Cod battered by Global Warming
Alison writes:
I thought you might be interested in reading and possibly linking to the following article on the effect of climate change on fisheries, published today in the Asbury Park Press.
Of note is the historic decision of the North Pacific Fishery Management Council to prohibit any bottom-trawl commercial fishing off the far north of Alaska past the Bering Strait — at least until scientists figure out the effects of sea ice retreat and warming.
Climate change already affects ocean ecosystems and seafood production off the shores of North America, according to a new report on the long decline and now-stalled recovery of Atlantic cod and a decision by Alaska fisheries regulators to seal off America's farthest northern waters to fishing.Read more or Take action: Help tackle global warming in 7 stepsWarming in the Arctic may be one reason why cod are so slow to return to Atlantic waters, despite years of increased restrictions on fishing, says Brian Rothschild of the University of Massachusetts.
"Everyone has attributed the declines of cod, especially in Canada, to overfishing," said Rothschild, dean of the UMass School for Marine Science and Technology. [...]
Now, "fishermen think things are changing in the Atlantic," he added. "If this is part of a global climate change event, these things may not come back."
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Strike a blow against global warming! The U.S. Senate is likely to vote tomorrow (Wednesday) on the Bingaman Renewable Electricity Standard (RES) amendment, which would require electric utilities to obtain 15% of their electricity from renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, biomass and geothermal by 2020. More info here.
One of the key swing votes: Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska).
The inside word on the Bingaman Renewable Portfolio Standard is that the vote will be very tight. If you support this first meaningful step to fight global warming, the time to weigh in is right now. You can reach any Senator's office through the Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121.
Regards,
Thomas O. Gray
American Wind Energy Association
www.awea.org
risingwind.blogspot.com
Posted by: Tom Gray | June 20, 2007 4:27 AM