Ahab's Journal

Asian black tiger shrimp likely caught off Southport

It was almost like a scene from a science fiction movie when Southport commercial shrimper Royce Potter hauled in his net Monday.

What he saw was an oversize creature with a black shell covered with orange stripes, staring from among the native shrimp taken onboard his vessel, the Cape Point.

Read "Asian black tiger shrimp likely caught off Southport"

An Underwater Fight Is Waged for the Health of San Francisco Bay

SAN FRANCISCO — Chela Zabin will not soon forget when she first glimpsed the golden brown tentacle of the latest alien to settle in the fertile waters of San Francisco Bay.

“I had that moment of ‘Oh God, this is it, it’s here,’ ” said Dr. Zabin, a biologist with the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center. “I was really hoping I was wrong.”

Read "An Underwater Fight Is Waged for the Health of San Francisco Bay"

Mitten crabs threaten native species

The concern, said Charles Epifanio, interim director of the University of Delaware's School of Marine Science and Policy, is that mitten crabs may prove to be a competitor for native blue crabs.

So Epifanio and colleague Ana Dittel set out to find out what type of research is needed to better understand this potential invader before it becomes a serious problem.

According to the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, the crabs began showing up in the mid-Atlantic in 2005. In all, 13 mitten crabs have been collected from the Chesapeake and Delaware bays and the Hudson River, frozen and studied.

Read "Mitten crabs threaten native species"

Seaweed invasion hurts shrimpers

"CHARLESTON -- It seemed a good year was shaping up for South Carolina shrimpers with fuel prices down from last season and plentiful rain to carry shrimp out of their nursery grounds along the shore. But then came the seaweed invasion.

Blooms of two types of invasive seaweed for six weeks from May to mid-June tangled shrimpers' nets, costing them time, fuel, labor and much of their catch."

Read "Seaweed invasion hurts shrimpers"
 
 

Invasive red algae causes snarls for Lowcountry shrimpers

"Biologists are monitoring red algae that has popped up around the Lowcountry, including in Beaufort County, and will be checking its possible spread to other parts of the South Carolina coast.

The seaweed, known as gracilaria, is growing quickly in the Charleston Harbor, said David Whitaker, a biologist with the S.C. Department of Natural Resources.

Fishermen traveling the coast have heard that shrimping nets have been tangled in and destroyed by the invasive plant." 

Read "Invasive red algae causes snarls for Lowcountry shrimpers"

Boaters may face mandatory stops to check for invasive species

"There is nothing worse than to have a hitchhiking invading aquatic species hook a ride under your boat.

Starting this Memorial Day weekend, boaters heading to Washington waterways may encounter new mandatory stops by state Fish and Wildlife enforcement.

These emphasis patrols will take place throughout the summer, and coincides with the recent seizure of a boat in Spokane contaminated with quagga mussels from Nevada's Lake Mead.

The 24-foot boat has been decontaminated to avoid the spread of the tiny nonnative mollusks, which are prohibited in Washington to protect native fish and wildlife and water systems."

Read "Boaters may face mandatory stops to check for invasive species"

Jumbo Squid Attack the West Coast

"A type of squid native to the Pacific coast of Mexico is attacking dolphins and tuna as the species expands into new waters as far north as Alaska. Now for the time marine biologists can watch these battles from a boat above, monitoring the squids' movements with acoustic technology similar to the equipment used by fisherman to follow school of fish.

Echo-locating sensors developed at Oregon State University and the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) in California have revealed large numbers of Humboldt squid just off Mexico's Pacific coast, in an area where the squid are commercially fished. This tracking system could soon shed some light on whether the squid population's spread out of Mexican waters and up the coastline is due to global warming -- and whether it poses a potential threat to U.S. fisheries and ecosystems.

Known to Mexican fishermen as "el diablo rojo" (the red devil), the Humboldt squid is historically found in the warm waters of the Sea of Cortez. The voracious predator -- which can grow to six feet in length -- eats zooplankton, fish and even cannibalizes other Humboldt squid."

