Category: Sea Watch

The state of our oceans, rivers and lakes. Southern Boating cares deeply about preserving the environment and the oceans we enjoy so much. Sea Watch has updates on reefs, national parks, conservation, climate and more.

Sustainable Seafood

Sustainable seafood supports a healthy marine ecosystem with better food options.

Many of us flock to the coasts during the summer to enjoy swimming, boating, fishing, a break from the heat, and delicious seafood. In today’s globalized world, even those who live far from the coast have access to a plethora of seafood choices in our local restaurants and grocery stores. As you peruse your options, you may wonder which seafoods are best to eat, not just in terms of taste but also if they are sustainable.

But what does it really mean for seafood to be sustainable? By the simplest definition, a seafood product can be considered sustainable if it is captured in quantities small enough to prevent negative impacts to its population and is caught in a way that does not harm other species or marine habitats. Sustainability is all about the future productivity of marine ecosystems. But without a crystal ball, how can we know how the actions we take today will influence tomorrow’s ocean?

How do you know if you’re choosing the most sustainable option?

Since fisheries scientists and managers are not fortune-tellers, they rely on several different metrics to determine if fish are harvested in a manner that promotes healthy marine ecosystems in the future. Our seafood choices consist of various species caught with many diverse methods from all corners of the globe, so there is no single metric that can be used to figure out if a given type of seafood is or is not sustainable. There are, however, a few key questions commonly asked to assess sustainability:

• What type of gear was used to catch this fish or shellfish?
• How much bycatch does this gear usually cause?
• Does this gear type damage marine habitats?
• Where on the food chain does this species fall?
• Is it wild or farm-raised?

Fishing gear
Gear type is one of the most important aspects of seafood sustainability because it has a major impact on other species and on marine habitats. There are three very basic generalizations about the relationship between gear type and seafood sustainability:

• Indiscriminate gear, such as purse seines, gill nets and trawls, usually results in more bycatch compared to selective gear, such as hooks, traps and harpoons. Yes, you can buy seafood caught by harpoon!
• Gear that touches the seafloor (such as bottom trawls and dredges) is more likely to damage marine habitats than those that avoid it.
• Ask your seafood dealer how and where the fi sh was caught. (You may also be able to verify this by doing some Internet research.)

Discarded fish
“Bycatch” refers to fish that are caught incidentally by fishermen who are usually targeting one or two species. In the U.S., fishermen are permitted to fi sh on a species-by-species basis and are subject to regulations on when and where they can cast a line and on the size and number of the fi sh they are allowed to keep. Bycatch can include a species that a fisherman is not permitted to harvest, such as one caught out of season or that is smaller or larger than the legal size. Sometimes fishermen accidentally catch too many fish of a particular species, and they have to throw some back. This is also considered bycatch. Fishery regulations in the U.S. require that most bycatch be discarded at sea. Because it is usually dead, bycatch can have a major negative impact on marine ecosystems.

Habitat Damage


Trawlers, like the one pictured here, can wreak havoc on the seafloor and damage the ecosystem.

If fishing gear touches the seafloor, it can damage marine habitats. This causes major impacts on other species and on the overall health of marine ecosystems. Bottom trawls are the most notorious example of fishing-induced habitat destruction. They catch fish by dragging heavy gear along the bottom and are particularly harmful to rocky habitats, sponges and corals. Pole-caught, handline, troll, or trap-caught seafoods are better options because they cause very little habitat destruction.

Food Chain
Fish that are low on the food chain are generally sustainable options because they are, for the most part, more abundant than fish that are higher on the food chain. They also reproduce at a younger age, which helps them recover relatively quickly from low to moderate levels of overfishing. In the U.S., we tend to prefer long-lived, predatory fish, such as cod, tuna, swordfish, salmon, and halibut. By expanding your tastes to include species lower on the food chain, you can support healthy marine ecosystems by reducing pressure on the larger groups, several of which are overfished.

Some tasty options that are low on the food chain include mackerel, tilapia, catfi sh, mussels, clams, and oysters. There are some exceptions to this rule, which is why it is important to do a bit of research when considering seafood options. For example, shrimp are low on the food chain, but most that are available in the U.S. were farm-raised in ways that cause significant habitat damage. Americans consume more than one billion pounds of shrimp every year, and 90 percent of that is imported from overseas aquaculture facilities. Shrimp aquaculture operations in some developing countries have a particularly bad track record for habitat destruction and human rights violations.

Wild vs. farm-raised
Most of the seafood consumed in the U.S. is harvested from wild populations. However, the amount of farm-raised fish and shellfish in American seafood markets is rapidly expanding. There are several benefi ts associated with aquaculture, but also many environmental costs. Aquaculture tends to generate strong opinions, and some argue that it is necessary to feed a growing human population while also supporting the health of marine ecosystems by taking pressure off wild stocks. Others argue that aquaculture relies too heavily on wild-caught fish to create feed for farm-raised fish, that it pollutes the environment with fish waste and antibiotics, and that escapees can harm wild populations by introducing diseases or altering the wild gene pool.

Farm-raised mussels, clams and oysters are generally beneficial to marine ecosystems because they feed by filtering seawater and do not require artificial feeds. They also improve water quality in the surrounding region. By purchasing these farm-raised species, you can assure that you are supporting healthy marine ecosystems. For others, speak with your seafood dealer and decide if they are sustainable options or not. In general, it is best to avoid seafood from aquaculture operations in developing countries because they tend to have fewer regulations compared to the U.S.

