Monday, January 29, 2007

Coast Guard Looking for Hoaxer

In what has to be one of the most idiotic stories we've heard in a long time, the Coast Guard at Wrightsville Beach has reported that they are looking for a hoaxer who has called in more than 15 distress calls in the last year. The most recent incident occurred last week when the small-minded prankster called in another SOS and even provided a location. Over the last year the 15 emergency calls have cost taxpayers over $10,000 and over 65 hours of the local USCG station's time. Officials say that when they find the culprit they will be subject to large fines and possibly prison time. The Coast Guard provides an invaluable service to boaters and fishermen and pranks like this simply endanger us all. Anyone with information about the hoaxer is encouraged to contact the Coast Guard at (910) 772-2229. More on the prank SOS calls is available from WWAY.

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Friday, January 26, 2007

Bush Proposes Coastal Conservation Budget Increase

President Bush proposed a 8% increase today for the $1.75 billion federal budget for coastal and marine conservation programs. NOAA would be the primary beneficiary of the additional $143 million in federal funding and plans to use their $123 million to do more research and improve ocean protections. The National Science Foundation and the US Geological Survey would split the remaining $20 million for improved research, sea floor mapping, forecast models, and water quality monitoring. More on the proposed budget increase is available from USA Today.

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Monday, January 22, 2007

Commission Questions River Herring Moratorium

The North Carolina Joint Legislative Commission on Seafood and Aquaculture voted last week to ask the Marine Fisheries Commission to end the state-wide river herring moratorium and enact their proposal for a 100,000-pound annual commercial harvest with a 12 fish per day recreational creel limit instead. The moratorium was enacted last year in an effort to save the remaining herring as overfishing was threatening to wipe out NC's stock. Many historic fishing communities were built around the fishery and the moratorium has been hotly debated since it was first proposed a few years back. It is unlikely the MFC will accept the Seafood and Aquaculture Commission's recommendations or their 100,000-pound annual commercial harvest proposal as it exceeds the 90,000 pounds of spawning females biologists estimate now exist. More the the Seafood and Aquaculture Commission's vote is available from the New Bern Sun Journal.

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Friday, January 19, 2007

LORAN May Be Decommissioned

Last week, the US Coast Guard, under the Department of Homeland Security and the US Department of Transportation, posted a notice requesting public input on whether GPS technology has made LORAN-C obsolete and whether or not it should be shelved. The LORAN, Long Range Aids to Navigation, system was brought online in the 1960's and was essentially GPS before there was GPS. Unlike the satellites used by GPS, LORAN relies on a series of radio towers along the coast to triangulate location. The basic Loran-C system consists of three or more land based transmitting stations, each separated by several hundred miles. Modern GPS systems provide highly accurate readings but LORAN only provides positioning to within 500 yards. While no one will argue that the system is nearly as useful as GPS, many feel that maintaining the LORAN-C system is important as a backup to GPS. If nothing else, old and salty offshore fishing veterans are sure to feel a little nostalgic about the system and many still use LORAN lines in conversation today. More on the debate is available from the Jacksonville Daily News; comments may be submitted to the US DOT; everything you ever wanted to know about LORAN is available from the Coast Guard.

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Monday, January 15, 2007

Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Act Signed by President Bush

Bush signing the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Act

The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation And Management Reauthorization Act Of 2006 was signed into law earlier this week by President Bush. The Act was originally enacted in 1976 and has only been amended once before in 1996. Ultimately the nation's federal fisheries, waters 3 to 200 miles offshore, will now be managed like the fisheries in the Pacific Northwest where there are currently no species declared overfished. The Act will also provide for increased metrics for more precise catch information which should lead to more effective management in the future. The Act also sets a firm deadline to end overfishing in America; contributes to replenishing America's fish stocks; strengthens enforcement of America's fishing laws; and implements international agreements on fishery management. More on the signing of the updated Magnuson-Stevens Act is available from the White House's website.