Read "Jumbo Squid Attack the West Coast"

Tilapia discovery causes LDWF to halt commercial and recreational fishing in area south of Port Sulphur

"The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has closed commercial and recreational fishing in an area south of Port Sulphur in Plaquemines Parish following the discovery of tilapia in public waterways in the vicinity.

Tilapia, a fish native to Africa, are exotic species capable of displacing native fish and are currently prohibited from being possessed in Louisiana except under extremely restrictive permits issued to tilapia producers. It appears the tilapia are currently confined to an area that can be treated, Barham said.

If allowed to spread, tilapia could result in drastic environmental, recreational and economical impacts, and fishermen, both commercial and recreational, could be pathways that spread tilapia into other Louisiana waters."

Read "Tilapia discovery causes LDWF to halt commercial and recreational fishing in area south of Port Sulphur"

Introduction of Asian oyster too risky for Bay

"Regional leaders say they won't roll out the welcome mat for an Asian oyster that had generated excitement among some seafood growers, saying it poses "unacceptable ecological risks" to the Chesapeake.

After nearly five years of studying the risks and benefits of using the fast-growing Crassostrea ariakensis, state and federal officials say they will instead pursue an "all native" strategy to restore the commercial and ecological value of oysters in the Bay.

As a result, after nearly 8 years of aquaculture studies, the last sterile nonnative oysters will be pulled from the Bay by the end of May. No further research with C. ariakensis oysters-in the wild or in the lab-is planned. And, the idea of repopulating the Bay with a breeding population of the foreign species is off the table."

Read "Introduction of Asian oyster too risky for Bay" 

Crustacean invasion: Beware the green crab

"Green crab has been dubbed the "cockroach of the sea" because of its adaptability and the astounding 200,000 eggs it can produce in a single reproductive cycle.

There's also the fact that while most Alaska crabs have either big crusher front claws or smaller manipulative ones, the green crab has one of each. Though our local red rock crab may be able to beat up the green crab in a fair fight, the green crab may have the more versatile toolbox.

They may arrive as larvae in plankton being carried northward on a conveyor belt of a current on the Pacific coast. Or they may arrive, as Prince William Sound worries, with the help of mankind, in ballast water." 

Read "Crustacean invasion: Beware the green crab"

Alien lionfish swarm N.C. coast

"The lionfish population has exploded at a pace unlike anything scientists have ever seen from an invasive fish species in this part of the world. They are appearing in huge numbers from here southward into the Caribbean and are so plentiful that divers off the North Carolina coast routinely find up to 100 on a single shipwreck.

"If you go deeper than 100 feet, they're ubiquitous now," said Paula Whitfield, a researcher with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in Beaufort. "They're absolutely everywhere." "

Read "Alien lionfish swarm N.C. coast" 

Plans for non-native oysters in Chesapeake Bay dropped

"Proposals to use a foreign species to restore the Chesapeake Bay's depleted oyster population were essentially scrapped Monday as state and federal governments agreed to focus on bringing back the native oyster.

Maryland, Virginia and federal agencies announced they remain "fully committed" to using only native oysters, even in trying to help rebuild the bay's seafood industry. Using non-native oysters poses "unacceptable ecological risks," officials said.

The decision ends years of debate about whether to introduce an Asian oyster into the bay and concludes nearly five years of formal study, costing $17 million in state and federal funds."

Read "Plans for non-native oysters in Chesapeake Bay dropped"

 
 

Asian oysters redux - not quite off the menu

"It seems Asian oysters are nearly -- but not quite -- off the menu for restoring Chesapeake Bay's bivalves. 

The natural resources secretaries of Maryland and Virginia conferred by phone today with the commander of the Norfolk District of the Army Corps of Engineers to see if they could come up with a common strategy for rebuilding the bay's battered oyster industry and repopulating the bay with filter-feeding bivalves.  According to all involved, they agreed to focus their efforts on the native oyster, Crassostrea virginica, both for commercial and ecological purposes."  