Take action
First, to see which types of seafood are sustainable, go to seafoodwatch.org or fishwatch.gov. Another great way to learn more about seafood sustainability is to buy it locally and talk with fishermen and dealers specializing in seafood.

You may be able to find it at your local farmers’ market or join a Community Supported Fishery (CSF), where you can feel confident that it is sustainable (communityfisheriesnetwork.org, localcatch.org). CSFs follow the model of Community Supported Agriculture in that they bring fresh, seasonally available, locally caught seafood directly to consumers. They also offer a great way to support both healthy marine ecosystems and coastal economies.

By Julia Beaty, fisheries social scientist
Courtesy of Sailors for the Sea

Seagrass Struggling Years After Heatwave

Seagrass Struggling to Revive

Massive seagrass beds in Western Australia’s Shark Bay—a UNESCO World Heritage Site—haven’t recovered much from the devastating heat wave of 2011, according to a new study demonstrating how certain vital ecosystems may change drastically in a warming climate.

The peer-reviewed research, recently published in Marine Ecology Progress Series, was led by Dr. Rob Nowicki, a Mote Marine Laboratory postdoctoral research fellow, who conducted the fieldwork while earning his doctorate from Florida International University (FIU). Dr. Michael Heithaus, dean of FIU’s College of Arts & Sciences, and colleagues from multiple institutions have examined Shark Bay’s ecosystem for more than 20 years. The current study included partners from FIU, Deakin University in Australia and Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Shark Bay earned its World Heritage status, in part, because of its 1,853 square miles of seagrass beds, which UNESCO’s website calls the “richest in the world.” This vast, subtropical ecosystem hosts thousands of large sharks, other fish, sea turtles, bottlenose dolphins, and a critical population of dugongs, plant-eating mammals related to manatees.

“We were studying a relatively pristine ecosystem, but in summer 2011, we had the hottest water temperatures on record at the time, and we saw 70 to 90 percent losses of seagrasses at our study sites; no one expected it to be that bad,” Nowicki said. “After our colleagues documented the losses, we wanted to know how much the ecosystem might recover over a few years. If you take a punch and get up quickly, you’re ready for the next punch. But our study has suggested this system took a punch, and in the short term, it has not gotten back up.”

The researchers surveyed 63 sites in Shark Bay four times between 2012 and 2014 to assess seagrass recovery and changes. Before the heat wave, many sites were dominated by the temperate seagrass known as “wireweed” (Amphibolis antarctica), whose dense and tall thickets provide ample food and shelter for numerous species. The heat wave drastically thinned many wireweed beds, and in many places their
rhizomes (underground stems) blackened and died, leaving bare sand.

The new study showed that surviving A. antarctica beds appeared stable but didn’t reclaim much turf. Instead, the tropical seagrass Halodule uninervis, a close relative of the shoalgrass native to Florida, began filling the gaps. H. uninervis was spotted at 2 percent of sites in 2012 but had expanded to almost 30 percent of them by 2014.

“The seagrass hit hard was the most common species—and was dense like a mini forest,” said Heithaus, doctoral advisor to Nowicki and co-author of the study. “Losing that cover is really huge; it’s like going from a bushland in Africa to a well-mowed lawn.”

The loss of that much structure has consequences. “After the die-off, we also saw water clarity go down a ton,” Nowicki said. Fewer seagrasses were available to trap sediments, and decaying seagrass may have nourished a bloom of microscopic algae observed in 2014. Study authors say these ramifications aren’t surprising given the valuable ecosystem services healthy seagrass beds provide.

A scientist measures the growth of seagrass that is in the process of recovery from a 2011 heat wave.

Seagrass beds stabilize sediments, preventing erosion and clarifying water. More seagrass biomass can store more carbon dioxide, decreasing its availability to harm ecosystems through climate change and ocean acidification. Dense seagrass beds are also critical for economically important fisheries. Seagrass meadows are valued at $1.9 trillion worldwide just for their role in cycling nutrients, according to a 2009 study by others in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. However, major seagrass ecosystems around the world have declined by about 7 percent per year since 1990, reminiscent of the drop in coral reefs and other vital ecosystems.

In Shark Bay, beds of slow-growing A. antarctica seagrass may struggle to recover further, the study suggests. Shark Bay, located where temperate and tropical ecosystems overlap, is among the warmest areas that A. antarctica can occupy, and hotter temperatures are predicted to become more common with climate change.

Because of its temperate-tropical overlap, Shark Bay has a diverse group of about 12 seagrass species—roughly twice as many as the entire state of Florida. Its diversity survives, along with other key features that helped earn the site’s World Heritage status.

It’s imperative to continue investigating how the recent loss of some seagrass, a basis of the marine food web, will affect plant-eating animals and their predators in Shark Bay.

Some take-home messages are clear: It’s critical to monitor ecosystems well after a disturbance; they’re not guaranteed to bounce back. “It shows the importance of these long-term, comprehensive, ecosystem-level studies,” said Heithaus, referring to team efforts to examine Shark Bay. “If we hadn’t been doing this since 1997, we wouldn’t have had the baseline data to know that the declines were a big deal.”

Also, if relatively pristine seagrass beds of Shark Bay are vulnerable to extreme weather, then it’s unclear how seagrass beds damaged by human activity will fare in the coming decades. This seagrass struggling is an indicator that humans need to be aware of these occurances.

Nowicki said that minimizing local stressors, such as nutrient pollution from fertilizer runoff into bays and estuaries, may give seagrasses better odds amid climate change and other global stressors. “If Shark Bay had poorer water quality, we might have lost a lot more.”

By Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium for Southern Boating Magazine June 2017

Global Fishing Watch

Private citizens now have the means to take action against illegal fishing.

