FEDECOOP. "We are looking forward ses facing the world's fisheries. More nia Peninsula spiny lobster fishery. to accessing new markets. This is a than 100 major seafood buyers all The federa on of fishing coopera ves crucial incen ve to maintain the ex‐ over the globe have pledged to pur‐ (FEDECOOP) on the Pacific coast of cellent condi ons of our fishery, and chase MSC‐cer fied seafood prod‐ Mexico is the first community fishery to compete in an increasingly global‐ ucts, including major supermarket of a developing country to win MSC ized market while keeping our life‐ chains in France, Germany, Switzer‐ cer fica on, passing the rigorous, style." land, the United Kingdom and the independent review for compliance United States. The MSC is an inde‐ with global criteria for sustainable "The cer fica on of the Baja Califor‐ pendent, nonprofit organiza on, orig‐ and well‐managed fisheries. nia spiny lobster fishery is very ex‐ inally created by WWF and Unilever, ci ng. Given the proximity of the Baja one of the world's largest fish proces‐ "Conserva on is good business be‐ lobster fishery to the U.S. market, sors. cause sustainable fisheries translate especially California where there is into sustainable human communi‐ significant consumer interest in envi‐ "Cer fica on allows consumers to es," said Omar Vidal, director of ronmentally‐friendly food products, vote with their wallets to stop over‐ WWF's Mexico office. "Good manage‐ MSC‐cer fied Baja lobstermen can fishing and create market incen ves ment of fisheries ensures that fishing use this opportunity to find advanta‐ for healthy fisheries and, ul mately, remains a way of life for coastal com‐ geous niche markets that will pay a healthier oceans," said Sco Burns, muni es." price premium for their product," said director of the WWF‐U.S. Marine Dr. Cathy A. Roheim, a professor at Conserva on Program. "It allows us Since 2000, WWF and Comunidad y the University of Rhode Island's De‐ all to reward those who have the Biodiversidad (COBI), a local nongov‐ partment of Environmental and Natu‐ foresight to protect our fisheries and ernmental organiza on, have been ral Resource Economics. our oceans for future genera ons. working closely with the Mexican au‐ With the help of responsible fisher‐ thori es and the fishery communi es "The spiny lobster fishery between men and seafood businesses and the organized under FEDECOOP to Isla Cedros and Punta Abreojos in the increasing availability of cer fied achieve MSC cer fica on. Five hun‐ Northern Pacific region, now cer fied products, we can all help to save our dred fishermen belonging to nine as sustainable, can teach us how to seas." fishing coopera ves in central Baja capitalize on globaliza on," said Luis California are part of FEDECOOP. "By Bourillon, execu ve president of CO‐ Worldwide, the United Na ons es ‐ achieving MSC cer fica on, this fish‐ BI. "These organized fisheries will mates that 60 percent of the most ery will become a successful model demonstrate to the rest of Mexico, valuable commercial fisheries are cur‐ for small fisheries around the world," La n America and the world, how a rently overfished or fished to the lim‐ Vidal added. small business can benefit from glob‐ it. al markets while suppor ng commu‐ "Genera on a er genera on, our nity development." "The MSC's standards for sustainable
Lobster Tales Page 32 CONTINUED NEXT PAGE Cer fica on of Mexican Lobster Fishery is Win for Environment and Lobster Fishermen: First La n American Fishery to be Recog‐ nized by MSC Ecolabel Means Good Business and Sound Conserva‐ on, Says WWF
fishing offer the best hope for chang‐ Consumers in shops and restaurants is a responsible and well‐managed ing the way fish are caught and are now able to choose fish that have fishery. WWF has been in mately bought, and for ensuring that there been caught from cer fied sustaina‐ involved with the MSC cer fica on of will be fish in the future," added ble sources. In addi on to this Baja this fishery since the beginning and Burns. "WWF congratulates lobster product, nine other MSC sea‐ has provided support and comment FEDECOOP on its cer fica on status food choices are available as fresh, throughout the process. and also looks forward to working frozen, smoked and canned products. with them and the auditors in helping Wild Alaska salmon, Western Austral‐ ‐The involvement and assistance of the fishery keep the condi ons of ia rock lobster, UK's Thames herring, COBI, a local nongovernmental organ‐ cer fica on and penetrate new glob‐ and New Zealand Hoki, are among iza on working to support biodiversi‐ al markets." those that have also been awarded ty conserva on and fisheries im‐ the MSC ecolabel. See www.msc.org provements through community par‐ Background for editors: for more informa on. cipa on in Northwest Mexico, was an essen al part of this project. ‐The Marine Stewardship Council ‐FEDECOOP is considered a small (MSC), working with expert scien sts business with a catch average of Learn more about Sustainable Lobster from around the world, has devel‐ 1,543 tons per year. Today 90 percent fishing in Mexico. oped a global standard used to evalu‐ of the spiny lobster is exported to ate responsible fisheries manage‐ Asia and France and the US with 10 h p://www.worldwildlife.org/oceans ment. Any fishery opera on, regard‐ percent sold domes cally. /results_lobster.cfm less of size or loca on, can apply to be assessed independently against ‐WWF fully supports the cer fica on Visit the MSC Web site. the standard. Only fish coming from of the Baja California spiny lobster sources that have met the MSC's fishery. An independent third party h p://www.worldwildlife.org/oceans strict standards can carry the dis nc‐ assessment of the fishery has shown /results_lobster.cfm ve blue and white MSC ecolabel. that it meets the MSC standards and