Read "Asian oysters redux - not quite off the menu"

Group pulls support for Asian oysters in Chesapeake Bay

"A key champion for introducing Asian oysters into the Chesapeake Bay abruptly dropped its campaign Tuesday after eight years, saying it no longer will experiment or lobby for the exotic species, despite years of success.

"We're done with it," said a teary-eyed Frances Porter, executive director of the Virginia Seafood Council, a trade group. She called the decision, based on conversations with unnamed government officials over the weekend, "the toughest in my 25 years in this business." "

Read "Group pulls support for Asian oysters in Chesapeake Bay"

Asian or native? Bay oyster project awaits decision

"The Norfolk district of the corps oversaw a five-year, $15 million study of oyster recovery that was supposed to provide definitive answers for policy-makers. It did not.

The huge document, called a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement, was released in November but did not recommend a strategy. Instead, the corps asked for public comment on possible paths forward.

A decision is expected soon, with adoption of a plan in May or June." 

Read "Asian or native? Bay oyster project awaits decision"

Invasive species are greatest threat to Northwest salmon, report says

"The study, which was published in the journal Bioscience, is sure to be controversial because much of the Northwest's multi-billion dollar salmon recovery work is centered on improving habitat, mitigating the damage of power-producing dams and curtailing commercial or recreational fishing.

This report argues the greatest threat to fish are non-native species like crappie or bass that can eat up juvenile salmon as the make their way downstream from their birthplace to the ocean."  

Read "Invasive species are greatest threat to Northwest salmon, report says"

Oyster Decision Could Alter Bay

"Sometime in the next few days, three men will make a decision that comes awfully close to playing God with the Chesapeake Bay.

The officials -- Cabinet secretaries from Virginia and Maryland and a colonel in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers -- will choose whether the estuary should get a new oyster."

Read "Oyster Decision Could Alter Bay"

 

All sides weigh in on C. ariakensis introduction to Bay

"As expected, the comments reflect strong support for use of Crassostrea ariakensis in the Bay from watermen, the seafood industry and a number of lawmakers.

But any use of the nonnative oysters in the Chesapeake drew nearly unified opposition from other coastal states, federal agencies, scientists and environmental groups who warned C. ariakensis poses substantial risks and that any introduction would likely be irreversible."

Read "All sides weigh in on C. ariakensis introduction to Bay"

Lionfish a royal pain in Atlantic

"With fan-like fins forming its mane, the maroon and white striped lionfish could become the king of deepwater reefs off the southeastern U.S.

"They're a big problem," said Gail Krueger, outreach coordinator for Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary. "They're voracious and they eat everything. And what they like to eat best is baby grouper and snapper."  "

Read "Lionfish a royal pain in Atlantic"

 

 

Local Bivalves Have Natural Advantage in Chesapeake Region

"A few weeks ago, the Chesapeake Bay's oysters made big news in Maryland when state biologists revealed the number of oysters dying from disease appears to have dropped for the fifth year in a row. Virginia also has good news to share about its native oysters.

Over the past few years, native oyster efforts in the commonwealth have produced vibrant oyster beds and bigger aquaculture harvests. Since 2005, native oyster aquaculture plantings have nearly tripled, and harvests have increased five-fold.

It may seem odd then that Virginia, Maryland, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are considering a proposal to purposefully introduce another oyster, one from Asia, into the Chesapeake Bay."

Read "Local Bivalves Have Natural Advantage in Chesapeake Region"

Predator Jumbo Squid Feasting On NorCal Fish

"In Mexico, they are called the "red devil" and "the beast" in Central America. They are jumbo squid: deadly, fast moving creatures with tentacles that can suck the life out of a human being.

The squid are devouring parts of large populations of native fish in Northern California."