Our oceans are under siege from a variety of threats, including the excessive extraction of wild fish. Most fisheries in the world are fished beyond their limits— indiscriminate bycatch is decimating populations of marine wildlife, and bottom trawling and other destructive practices are destroying nursery and spawning habitat. This results in rapidly declining fish stocks and population crashes that ripple throughout the ocean food web.

The good news is that oceans are resilient and can regain their former abundance, but for that to happen we must manage our fisheries responsibly. More and more countries are putting in place catch limits and habitat protections that are necessary to rebuild ocean resources. But for these efforts to be successful, the rules set to protect our most precious ocean resources must be vigorously enforced.

Sailors understand what is at stake. And more than others, they are in a position to help monitor the conduct of the global fishing fleet to hold it accountable. Global Fishing Watch is the first technology platform that allows anyone with an Internet connection to see global fishing activity in near real-time, for free. Global Fishing Watch—built by a partnership between Oceana, the search engine giant Google and the technology nonprofit SkyTruth—is free, easy to use, global in scale, and open source, which means as more users access the technology and create additional applications over time, the tool will become even more powerful.

Global Fishing Watch uses the Automatic Identification System (AIS), a tracking system employed by more than 200,000 vessels around the world for safety purposes. Large fishing vessels, including the ones that catch the most fish globally, are required to utilize AIS to prevent collisions at sea. Global Fishing Watch can access AIS data, which typically includes vessel identification information, and plug it into algorithms built to use vessel movement and location to identify apparent fishing activity. It then makes information on where fishing is occurring available.

This map depicts the Phoenix Islands Protected Area (PIPA). These historically productive fishing grounds were severely depleted, leading Kiribati’s President Tong to ban all commercial fishing within the reserve starting in January 2015. Oceana discovered through Global Fishing Watch that the government’s ban was effective and gave fish stocks a chance to recover.

This is where sailors come in. Imagine being out on the water and you see a passing fishing vessel. Perhaps it seems suspicious indicate whether the ship has been fishing, where and when it fished, whether it fished in a protected area, and where and when it returned to port.

Your “eyes on the ocean” might also identify odd behavior like a vessel meeting up with another ship at sea for a potential transshipment or a vessel that does not have its AIS activated. If you are sailing in or near a marine protected area and see a vessel fishing, you may be able to determine whether that ship was fishing in a “no-take” area. In all cases, reports can be made through Global Fishing Watch, and your report will be sent to the relevant enforcement agency.

When citizens show governments that laws are not being enforced, it will put pressure on those governments to act. Global Fishing Watch will help sailors, fishermen and everyday citizens hold governments accountable to enforce fishery laws.

Global Fishing Watch is especially powerful in the hands of sailors around the world, who can match eyewitness accounts with recorded satellite data. Imagine if every sailor in the world could give evidence to authorities enabling them to determine which fishing vessels are following the law and those that are not.

Global Fishing Watch can also be used by seafood retailers to identify the source of the seafood they purchase for sale, by seafood certifiers to strengthen the certification process, by companies that insure fishing vessels to track their policy-holders, and by honest fishermen who want to ensure the rules are enforced so that they can compete on an even playing field. The project is brand new and will reap the benefits of combining technology with illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing in an effort to curb those practices.

Global Fishing Watch uses the Automatic Identification System (AIS), a tracking system employed by more than 200,000 vessels around the world for safety purposes.

– Jacqueline Savitz

Most importantly, Global Fishing Watch allows fishing vessel operators to show the world they are fishing legally. By consistently using an AIS transponder, they might be able to fetch a higher price for their catch or get access to markets that in the future could be closed to any fishing vessel that doesn’t meet this basic transparency standard. In the meantime, it will put the bad actors on notice, essentially telling them, “We’ve got our eyes on you.”

Currently, sailors traveling to more remote areas of the ocean will be able to provide the most beneficial information to Global Fishing Watch because they are more likely to be traveling through no-take marine-protected areas and regions that are managed by small countries and have limited resources. Additionally, sailors may be able to help identify types of gear that are not allowed in certain places. For example, some areas of the Mediterranean have banned drift nets since they create a large amount of bycatch.

Both Oceana and Sailors for the Sea strive to preserve the richness and biodiversity of the ocean for future generations. Now, with Global Fishing Watch, we all have a powerful new tool to deter illegal fishing.

Article courtesy of Sailors for the Sea

Tiny Giants of the Sea

Nearly invisible marine microbes play a vital role in life at sea and on land.

Stories of mysterious creatures lurking deep in the sea have long captivated our imaginations and stirred our curiosity. Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences in East Boothbay, Maine, is on a mission to show that truth is stranger than fiction—in a big way.

Looks can be deceiving: Pteropods are actually sea snails.

Tiny Giants: Marine Microbes Revealed on a Grand Scale is a photographic adventure featuring colorized and enlarged images of nearly invisible plants and animals that dominate the ocean. Their beauty will leave you awestruck. “Our idea behind the Tiny Giants images was to pique people’s imaginations about the invisible creatures that we study that are vital to our very existence,” says Dr. Benjamin Twining, director of research and education at Bigelow Laboratory.

Ostracods–tiny shrimplike crustaceans are also known as sea fireflies–give off a bright blue light.