A Baja spiny lobster (Panulirus interruptus) A camp of Baja lobster fishermen participate in a hides out in an underwater cave. pilot monitoring program with researchers from Hopkins Marine Station to maintain their sustaina- bility certification. Fishermen fear impact of cusk review BY TINA COMEAU
It would be a big impact. catch of cusk, in rela on to the groundfish and lobster fisheries, is mostly in and That’s what fishermen and fish processors around the German Bank to the 50‐mile in southwestern Nova Sco a are saying line. But it’s a fish not just located in 4X and about the possible lis ng of cusk as a despite the fact the abundance might be threatened species. The deep‐water fish is lower in some areas more than others, it is an incidental bycatch and those in the lob‐ managed as one species. ster and groundfish industries are worried about the implica ons on their livelihoods While DFO isn’t driving the review, it is part “There are sugges- should the lis ng go ahead. of the process. Specifically its role is to tions management gather informa on on what the socio‐ There are sugges ons management economic impact of lis ng cusk would be. measures could measures could range from seasonal clo‐ range from seasonal sures of fishing areas to gear modifica ons “We have an obliga on to review the mate‐ to observer coverage. Those who could be rial and to provide an opportunity for closures of fishing affected say given such management stakeholders, i.e. the public, to make com‐ areas to gear modi- measures there would be economical im‐ ment in terms of the socio‐economic im‐ pact on the lobster and grounfisheries in pacts if our minister supported the lis ng,” fications to observer terms of loss revenue and dispersal of fish‐ says DFO area director Ian Marshall, who ing efforts. chaired the Yarmouth consulta on session. coverage. “ “It’s going to impact us a great deal if you He said the comments at the mee ng, start coming to the extreme of closing fish‐ along with workbooks that par cipants ing areas,” says lobster fisherman Ashton were encouraged to fill out, will be for‐ Spinney, who was present at a recent pub‐ warded to the minister as part of a recom‐ lic consulta on mee ng held in Yarmouth, menda on to list or not. N.S. The deadline for input and comple ng the While those in a endance talked about the workbooks is Aug. 1. For people who were‐ poten al impacts, they also wanted to talk n’t at the mee ng, workbooks are available about the science that’s brought the discus‐ at the DFO area office in Yarmouth, and will sion to this stage. But challenging or dis‐ also be available at the detachment offices. sec ng the science was not part of the agenda. Marshall says there will be a follow‐up mee ng for stakeholders to go over a dra COSEWICK – the Commi ee on the Status of the informa on that will be forwarded of Endangered Wildlife in Canada – which is to the minister, but just for the purpose of leading the review provides advice to gov‐ checking it over for accuracy. ernment on the status of wildlife species in Canada. It has determined that the abun‐ Asked if there will be a mee ng where dance of cusk is down. stakeholders can challenge the science be‐ hind the review he says, “Not in the DFO There is data that shows the incidental by‐ process.” Lobster Tales Page 34 Lobster Laughs
Joke of the Day (Post-Bulletin.com)
After a day fishing in the ocean, a fisherman is walking from the pier carrying two lob- sters in a bucket. He is approached by the game warden who asks him for his fishing license.
The fisherman says to the warden, "I did not catch these lobsters, they are my pets. Every day I come down to the water and whistle and these lobsters jump out and I take them for a walk only to return them at the end of the day."
The warden, not believing him, reminds him that it is illegal to fish without a license. The fisherman turns to the warden and says, "If you don't believe me then watch" as he throws the lobsters back into the water.
The warden says, "Now whistle to your lobsters and show me that they will come out of the water."
The fisherman turns to the warden and says, "What lobsters?"
National Lobster Day is June 15 Lobster Laughs
The Lobster Catcher Game Similar to stuffed animal claw grab games, this LIVE lobster grabbing game started in Japan and can now be found in Hilton Head, South Carolina
Visit You Tube to see videos of the LOBSTER CLAW in action!
2008 Associate Members Advertise for FREE in AOLA’s “Lobster Tales” To submit FREE adver sing material email heidi@offshorelobster.org or fax 603‐666‐5601. Please indicate when you would like the ad to run.
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Atlantic offshore lobstermen’s association
The Atlan c Offshore Lobstermen’s Associa on is dedicated to the sustainability the Area 3 resource, and the lobstermen who fish that resource. Our mission is to preserve the culture and health of the fishery and the offshore lobster industry. AOLA’s fundamental belief is that protec on of the resource will sup- port the industry, as the industry supports protec on of the resource.
Associate members Contact Information
Please send or e-mail your ad to Heidi and indicate when you would like it to run, keeping in mind that the Bonnie Spinazzola, Ex. Director newsletter will be generated six times per year! bonnie@offshorelobster.org Your financial support is appreciated Main Office: and your written support on regula- tory issues that affect you and the 54 Chatham Drive Bedford, NH 03110 industry is appreciated and encour- (603) 206‐5468: fax (603) 666‐5601 aged!
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