The effects of climate change and commercial fishing on the marine ecosystem is the topic for the May 13 launch of the Menemsha Fisheries Development Fund’s 2009 program series at the Chilmark Public Library.

Dr. Michael. J. Fogarty, who heads the Ecosystem Assessment Program at the Northeast Fisheries Science Center in Woods Hole, will lead a workshop for members of local environmental groups and conservation commissions at 3 p.m., followed by a lecture for the public at 5:30 p.m. The programs, titled “Ecology and Management of the Northeast Continental Shelf” are free.

His talk will describe fundamental aspects of the ecology of the marine ecosystem off the coast of New England and why an understanding of ecology is essential in devising effective management strategies. Changes in the system over the last several decades due to climate, fishing, and other driving forces will be documented and new approaches to management will be described.

The Menemsha Fisheries Development Fund was founded in 2007 with a mission to act as a change agent, to provide vision, logistical and financial support for new initiatives and new directions for commercial fishing in the Town of Chilmark. In addition to its annual lecture series, the MFDF has provided funding to several aquaculture projects, including the proposed offshore mussel farm.

There will be seven additional lectures this year, including marine biologist Dr. Jelle Atema, a Boston University lobster specialist, on July 8 followed by the documentary film “Realm of the Lobster” on July 9. Contact the library for additional information at 508-645-3360.

Legislation has been put forward that would significantly change the Zoning Act in many ways, such as by allowing towns to limit the maximum size of dwellings, and by modifying the majority needed to change zoning from 2/3 to a simple majority. (following is a summary of some of the highlights.) A meeting was held last Friday to discuss the current plan and give an update. Call the Commission with questions 508-693-3453

Summary of Draft Planning and Zoning Reform Legislation
12/12/08

At the direction of Governor Deval Patrick, an inclusive zoning reform task force has been meeting since July 2007 to explore the possibility of significant planning and zoning reform for the Commonwealth that could be supported by the wide diversity of stakeholders who are concerned about these issues, including municipalities, property owners, developers and housing and environmental advocates.

Go to MV Commission for the rest of the summary

A new ocean management plan being prepared for the state leaves waters on three sides of the Vineyard wide open for development, raising the prospect of large-scale commercial wind generation as close as one mile off shore, the head of the Martha’s Vineyard Commission said yesterday.

MVC executive director Mark London said maps which formed part of a presentation made by state officials at a workshop in Woods Hole last weekend showed waters to the east, south and west of the Island open to unregulated development.

http://www.mvgazette.com/article.php?20916

Mercury in ocean will rise by 50 percent as emissions from coal-fired power plants increase, study says. U.S. scientists document for first time how mercury from industry gets into seafood.

May 2, 2009
Mercury levels in the Pacific Ocean will rise by 50 percent within the next few decades as emissions from coal-fired power plants and other sources increase, scientists reported Friday.

The researchers, led by scientists from Harvard University and the U.S. Geological Survey, found that the ocean’s mercury levels have already risen about 30% over the last 20 years. Combined, the findings mean the Pacific Ocean will be twice as contaminated with mercury in 2050 as it was in 1995 if the emission rates continue.

http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/
ehs/news/ocean-mercury-increasing

This time last year I was adding the final touches to my solar car. My partner, Lucas Amarins, and I were fixing a few engineering problems, enhancing the appearance, and testing it out on the Tisbury School blacktop under the watchful eye of our helpful science teacher, Mrs. Gatchell. We named it Ra, after the Egyptian Sun God, and in test runs it worked great (aside from the minor issue that it kept careening off to the right, causing multiple collisions with the other cars). Anxious about the weather, since the forecast looked grim and solar cars need lots of sunshine, we waited for the weekend with a mix of excitement and fear of embarrassing failure. When at last the time came, the skies were clear and the sun bright, but our car didn’t even leave the starting line. We never did figure out what went wrong.

Go to Energy section for the rest of the article.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — The federal Forest Service is preparing to close thousands of caves and former mines in national forests in 33 states in an effort to control a fungus that has already killed an estimated 500,000 bats.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/03/
us/03bats.html?_r=1&hpw