But how do you stir up interest and raise awareness about organisms so small that hundreds of thousands can live in just a single drop of seawater? You make the invisible visible. Dr. Peter Countway, Laura Lubelczyk and other Bigelow Laboratory researchers used three types of microscopes—compound-light, confocal and scanning electron—to capture 18 incredible images of marine microbes. Each of the high-powered microscopes provides a unique perspective and allows us to peer into this invisible world, but it takes a skilled and practiced hand to create the magical images seen in Tiny Giants. The incredible magnifications—some of the images are as big as four feet wide by five feet tall—offer a unique glimpse at the intricacies of these marine-dwelling microbes; their exquisite shapes and patterns appear otherworldly.

Copepods make up more than 21,000 species. Photo credit: Dr. Peter Countway, Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences with funding provided by the National Science Foundation.

Marine microbes are the foundation of life on Earth. They produce half of the oxygen we breathe and are the base of the food chain. In fact, 98 percent of the ocean’s biomass is made up of microbial life. Given their vital role in planetary processes and balance, it is important that we understand how ocean health issues such as ocean acidification and rising sea temperatures affect these organisms. In addition, marine microbes may lead to new advances in pharmaceuticals, fuel sources and nutritional supplements. Bigelow Laboratory is the only independent basic research institution in the world that focuses on microbial oceanography, and its researchers want to spread the word about the world-class discoveries taking place at their state-of-the-art campus.

Tiny Giants has been making the rounds throughout the northeast U.S. since January 2015. The exhibit has been featured in libraries, schools and art galleries. The response has been as impressive as the images themselves. “It was delightful to wander amongst the crowd and hear people exclaim about the beauty and wonder of marine microbes,” said Darlene Trew Crist, Director of Communications at Bigelow Laboratory, at the sold-out showing at District Hall in Boston, Massachusetts. Tiny Giants had a full summer schedule in 2016 including a World Oceans Day Summit on June 8th in Newport, Rhode Island, presented by Sailors for the Sea and Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences.

Diatoms–single-celled algae–are giants of the microbial world. Photo credit: Dr. Peter Countway, Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences with funding provided by the National Science Foundation

To promote unique, exciting ways to teach and learn, the Tiny Giants exhibit resided at Colby College in Waterville, Maine, throughout the 2015 fall semester. This innovative collaboration was used not only in biology and environmental science departments but also in theater, dance, art, and humanities. Educators used the exhibit to connect concepts of invisible marine microbes to their coursework. “We were excited to show the images in the Tiny Giants exhibition on campus last fall,” said Lori G. Kletzer, Colby Provost and Dean of Faculty. “Colby’s strategic partnership with Bigelow Laboratory provides world-class opportunities in marine science and climate science for our students—we knew that. The unique aesthetic for examining the natural microbial world through these photos completely reinforced the interdisciplinary approach that both our institutions value so highly.”

The wonders of the microscopic world aren’t reserved for scientists. With Tiny Giants, Bigelow Laboratory is making the mysterious marine underworld accessible to everybody. Next time you are out on the water, take a moment to think about the organized and diverse communities of tiny sea creatures that make our life possible. Check out the Tiny Giants schedule to see if there is an event or exhibit in your area at tinygiants.bigelow.org/schedule.html. Learn more about marine microbes and the cutting-edge research going on at Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences at bigelow.org.

— By Jaime Blair, Communications Consultant at Bigelow Laboratory — Article courtesy of Sailors for the Sea, Southern Boating Magazine April 2017

Exploring the Unexplored Oceans

It is estimated that 95 percent of the earth’s oceans remain unexplored. No wonder since the ocean covers 140 million square miles of the earth’s surface with an average depth of 12,000 feet.

The ocean floor’s deepest point is 36,000 feet below the water’s surface in the western Pacific Ocean and is called the Challenger Deep section of the Mariana Trench. It is extremely inhospitable down there. There’s virtually no light, water temperatures are near freezing and the pressure is a crushing 1,000 times what it is at sea level. But, in order to manage and protect ocean resources, we must learn what’s far below the surface.

The U.S. government agency that does much of the basic research for both the atmosphere and the oceans is the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) under the Department of Commerce. One branch of NOAA is the Office of Ocean Exploration and Research (OER), which is touted as “the only federal organization dedicated to exploring the unknown reaches of our ocean”. To support these endeavors, the Office of Marine and Aviation Operations (OMAO) supplies the ships and aircraft needed as well as the personnel to run them (omao.noaa.gov/).

OMAO is staffed by civilians and also has an enlisted contingent. The NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps—simply known as NOAA Corps—is one of the nation’s seven uniformed services. Prior to admission, candidates must possess a baccalaureate degree preferably in math, science or engineering. Basic training in seamanship is held in conjunction with the Coast Guard’s officer training program. After successful basic training and commissioning, officers receive their first ship assignment based on their qualifications and service needs. The 321 officers of the NOAA Corps are seamen and scientists and support NOAA’s wide variety of oceanic research efforts.

One of the primary duties of NOAA Corps officers is to operate NOAA’s research aircraft and ships. NOAA has nine manned aircraft which are stationed at MacDill AFB in Tampa, Florida. Two Lockheed WP-3D aircraft are designated “Hurricane Hunters” and fly into these great storms to gather vital data. Other smaller aircraft fly a variety of scientific missions across the country. NOAA also has drones it uses for monitoring wildlife.

NOAA has a fleet of 16 ships, the nation’s largest fleet of oceanographic research and survey ships, which are administered by the OMAO. These ships are engaged in fisheries surveys, hydrographic surveys and oceanographic research. Operations centers are located in Norfolk, Virginia, Newport, Oregon, and Honolulu, Hawaii. The ships are run by NOAA Corps officers with some civilian seamen completing the crew.