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Friday, January 12, 2007

Red Tide Study Backs NC State Scientist

The toxin that produced dramatic fish kills in North Carolina and Maryland in the mid-1990's red tides has finally been identified and one NCSU scientist couldn't be happier. JoAnn Burkholder was one of the discovers of Pfiesteria, an odd marine microbe that is sometimes plant sometimes animal, back in 1989 but her research and conclusions have been widely controversial and disputed in the scientific community. In the findings of a 9 year study released by NOAA on Thursday, two specific species of Pfiesteria were identified that transform from harmless microbes into highly toxic organisms that can kill fish. Burkholder was one of the first to blame Pfiesteria for the 1990's red tide algal blooms that killed over 1 billion fish in NC and the Chesapeake Bay. While there is no definitive proof, Burkholder also believes that Pfiesteria can also be harmful to humans. She reports that both she and a former research employee experienced temporary memory and learning problems after exposure in her Raleigh lab. In fact, the NOAA study itself was sparked by Congress after boaters and fishermen in the Chesapeake Bay reported memory problems and other ailments during a red tide in 1997. Luckily, North Carolina hasn't had a Pfiesteria fish kill since Hurricane Floyd flushed waterways in 1999. More on the study is available from the News & Observer; more on Pfiesteria is available from Sea Grant.

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Thursday, January 11, 2007

$40 Million in Repairs Will Buy 10 Years for Bonner Bridge

The NC Department of transportation released their final repair assessment for the Herbert C. Bonner Bridge over Oregon Inlet on Thursday. In order to keep the bridge operational for 10 years, the state must spend $40 million on repairs in the next 4 years to repair the bridge deck and substructure, as well as underwater support structures. Although long term plans for the bridge are still uncertain, more than $50 million that has been spent on the 40 year old bridge in just the last few decades. Despite all the efforts to maintain and repair the Bonner Bridge, the existing bridge has a stability rating of 4 out of 100. Long-term options for replacement are still being debated and include a parallel bridge and a 17 mile bridge that connects Oregon Inlet directly to Rodanthe. More on the repair assessment is available from the Herald Sun and an aerial photographic history of Oregon Inlet is available from the Army Corps of Engineers.

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Sunday, January 07, 2007

Washington Baum Bridge Boat Landing Update

Last June the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission announced that they were set to invest $1.35 million dollars into the expansion of the boating and fishing access area underneath the Washington Baum Bridge. Now it appears that only minor stormwater issues are preventing full blown construction. Once complete, the ramp will be improved from the existing three-lane ramp, built in 1993, into a five lane ramp with parking lot renovations with new floating and fixed docks. The project will also include a bridge to the adjacent spoils island, an outdoor classroom, an observation deck, interpretive trails and composting toilets. Officials are hopeful that the project will be completed by the end of the summer. More on the expansion is available from the Outer Banks Sentinel; details on the Washington Baum Bridge boat landing are available from the Dare County website.

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Friday, January 05, 2007

NC Striper Fishing Still On Hold

North Carolina striped bass fishermen are going to have to remain patient this season as warmer weather is delaying the annual striper migration. Anglers typically find thousands of schooling stripers this time of year off Oregon Inlet and the northern NC coast. This year the striper schools have only migrated as far south as the Chesapeake Bay. A great article from the Baltimore Examiner discusses the unusual migration.

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Monday, January 01, 2007

NC Saltwater Fishing License Starts Today

North Carolina's new saltwater fishing license program starts today and saltwater fishermen are now required to have one to fish the state's coast. The law establishing the license was passed in 2005 and estimates on sales have climbed as high as 15 million. While that number may be on the high side, no one doubts that the revenue gathered will be significant. Lucky for fishermen, much of the funds raised by the new saltwater license will be used to their benefit on projects such as habitat development and improved access. The new

saltwater fishing license is available online and from WRC license agents. Saltwater licenses cost $15 for NC residents and $30 for nonresidents. People who bought lifetime sportsman licenses before 2006 are exempt from buying the saltwater fishing license, a resident adult lifetime saltwater license now costs $250. Tickets for fishing without a license will be a $35 fine and $110 court costs but the Wildlife Resources Commission has said that it will issue warnings for a "while" to help educate the public. Details on the license are available from the NC DMF.

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