Program Administration

“Naturalist’s Log” looks at menhaden, and the results of last November’s Menhaden Science and Policy Symposium

Rhode Island Sea Grant’s assistant director, Alan Desbonnet, writes “The Naturalist’s Log” for On the Water magazine, and recently featured November’s Menhaden Science and Policy Symposium in a series of columns. The first column describes menhaden’s value as a baitfish, a source of omega-3 for dietary supplements, and as fishmeal. It delves into some of the controversy among stakeholders regarding the fate of menhaden in Narragansett Bay—particularly in light of last summer’s abundance of menhaden in the upper bay—and describes Sea Grant’s role in hosting the symposium as one of providing the best available science to decision makers. The column briefly describes the history of menhaden fishery in New England, as related by Sustainable Fisheries Extension Specialist David Beutel. Each month we will feature another of the menhaden columns, or visit www.onthewater.com/Naturalistlog.htm.

Menhaden, the Fish that Manures, Part 1
Each planting season, the Narragansett Indians would collect fish along the shores of Narragansett Bay and then put one fish into the soil next to a kernel of corn. The rotting fish would provide fertilizer to the corn, helping it grow quickly and vigorously. But the Narragansett wouldn’t use just any fish for this all-important role in growing a staple crop that helped families survive the winter; they would use a fish called munnawhatteaug. Translated, this equates to “the fish that manures,” and it was indeed used to “manure,” or fertilize, crops to promote good growth. Today we know this fish as a pogy, bunker, or menhaden. Scientists classify them as Brevoortia tyrannus ... [more]. Used by permission of On the Water magazine.

Costa-Pierce speaks in Vancouver about ecological aquaculture

Ecological aquaculture is an alternative model of aquaculture development that implements the use of ecosystems design, ecological principles, social ecology and systems ecology paradigms for the development of more sustainable aquaculture operations. Ecological aquaculture farms are “aquaculture ecosystems.” Ecological aquaculture plans not only for production, but also for sustaining vital social networks that nurture ecosystem health and promote the stewardship practices essential for economic and social profit. Ecological aquaculture incorporates—at the outset and not as an afterthought—planning for community development, and concerns for the wider social, economic, and environmental contexts of aquaculture at the commercial, school, and homeowner scales. In April, Barry Costa-Pierce, Rhode Island Sea Grant director, spoke at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, British Columbia, on “Ecological Aquaculture: Multidisciplinary Scholarship for the Blue.”

Costa-Pierce is also a professor of fisheries and aquaculture at URI and a senior fellow at the World Fish Center in Penang, Malaysia, a member of the FAO’s working group on an ecosystems approach to aquaculture, and member of the Board of Directors of the World Aquaculture Society. His recent books include Ecological Aquaculture: The Evolution of the Blue Revolution (2002), Urban Aquaculture (2005) and Science for Ecosystem-based Management: Narragansett Bay in the 21st Century (2008). Costa-Pierce is also one of the four international editors of Aquaculture, managing approximately 600 scientific manuscripts a year.

Nanaimo Declaration promotes sustainable and responsible aquaculture in the Americas and beyond

The cofounders of the International Sustainable Ecological Aquaculture Systems (ISEAS) Network have signed a declaration to promote a more sustainable trajectory for aquaculture in the Americas, and throughout the world as appropriate. The group, with representatives from Canada, Mexico, and the United States, met in Nanaimo, British Columbia, in April. For a complete copy of the declaration, click here.

Sea Grant celebrates Earth Day

Over 150 visitors stopped by the Rhode Island Sea Grant booth at the URI Quad on Earth Day, April 22. Staff were on hand to answer questions about the program, discuss student job opportunities, and hand out water bottles (BPA- free) with Sea Grant info.