The pride of the NOAA fleet is the NOAA ship Okeanos Explorer, dubbed “America’s ship for ocean exploration”. A former U.S. Navy ship, Okeanos was refitted for oceanographic exploration and commissioned in 2008. The name was actually the winning entry in NOAA’s nationwide ship-naming contest and according to Greek cosmology, Okeanos was the river/ocean that encircled the world. The 224-foot Okeanos Explorer has a crew of 27 and typically sails with 19 scientists on board. These are OER research missions, and NOAA wants to involve as many experts as possible. Interested scientists can apply for the limited number of positions actually on board the ship. But much of the expert input on missions comes from teams of scientists at various Exploration Command Centers with the Inner Space Center at the University of Rhode Island Bay Campus being the primary one.

Okeanos Explorer is equipped with a high-bandwidth satellite communications system (the large satellite dome on the ship) which allows rapid data transmission. Scientists on shore can then have “telepresence”, which enables them to view Okeanos’ findings almost instantaneously and communicate back to the ship as necessary while helping to direct the mission.

Exploration missions often take the vessel to remote ocean areas. With high-powered sonar equipment, a major objective of the research cruises is to map previously unknown sections of the sea floor. For a closer examination of deep water sites, Okeanos has two remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), Deep Discoverer (D2) and its sister vehicle Seirios. With 20 LED lights and 9 video cameras, the ROVs can plunge to depths of nearly four miles and send back high-definition video, which is live-streamed to scientists on the ship and back on shore.

In 2016, the Okeanos Explorer explored the Northern Marianas Islands, Guam and the Marianas Trench Marine National Monument. Scientists on board and connected remotely could view previously unexplored areas of the seafloor. They observed a number of new animal species and unusual geological features. This year, the Okeanos Explorer will again be involved with Project CAPSTONE, a multi-year scientific investigation of deep-water, U.S.-protected marine areas in the central and western Pacific Ocean. These include national marine sanctuaries and marine national monuments, the underwater equivalents of national parks. Again, the goal will be undersea mapping and further explorations of biological and geological features with the ROVs.

When a mission is ongoing, the video is live streamed and broadcast through standard Internet connections.

If you’d like take part in an ongoing mission, go to the NOAA Ocean Explorer website oceanexplorer.noaa.gov. The live video feeds on the last mission generated a record-breaking 3.1 million views over the course of the expedition.

— By Ed Brotak, Southern Boating Magazine March 2017

Sea Levels Rise

Sea levels are rising across the globe, leading to increased concern for the safety of coastal communities and wildlife populations.

Sea levels are rising as a direct result of the earth’s warming. Due to this warming, the permanent ice sheets over Greenland and Antarctica are melting, which means less sea ice (ice floating in the polar ocean areas) is being formed each winter. Further complicating the matter, the warmer the water the more it expands, which also takes up an increased amount of space. The melting and loss of sea ice has accelerated over the last decade and is now believed to be one of main causes of increasing sea levels. This is irrefutable evidence of global warming, which isn’t limited to one incident but marks a trend of increasing ocean temperatures and levels.

Global average absolute sea level change from 1880 to 2015. Photo: CSIRO / NOAA

According to the National Atmospheric and Oceanic Agency’s (NOAA) State of the Climate Report (ncdc.noaa.gov/sotc), 2015 was the second warmest year on record for the U.S. The report stated that it was “the 19th consecutive year the annual average temperature exceeded the 20th century average”. Not only were global temperatures measured at the highest level ever recorded, but they also broke the previous temperature records by an unprecedented margin. And after the data points for 2016 temperatures are finalized, we may find that 2016 was even warmer than 2015. Overall, the earth has been warming since comprehensive temperature records have been kept in 1880, and this warming rate has increased in recent decades. Global warming has been attributed to the actions of humanity, particularly those that have increased the global quantities of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide. For example, prior to the Industrial Revolution in the 18th century, atmospheric carbon dioxide levels were about 280 ppm (parts per million). Today, that level rests at about 400 ppm.

Global warming is an issue for both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. The Arctic region is facing the harshest increases in temperature. In 2006, NOAA started issuing an annual Arctic Report Card documenting observed weather conditions. The 2016 report is particularly disturbing. The average annual air temperature over land areas was the highest on record with a 6 degrees F increase since 1900, while the Arctic Ocean temperatures were 9 degrees F above average in August. Spring snow cover was at a record low in the North American Arctic, as was sea ice in the fall. On December 22, 2016, a weather buoy just 90 miles south of the North Pole registered a temperature of 32 degrees F, nearly 50 degrees above normal. Even more disturbing, one study suggests that the Greenland ice sheet lost one trillion tons of ice between 2011 and 2014 alone.

There are two ways to accurately measure sea level. Tide gauges have recorded local sea levels for more than a century. However, the old ruler-type gauges are giving way to modern microwave sensor stations. And in the past 20 years, satellite measurements have been available that use laser altimeters. According to NOAA, the sea level has been rising for the last 100 years (corresponding to an increase in the earth’s temperature), and the rate of rise has been increasing in recent decades. Globally, the overall rise in sea level is eight inches, which may not sound like much, so for reference consider that nearly 70 percent of the earth’s surface is covered by water—an estimated 3.5 x 1020 gallons. Also keep in mind that the surface of the ocean isn’t simply flat since the moon’s gravitation causes a significant bulge that moves with the earth’s rotation and causes the tides. Local currents and winds also distort sea level.

Why should we be worried about rising sea levels? About 40 percent of the U.S. population lives in coastal areas, all of which are at risk of flooding. According to NOAA, “Flooding increased on all three U.S. coasts between 300 and 925 percent since the 1960s, with the biggest increases in the Mid-Atlantic.” Naturally, we expect the damaging high tides and storm surges of hurricanes or other coastal storms, but the danger is intensified by higher sea levels, which allow these storm-induced tides to reach further inland and produce even more destruction.

