Pisces will play a big part assessing marine mammals, turtles etc. in the Southeastern fisheries throughout its lifetime.
Credit: NOAA
The ship, which will carry a crew of 21 and up to 17 scientists, will support NOAA’s mission to protect, restore, and manage the use of living marine, coastal, and ocean resources.
Her primary objective will be to study, monitor, and collect data on a wide range of sea life and ocean conditions, primarily in U.S. waters from the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, and South Atlantic to North Carolina.
This region includes important commercial and recreational fisheries, and is one of the world’s best known and most productive marine areas.
May 20, 2009
NOAA: World’s large marine ecosystems are heating up
From a new United Nations report, which contains key contributions from NOAA, we learn that 61 of the world’s 64 large marine ecosystems — large coastal ocean waters adjacent to continents — show a significant increase in sea surface temperatures in the last 25 years, contributing to decreasing fisheries catches in some areas and increasing catches in others.
There is plenty of information on the NOAA site for those interested, but what I found particularly interesting with respect to our own Large Marine Ecosystem – LME#6 covers the SouthEast – are two points:
- NC’s Albemarle-Pamlico Sound is one of the largest and most productive aquatic systems in NA.
- The SE US Continental Shelf is one of a few LME’s that have experienced long-term cooling since 1957.
May 5, 2009
May is “South Carolina Wetlands Month”
According to Heather Preston, director of the Water Quality Division for DHECs Bureau of Water, wetlands are vegetated aquatic ecosystems that include areas such as Carolina bays, marshes and swamps. Wetlands provide habitat for wildlife such as waterfowl, as well as for economically important fish and shellfish populations. Wetlands also provide safety and economic benefits to communities in the state by reducing flooding, cleaning and replenishing water supplies.
“Although wetlands serve as a vital link between land and water, they are historically misunderstood and under appreciated,” said Preston. “In the past, they were often used as dump sites and, unfortunately, appeared to be of value only when drained and developed.
February 10, 2009
South Carolina, lets talk offshore drilling
If you don’t want our beach views to look like this one day, now’s the time to do something about it.
This Thursday will be the first official opportunity to voice your opinion about drilling for oil and gas off the coast of South Carolina. The Natural Gas Exploration Feasibility Study Committee that was convened last year by the state legislature will be hosting a public hearing this week.
- When: Thursday, February 12th from 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
- Where: Trident Tech Nursing Auditorium, 920 Building, 9000 Rivers Ave., N. Chas.
