Bovine Hormone Could Provide Boost to Tilapia Aquaculture
In collaboration with Monsanto Chemical Company and California Sea Grant, Hawaii Sea Grant Director Gordon Grau is characterizing the efficacy and safety of Monsanto's recombinant bovine growth hormone in raising aquacultured tilapia. His research will help gather information essential for determining whether this hormone has practical value in improving production and in reducing costs in the aquaculture of finish and shellfish. Grau's laboratory has established the recombinant bovine growth hormone does have significant growth-promoting effects in tilapia. The studies indicate the recombinant bovine growth hormone may have considerable practical value in tilapia aquaculture, and studies are now aiming at developing a practical method for treatment of tilapia fry.
Contact: Gordon Grau, Director, Hawaii Sea Grant, Phone: (808) 956-7031;
Email: sg-dir@soest.hawaii.edu
Researchers Forecast Best Beach Nourishment Sand Dredging Sites
Sea Grant researchers say they can predict the physical impacts of dredging the ocean bottom for nourishment sand that is used to build up eroded coastal beaches. The key lies in finding the best location to dredge.
There are three major considerations: 1) A location close enough to the targeted beach to be economically feasible; 2) Nourishment sand must be a suitable grain size, at least as coarse as the native beach; and 3) Nourishment sand has to be sufficiently distant from the shore so that its removal doesn't modify currents and waves which could make the existing erosion process worse. Biological impacts have to be considered as well.
Paul Work, a South Carolina Sea Grant researcher at Georgia Tech Regional Engineering Program in Savannah, and George Voulgaris of the University of South Carolina have teamed up with their students to develop computer models for prediction of the physical impacts of offshore dredging on nearby beaches. They have modeled currents and waves and how they are altered by dredging. They have also compared the model results to actual field measurements of nearshore waves and currents. Three potential dredge sites near Folly Beach, SC have been evaluated for impacts. Folley Beach was last nourished in 1993 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and that effort had a predicted design lifetime of eight years. No funding has yet been identified to renourish the beach, but according to the Corps schedule it is overdue.
Works' research team awaits to see if dredging at one of the Folly Beach sites occurs and what the actual results are. If the model predictions and reality correspond, then this approach could be applied to other coastal beach nourishment projects yielding better predictions of impacts and optimization of mining locations.
CONTACT: Paul A. Work, South Carolina Sea Grant Researcher, Georgia Tech Regional Engineering Program, Phone: (912) 644-7753; Email: paul.work@gtrep.gatech.edu
Timely Publication from Delaware Sea Grant on Port Security
The Delaware Sea Grant College Program has just issued a timely publication as the United States seeks to improve homeland security. Entitled "Port Security for the United States" the 80-page book is a collection of research essays looking at: 1) the vulnerability of US ports and harbors; 2) measures that can be taken to strengthen their security; 3) the interaction between the various agencies at the federal, state and local levels in establishing port security; and 4) the various legislative solutions proposed. The book is edited by University of Delaware Professor of International and Maritime Law Gerard J. Mangone who believes no avenue is more open to terrorism than American seaports.
CONTACT: Gerald Mangone, Delaware Sea Grant Researcher, Phone (302) 831-8087. Email: gmangone@udel.edu
COPIES AVAILABLE: The book costs $12. To order, make your check/money order payable to "University of Delaware" and send with your name and address to University of Delaware Marine Public Education Office, 222 South Chapel Street, Newark, DE 19716-3530. For questions about book orders, contact the office at: MarineCom@udel.edu or (302) 831-8083.
SEA GRANT PEOPLE IN THE NEWS:
Longtime North Carolina Sea Grant education specialist Lundie Spence has left that position after more than 20 years. Starting this month Spence will become director of the Southeast Center for Ocean Science Education Excellence program (COSEE) in Charleston, S.C. COSEE will foster collaborations between ocean science researchers and educators, and translate the research into high-quality education programs. The Southeast center is one of seven regional centers in the United States in a five-year educational project that is directed by the National Science Foundation with additional funding and administrative support from NOAA's Office of Education.
SEA GRANT WEB SPOTLIGHT:
The Bridge - Ocean Science Educational Teacher Resource Center
http://www.vims.edu/bridge/
Teachers will find a selection of the best online resources for ocean sciences education. Site goals are to provide educators with content-correct and content-current marine information and data; to support researchers in outreach efforts; to improve communications among educators and between the education and research communities. All information and links featured on "The Bridge" is screened by scientists and educators. New material will be added regularly. "The Bridge" is supported by the National Oceanographic Partnership Program, and is sponsored by the National Marine Educators Association and the national network of NOAA's Sea Grant College Program educators.
CONTACTS: Vicki Clark, Virginia Sea Grant, Phone: (804) 684-7169; Email: vclark @vims.edu;
Lee Larkin, Virginia Sea Grant, Phone: (804) 684-7172; Email: larkin@vims.edu
SEA GRANT CALENDAR SPOTLIGHT:
Summit for the Sustainability of the Gulf of Mexico Shrimp Industry
March 6, 2003 - March 8, 2003, Westin Oaks Hotel, Galleria Mall, Houston, TX
Event Web Site: http://shrimpsummit.tamu.edu
This is a summit of government, industry, scientists and environmental/conservation groups from the US and Mexico to identify elements of a sustainability shrimp industry and develop a strategic plan to accomplish these elements of sustainability. The gathering is sponsored by the Texas Sea Grant College Program in association with the other Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Programs and NOAA's National Sea Grant Office
CONTACT: Ralph Rayburn, Texas Sea Grant College Program, Phone (979) 845-7526;
Email: ralph-rayburn@tamu.edu
Sea Grant is a nationwide network of 30 university-based programs that works with coastal communities and is supported by NOAA. Sea Grant research and outreach programs promote better understanding, conservation, and use of America's coastal resources. For more information about Sea Grant visit the Sea Grant Media Center Website at: http://www.seagrantnews.org , which includes on-line keyword searchable database of academic experts in over 30 topical areas.
Sea Grant Web Spotlight:
The Bridge - Ocean Science Educational Teacher Resource Center
http://www.vims.edu/bridge/
Sea Grant Calendar Spotlight:
Summit for the Sustainability of the Gulf of Mexico Shrimp Industry
March 6, 2003 - March 8, 2003, Westin Oaks Hotel, Galleria Mall, Houston, TX