One of the most pressing problems related to rising sea levels is the increased occurrence of “nuisance floods,” which are typically not storm related but rather occur with unusually high astronomical tides. Perigean spring tides or “king tides” occur several times a year when the moon is closest to the earth. Normally, the flooding caused by perigean spring tides is usually minor in low-lying areas and at their worst produce road closures and minor damage. However, in recent years, this tidal flooding has gotten progressively worse and is far beyond just being a nuisance. Roads are frequently becoming submerged under deeper water for increasingly longer periods of time. Homes and businesses have also experienced flooding in their basements. Some king tides rank with major storm tides as the highest on record. South Florida was hit particularly hard by these tides in the fall of 2016.

Wildlife is also severely impacted by rising seas and the resulting loss of coastal habitats. Warmer water temperatures have a negative impact on animal and fish populations that are already adapted to cooler water temperatures. Furthermore, algae blooms occur more frequently in warmer water temperatures, bringing about an increasing number of “red tides”.

What does the future hold? Scientists agree that sea levels will continue to rise as the earth’s temperature rises. Estimates predict that by 2100, sea levels will likely be at least a foot higher than they are today, but this is assuming we don’t have a rapid collapse of the major ice sheets, which could lead to water level rises of 20 to 30 feet.

Is there anything we can do as global citizens to mitigate the impact of global warming? Certainly, we need to cut greenhouse gas emissions around the world, but we also have to prepare for rising sea levels. The infrastructure of coastal cities and communities will need adaptations to prepare for rising sea levels, and ultimately some may need to be abandoned. But rising sea levels impact the entire planet and each of us should take steps to reduce our global footprint. For more information visit arctic.noaa.gov/report-card or climate.gov.

By Ed Brotak, Southern Boating February 2017

Watch Out– Rogue Waves Ahead!

Scientists have yet to determine how to forecast where and when rogue waves will strike.

The 1972 blockbuster movie The Poseidon Adventure depicts a large ocean liner that’s capsized by a huge wave. Although fictional, the movie was inspired by an actual incident. The R.M.S. Queen Mary was almost capsized by a 70-foot wave while carrying thousands of U.S. troops in 1942, which would have been a far worse disaster than the Titanic sinking. For hundreds of years, mariners have talked about monster waves, and Christopher Columbus wrote of an experience with one in 1498. It is even speculated that a “freak wave” on Lake Superior was what sank the Edmund Fitzgerald during a storm in November 1975.

Scientists, however, have been skeptical of the occurrence of such great waves. Other than personal accounts of those who survived an encounter, there was no hard evidence of their existence and no scientific explanation of how they could occur. Waves of 40 or even 50 feet were seen as possible but not waves approaching 100 feet. That changed in January 1995 when the Draupner—an oil-drilling platform in the North Sea—was hit by a wave accurately measured at 86 feet. The “Draupner Wave” was twice as tall as surrounding waves and fell well outside the range of scientific predictions.

A “rogue wave” is significantly higher and steeper than other waves that are occurring at the time, typically defined as twice as high as surrounding waves. It may even approach from a different direction than other waves. Rogue waves can occur in turbulent conditions as an exceptionally high wave amongst other high waves, or they can occur with much calmer seas.

Now with definitive proof of the existence of rogue waves, scientists sought to determine their frequency. With newly developed methods of analyzing satellite data, they found that rogue waves are common in all of the oceans of the world, particularly in the North Pacific and especially the North Atlantic.

There are several theories describing the formation of rogue waves. If waves are coming in from different directions, two waves may physically join up. The newly formed wave could have a crest approaching the additive height of the two component waves. Another possibility is that when waves are travelling in the opposite direction of a prevailing current, the wave length shortens and one wave may actually catch up to another and build. In this case, regions with strong currents such as the Gulf Stream would be more prone to rogue wave occurrence.

Forecasting the occurrence of individual rogue waves is beyond science today, but the standard National Weather Service marine forecast allows for their possibility with the following caution: “Individual waves may be more than twice the significant wave height.”

In addition to rogue waves—as if that’s not enough—coastal areas have another phenomenon to deal with. On January 17, 2016, a tidal surge 5.5 feet above normal struck the Naples, Florida, area in the early morning hours. It had the characteristics of a tsunami, but no seismic activity had been reported. Meteorologists announced that it was a meteotsunami, a tidal surge consisting of a series of waves. Unlike typical tsunamis, which are caused by geologic events such as earthquakes, this phenomenon is produced by a marine weather system. This is different from a storm surge—the high tide that accompanies hurricanes and strong winter storms, which are wind driven. Meteotsunamis are caused by changes in atmospheric pressure which can in turn affect sea-level height. Often the culprit is an area of strong thunderstorms such as an intense squall line, which was the case in Naples. Development of a meteotsunami depends on several factors including the intensity, direction, and speed of movement of the weather system as it travels over water. Over open water, these changes may hardly be noticeable, but just like other tsunamis, it can become dangerous when it hits the shallow water near the coast as this causes it to slow down and increase in height and intensity. Even greater magnification can occur in semi-enclosed water bodies such as harbors, inlets, and bays. Damaging waves, flooding and strong currents can last from several hours to a day.

