Secrets and Sulfur at the Morehead City Port

Posted on By Andrew Thaler 9 Comments on Secrets and Sulfur at the Morehead City Port
Conservation

Proposed site. Wetlands indicated in purple. From the PCS Phosphate EA.

The news caught us by surprise. PCS Phospate, a division of Potash Corp. and one of the largest suppliers of fertilizer in the world is planing to build a Sulfur processing plant in Morehead City. Seemingly overnight, it had grown from a few rumors to an announcement that the final permitting and funding process was already underway. Initial planning began almost a year ago, and an environmental assessment was produce in in December 2010, but at no point during this year of closed door meetings was there ever a public review. The first official notice occurred when an adjacent landowner was informed of the expansion.

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World’s oldest known bonnethead shark captured in South Carolina!

Posted on By David Shiffman 2 Comments on World’s oldest known bonnethead shark captured in South Carolina!
Conservation, Science

Bonnethead sharks have always occupied a special place in my heart (and in the photo of myself that I use for Southern Fried Science). These animals, a member of the hammerhead family, are some of the most abundant sharks along the coast of the Southeastern United States. While the IUCN Shark Specialist Group rates bonnetheads as “Least Concern”, the assessment noted that these sharks are subjected to heavy commercial and recreational fishing pressure.

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Posts of Note from around the Gam – July 21, 2011

Posted on By David Shiffman
Uncategorized

This is a new weekly feature on Southern Fried Science where we’ll highlight 4 or 5 posts from other blogs in our network, and one post from outside our network published in the previous week. Posts of Note will run every Thursday, but the hosts will alternate among myself, Andrew, and Amy. Enjoy this week’s … Read More “Posts of Note from around the Gam – July 21, 2011” »

New research lists tuna species as threatened; will fisheries managers act?

Posted on By David Shiffman 2 Comments on New research lists tuna species as threatened; will fisheries managers act?
Conservation, Science

Image courtesy Keith Ellenbogen, OCEANA

Bluefin tuna have become a posterchild for the marine conservation movement. A single bluefin can sell for tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars, which results in heavy fishing pressure. Conservationists and fisheries scientists have tried for years to get the fishing quota reduced. They tried to get  CITES protection for the bluefin. Citing both heavy fishing pressure and the fact that the oil spill occurred in bluefin spawning grounds in the Gulf, some recently tried to get these animals protected under the Endangered Species Act. To date, these efforts have fallen short, resulting in just a modest quota reduction at ICCAT. New research, however, shows just how important protecting this group of fishes is.

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Largetooth sawfish to become second elasmobranch to receive Endangered Species Act protections

Posted on By David Shiffman 1 Comment on Largetooth sawfish to become second elasmobranch to receive Endangered Species Act protections
Conservation, Science

The Largetooth Sawfish (Pristis perotteti) is about to become the second elasmobranch protected by the Endangered Species Act, a welcome step in the conservation of these animals.  In addition to the slow growth, low number of offspring, and relatively late maturity which characterizes most elasmobranchs, another  biological feature contributes to sawfish being “among the most endangered fishes in the world,” according to Shark Advocates International President Sonja Fordham. It’s hard to imagine a biological structure that can get more thoroughly entangled in fishing nets than the “saw” on their rostrum, and bycatch is one of the leading causes of population decline in this group of animals. Additionally, the saw used to be a part of the souvenir trade.

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Adventures in Backyard Agriculture: A Summary and More

Posted on By Bluegrass Blue Crab
Conservation

fireweed, a delicious wild edible in alpine climates

This week, Southern Fried Scientist and I have written about our personal adventures in making town life a little more sustainable. First, building a chicken coop – a deluxe one, complete with green roof and made out of recycled materials. Next, dwarf goats as milk-producing pets and clarifying some of the tall tales about goats (no, they don’t eat tin cans but yes, you can teach them to head butt on command). The chicken story continued with how to raise them – whether to get chicks or pullets, what they need as they grow to be egg producing hens or the cock-a-doodle-doo producing rooster. Plus, it’s hard to beat chicks in a basket. Finally, what you might have thought backyard agriculture was all about – the garden.

After our miniseries, you might be left wondering ‘now what’? Where to begin or maybe there’s still some hesitation over whether it’s all worth it.  Here’s some other practical considerations you might think about before beginning your urban agriculture adventure.

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Posts of Note from around the Gam – July 7, 2011

Posted on By Andrew Thaler
Uncategorized

This is a new weekly feature on Southern Fried Science where we’ll highlight 4 or 5 posts from other blogs in our network, and one post from outside our network published in the previous week. Posts of Note will run every Thursday, but the hosts will alternate among myself, David, and Amy. Enjoy this week’s … Read More “Posts of Note from around the Gam – July 7, 2011” »