Read "Predator Jumbo Squid Feasting On NorCal Fish"

 

Ship discharges threaten sea life

"With the discharged ballast water come tiny hitchhikers from afar - invasive species of algae, invertebrates, and young crabs and fish picked up in distant harbors.

These invaders - which threaten to crowd out the sea life native to our waters, and can even pose dangers to humans - are arriving in greater numbers, aided by the rise of global trade, and the advent of faster ships. At the same time, climate change is expected to allow some of these invasive species to thrive farther north than in the past."

Read "Ship discharges threaten sea life"

 

Newcomer to Keys is unwelcome, uncouth

"The lionfish is a native of the Pacific and Indian Oceans, but was introduced to Atlantic waters 16 years ago. Some blame the ballast of sea-going vessels. Others cite selfish aquarium owners, who dump the fish when they outgrow their tanks.

Regardless of the culprit, the lionfish has since caused ecological havoc on fragile Atlantic ecosystems already burdened by overfishing, pollution and global warming.

''It's another huge challenge for the tropical marine ecosystem, on par with habitat degradation and overfishing,'' said Dave Score, superintendent of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. ``Lionfish are altering the diversity of an area that has taken hundreds of thousands of years to adapt and evolve.'' "

Read "Newcomer to Keys is unwelcome, uncouth"

Panel monitoring alien species invading local waters

"From parasites that live in the bladder of the American eel to Asian tiger shrimp, South Carolina is watching non-native species and how they affect the environment."

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Jumbo shrimp! Giant crustaceans hit local waters

"South Carolina trawlers recently have scooped up a half-pound Asian tiger shrimp, a non-native species that gives the term "jumbo shrimp" a whole new meaning."

Read "Jumbo shrimp! Giant crustaceans hit local waters"

 

Three methods vie to restore oysters to Chesapeake Bay

 

"Virginians are weighing in with their choices for a preferred grand strategy for restoring oysters in the Chesapeake Bay, and so far, the winner seems to be an old favorite - sticking with the native species."

Read "Three methods vie to restore oysters to Chesapeake Bay"

   

Lionfish population drastically high in North Carolina

"Lionfish have venomous dorsal spines that can sting divers, and they are eating machines that have no natural predators."

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New River yields Asian shrimp

  "A picture may be worth 1,000 words, but Sneads Ferry shrimper John Costner says a photo doesn't adequately describe the size of a catch he made this week."

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Still no answers

"But until there are assurances that introducing Asian oysters would be safe, the only reasonable policy is to stick with the safeguards the state has been insisting on. The foreign species can be used only in controlled situations, when they've been rendered sterile, when they're enclosed in containers that prevent them from getting loose. It's a potentially invasive species, and we don't know what the consequences might be if even the few that are fertile — no sterilization procedure is foolproof — got loose, found each other and started breeding."

Read "Still no answers"
 

No harm seen in Asian oysters

"A long-awaited federal study found no evidence that releasing Asian oysters in the Chesapeake Bay would cause major environmental harm.

However, the outcome of a release would be uncertain, and any problem that arose would probably be irreversible, said the draft environmental impact statement by the Army Corps of Engineers.

Corps officials released the five-year, $15 million study yesterday and discussed it during a telephone conference."

Read "No harm seen in Asian oysters"

Black tiger shrimp showing up in area waters

BY SUSAN WEST, OUTER BANKS SENTINEL | Some North Carolina shrimpers have pulled in an unusual type of shrimp in addition to the common white, pink, or brown species in their trawl nets. In 2006 and 2007, fishermen reported catching a few Asian black tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon), a species not native to South Atlantic waters.

Is Asian oyster the answer?

Virginia officials are betting on a non-native oyster to help revive the Chesapeake Bay's struggling shellfishing industry, a plan that may present a road map to recovery for North Carolina's equally distressed oyster fishery. Continue reading "Is Asian oyster the answer?"

State OKs plans for Asian Oysters

State officials have endorsed plans for growing 1.3 million Asian oysters in Virginia waters, beginning June 1. Read "State OKs plans for Asian Oysters"