The NOAA vessel Fairweather approaches one of many data buoys, which provide real-time information critical for understanding and predicting El Niño and La Niña events, ocean currents, rogue waves, and more. photo courtesy of NOAA

Although not as potent as a typical tsunami, meteotsunamis can be destructive and even deadly. On July 3, 1992, a particularly destructive one occurred on Daytona Beach, Florida. A 10-foot wave came crashing ashore, injuring 75 people and damaging 100 vehicles as well as other property. On June 13, 2013, despite clear skies and calm weather, a meteotsunami caused injuries and damage from southern Massachusetts to New Jersey.

The largest meteotsunami ever recorded occurred in Croatia in June 1978, when waves up to 19.5 feet battered the coast for several hours, significantly damaging boats and port infrastructure. Meteotsunamis can also strike large inland waters. In 1954, a deadly meteotsunami hit Chicago’s Lake Michigan waterfront and swept people into the cold water, which resulted in seven drownings.

Recent research has shown that meteotsunamis are more common than previously thought especially along the Atlantic Coast and the Gulf of Mexico. Some estimates attribute up to 13 percent of all tsunamis to them. Meteorologists are trying to develop a system to forecast them in advance, but for now they remain unpredictable.

By Ed Brotak, Southern Boating Magazine January 2017

Eyes on U: Keep an eye on UMiami’s Marine Biology Programs

With outstanding programs in marine biology, two University of Miami campuses have become focal points for environmental studies.

From its humble beginnings in 1925, the University of Miami’s Coral Gables campus has weathered many storms, both natural and manmade, and has come out on the other side as a major institution for higher learning. Respected for its exceptional staff of educators, the accomplishments of its student body and its Division One athletic program among many other notable accomplishments, Miami has set a course in both academia as well as having a broad view of the world.

The “U”, as it’s affectionately known, can boast of yet another achievement: its undergraduate Marine Biology curriculum and its advanced degree syllabus at the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science (RSMAS) located on nearby Virginia Key. Known globally for its outstanding scientific studies, Rosenstiel is committed to being the steward of the health and wellbeing of Florida’s waters—whether ocean, Gulf, rivers, or lakes—and its wildlife, both marine and terrestrial, including coral reefs, mangrove areas, and the environment. Rosenstiel also contributes to the global initiatives, study, and efforts to solve our planet’s environmental ills.

“Since I became dean of the school, we have worked quite energetically to improve our infrastructure and to implement transformative changes,” says Dr. Roni Avissar, Ph.D. and RSMAS Dean. “This to poise the school as a leader in research, education, and services to the community, as an integral part of the University of Miami, which is to be the next great American research university.” To that end, Dean Avissar’s vision has already become a reality. One merely has to look at Dr. Emily Shuckburgh, a past recipient of the Rosenstiel Award for her Open Oceans study with the British Antarctic Survey in understanding the role polar seas play in the global climate system. Then there’s marine ecologist and Research Assistant Professor of Ecosystem Science & Policy, Dr. Neil Hammerschlag, who also serves as the director of the University’s world-renowned Shark Research & Conversation Program.

Given its strategic location on Biscayne Bay, RSMAS now presents its latest acquisition, the Hurricane Lab. The new building houses the largest wind wave facility in the world and is capable of generating a Category 5 storm in its 75-foot, 40,000-gallon seawater tank. Overseen by Dr. Brian Haus, the respected director of the school’s Department of Ocean Sciences, the facility studies potentially catastrophic effects such as storm surge and why some hurricanes cause calamitous damage while others huff and puff themselves to death when coming ashore.

Docked outside the Virginia Key campus is the 96-foot R/V F. G. Walton Smith. Named after the school’s founder, the vessel is a state-of-the-art power catamaran packed with 800 square feet of laboratory space, a nitrox dive center and accommodations for 20 people. She is also equipped with dynamic positioning for exact station keeping, a transducer suite for measuring ocean currents, a dedicated space between the hulls for drilling and coring operations, and a notched stern area for maneuvering equipment into place. To that end, when the environmental disaster caused by the Deepwater Horizon oil well blowout occurred, the Smith participated in aftermath operations.

But as much as these things are what one would expect from a major research center, it’s the experiences students carry forward that’s going to make the difference in the future. “I knew at an early age that I wanted my life’s work to be involved with ocean conversation,” says Justine Zoe Gapayao, recent U/RSMAS graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Marine Science and Biology and a minor in Chemistry. “It was well worth all the effort to become part of the U family and with both my stateside studies and those abroad, I was able to set a solid path on which to build my career.”

While she had an inspiring study abroad semester at James Cook University in Queensland, Australia, her most fulfilling experience through RSMAS was a yearlong internship at Dr. Baker’s Coral Conservation Laboratory. “I learned field work and genetic techniques to analyze coral larvae and their susceptibility to nutrient and climate change.” Since graduating, Zoe has been involved with conservation organizations in the Gulf of Mexico and Philippines. Her current endeavors involve attaining her PADI Divemaster and volunteering with the Hawaiian Marine Mammal Alliance while applying to graduate school.

Samantha Kreisler recalls her fascination with living things, especially those ocean dwellers and ecosystems she was exposed to at a very early age. “After spending a semester abroad at the Cape Eleuthera Island School in The Bahamas during my sophomore year in high school, where I received my open ocean diver’s certification and studied the local coral reefs, as well as the effects of non-endemic species such as lionfish, it was a natural progression to make Miami and RSMAS the place at which to launch my career.” She studied Marine Affairs and Policy and continued on to a Masters of Professional Science in Coastal Zone Management.

“Besides having incredible and prestigious professors, I was given many opportunities to take classes abroad such as water resources and policy in Hanoi, Vietnam, and Kunming, China, where I was exposed to knowledge that not only allowed me to gain specific information about overseas hydrological systems, but also provided me with new insights into national-based policy.” Samantha currently works at the nonprofit Clean Water Action, whose efforts to protect New Jersey’s environment and public health is done through lobbying and legislation. “I know I can make a difference,” she says. The University of Miami’s programs in this endeavor are the kind that sends its students out into the world prepared to take on the big problems and solve them one at a time. It’s what the world needs.

— By Ken Kreisler, Southern Boating Magazine December 2016

Manatees Return to South Florida’s Waterways

They’re baaaaack!

Sunday is the official start of manatee season. This means that slow-speed regulations in South Florida’s network of waterways take effect. Manatees can’t tolerate water temperatures below 68 degrees (much like the other snowbirds that join us around this time of year), which is why the gentle giants swim south from Georgia and North Florida to bask in warm waters near power plants and other sun-soaked areas.

Sadly, 80 manatees have already been killed by ships and boats in Florida this year. Wildlife officials urge anyone operating watercraft to take precautions and watch out for these docile creatures. “Watching these large plant-eating mammals swim slowly through Florida waters, often accompanied by their calves, is a special experience,” says Carol Knox, of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. “Boaters following posted speed zones for manatees migrating to warmer waters help conserve this iconic Florida species for future generations.”

While manatee numbers have risen over the past few years, cruisers should still do all they can to protect these defenseless animals from harm (particularly from engine props). Last season, a record 6,063 manatees were counted across Florida in a single day. The state wildlife service will attempt to coordinate another survey this season, weather permitting.

If you are boating in the next few months, be sure to go slow and keep an eye out for manatees. You may see a swirl on the surface caused by a manatee when it dives down. Or you may see the manatee’s back, snout, tail, or flipper break the surface of the water. You may only hear the manatee when it surfaces to breathe. In all of these instances, keeping your distance and passive observation are the best ways to view manatees.

If you happen to see a sick or injured manatee, be sure to call 1-888-404-FWCC (3922), *FWC or #FWC on your phone or send a text message to Tip@MyFWC.com.

You can also use VHF Channel 16 on your marine radio.  Make sure to give dispatchers the exact location of the manatee. For more information about manatee safety, check out the Save the Manatee Foundation.

Want more manatee cuteness in your life? Check out our article on Florida’s Crystal River, a manatee haven!

Gentle Giants

Adult manatees average 9-10 feet long and 1,000 pounds, but can grow to 13 feet and more than 3,500 pounds.

Boaters Beware

You’ll find manatees in coastal waters, canals and rivers, in both fresh and salt water.

Long Range Cruisers

 

Generally, manatees can be seen in the Caribbean, Central America, and parts of  South America. In the United States you’ll find them in Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas, although they have also been seen in Texas and Massachusetts.

Eating Machines

Manatees love to eat and can consume up to 10 percent of their body weight in one day of  freshwater and marine plants.

Just Playing Around

Manatees are actually quite funny. You’ll see them display acrobatic agility in the water, turning somersaults, rolling and swimming upside down.

 

Big Baby

Females bear a single (incredibly cute) calf, which stays with its mother for up to two years.

 

Signs it’s time to head back to shore

Summer brings the perfect conditions for a day out on the water. Whether you’re taking the boat out for a solitary cruise or showing friends and family that perfect snorkeling spot, there are plenty of opportunities to take a step back, grab a drink and soak up the summer sun. However, the start of summer also brings other changes in weather besides the heat—sudden storms can appear unexpectedly, placing you and your passengers in danger.

These days, checking the weather forecast is as easy as taking a quick peek at your smartphone for one of the many weather apps available or checking your onboard radar. However, the time-honored tradition of scanning the horizon can be just as handy when your cruising itinerary takes you outside the realm of cellular service. Keeping track of the cloud cover and how it changes is one of the best ways to make sure summer voyages remain safe and enjoyable for the entire crew. Here are some signs to help you determine if it’s time to head back to shore.

Clouds can appear in almost infinite configurations across the sky but can be separated into manageable groups. Determining which group those looming clouds in the distance belong to can help to ease worries about potential inclement weather. Different types of clouds have descriptive names that depend on their appearance. For example, the common cumulus cloud (which indicates fair weather) has a defined outline and dense texture while its sunlit parts reflect a brilliant white light. Stratus clouds are composed of a thick, light gray base layer. The sun is barely visible behind this type of cloud, which often indicates an upcoming light drizzle. Other clouds are based on their process of formation, so it’s important to keep an eye on their development in order to recognize potential hazards.

Predicting weather patterns can be as easy as asking a series of questions based on cloud formation. While scanning the skyline, ask yourself about the types of clouds you can see. Are they increasing or decreasing in volume and amount? Are they moving higher up into the atmosphere or moving closer to the surface of the water? Watch out for heavy, dense clouds with a vertical formation, such as the cumulonimbus, as these can signal approaching thunderstorms with strong winds. Mariners throughout the centuries have developed a few quick sayings, or proverbs, dedicated to remembering the signs of approaching storms. Here are some of the more popular ones:

Red sky in the morning, sailors take warning. Red sky at night, sailor’s delight.
A red appearance to the sky at night can indicate high-pressure systems and good weather ahead. However, a red sky in the morning can indicate high water content in the atmosphere as well as low-pressure systems moving in, meaning a potential chance of rain.

Mackerel skies and mares’ tails make tall ships carry low sails.
A few high-flying cirrus clouds signal fair weather. However, when they increase dramatically in number they create what is known as a mackerel sky, which carries the possibility of rain.

By Susanna Botkin, Southern Exposure June 2016

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