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Mussel move
Marine Pollution Bulletin
and called locally the Regional Marine Pollution Emergency, Information and Training Centre (REMPEITC-Carib). The role of this group is to implement the Caribbean OPRC plan and the Cartagena Oil Spill Protocol and the OPRC Convention. The OPRC plan has now been adopted by nearly all the states in the region. Members of the training centre travel to the different islands and offer advice and practical help. In some islands there is very little manpower qualified to draft legislation and model legislation and assistance from common law legislators have proved invaluable in putting forward new legislative plans. Further practical help is given in the event of pollution incidents. For example, a stranded rice vessel was monitored for its potential environmental effect if oil was spilled and guidance was given on strategies to fight a small oil spill off St Eustatius. The group are also developing preventative strategies with the Netherlands Antilles government as well as providing a forum for oil industry representatives, environmentalists and local politicians to meet where strategies can be worked out.
Hong Kong Tightens Waste Passage
Originally it had been intended to carry out a large scale survey to determine the extent of the mussel populations and establish the range of species present. However, aquatic biologists expressed concern that a study on such a large scale survey would result in major disturbance of the mussels anyway, so it would be easier just to move them. The move has been agreed by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. All mussels from the bridge area will be lifted and any endangered groups will be gathered at the same time. Once lifted the mussels will be bagged according to species and the majority will be dropped in areas of similar substratum. Any endangered species will be carefully placed in suitable sites on the river bed. In this way it is hoped that less than 6% will suffer mortality. This is the figure which was found after a similar project was carried out further downstream. The proposed four lane bridge will replace the two lane lift bridge and also link two interstate highways. In spite of this effort two environmental groups have filed suit in June to block the project. The Sierra Club and the Voyageurs Region National Park Association have alleged that the Federal Highway Administration and the National Park Service are not responding adequately to the need to protect the St Croix river which is designated a Wild and Scenic River. It will be later in autumn before the court will rule on this matter. P H ILIP P A A M B R O S E
The Hong Kong Environmental Department is to tighten controls regarding the passage of waste through the territory. The move comes after a shipment of contaminated plastic waste, which had been rotting in Hong Kong's waters for over a month after being rejected by China, was returned to the US, the country from which it originated. Apparently, off]dais at the Chinese mainland port of Fuzoh refused to accept the 200 t of plastic waste because it was mixed with rotting household waste and sent it to the importers who are based in Hong Kong. This is not the first case of this type, several such shipments being returned from Shenzhen. As a result of this the Hong Kong government is to put a Waste Disposal Amendment Bill 1996 to the legislative council before the end of the year. This will require those who apply to export waste through Hong Kong's port to obtain a permit from the Environmental Protection Department. China is also introducing stricter controls and waste dealers now have to obtain approval from government customs, commodity inspection and environmental protection before they can import rubbish.
The growth and anticipated expansion of the California squid fishing fleet, together with the decision by the US Department of Commerce not to proceed with the Pacific Fishery Management Council's pelagic species management plan, has prompted the California Legislature to introduce a Bill to place a moratorium on further development of the state's squid fishing industry. In addition to establishing a moratorium on new entry into the fishery for a three year period, the new Bill also charges the fishing industry and the Department of Fish and Game with developing recommendations to the legislature for a limited entry system, identifying the optimum number of vessels for the fishery and establishing a research and stock monitoring programme to determine the annual harvest levels and seasons for a sustainable fishery.
Mussel Move
News In Brief
20,000 mussels are to be moved to make way for a new bridge in Minnesota at a cost of $165,000. The state Department of Transportation (DOT) have hired a number of divers to move a large colony of mussels 300 m upstream from the $60 million proposed bridge on the St Croix river to a new site 800 m up from the area. 696
Protection for Californian Squid
Australia Sushi-grade jellyfish may be on their way to the Asian markets if research into their viability as a part of the Australian export fishery is established. The jellyfish will
and called locally the Regional Marine Pollution Emergency, Information and Training Centre (REMPEITC-Carib). The role of this group is to implement the Caribbean OPRC plan and the Cartagena Oil Spill Protocol and the OPRC Convention. The OPRC plan has now been adopted by nearly all the states in the region. Members of the training centre travel to the different islands and offer advice and practical help. In some islands there is very little manpower qualified to draft legislation and model legislation and assistance from common law legislators have proved invaluable in putting forward new legislative plans. Further practical help is given in the event of pollution incidents. For example, a stranded rice vessel was monitored for its potential environmental effect if oil was spilled and guidance was given on strategies to fight a small oil spill off St Eustatius. The group are also developing preventative strategies with the Netherlands Antilles government as well as providing a forum for oil industry representatives, environmentalists and local politicians to meet where strategies can be worked out.
Hong Kong Tightens Waste Passage
Originally it had been intended to carry out a large scale survey to determine the extent of the mussel populations and establish the range of species present. However, aquatic biologists expressed concern that a study on such a large scale survey would result in major disturbance of the mussels anyway, so it would be easier just to move them. The move has been agreed by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. All mussels from the bridge area will be lifted and any endangered groups will be gathered at the same time. Once lifted the mussels will be bagged according to species and the majority will be dropped in areas of similar substratum. Any endangered species will be carefully placed in suitable sites on the river bed. In this way it is hoped that less than 6% will suffer mortality. This is the figure which was found after a similar project was carried out further downstream. The proposed four lane bridge will replace the two lane lift bridge and also link two interstate highways. In spite of this effort two environmental groups have filed suit in June to block the project. The Sierra Club and the Voyageurs Region National Park Association have alleged that the Federal Highway Administration and the National Park Service are not responding adequately to the need to protect the St Croix river which is designated a Wild and Scenic River. It will be later in autumn before the court will rule on this matter. P H ILIP P A A M B R O S E
The Hong Kong Environmental Department is to tighten controls regarding the passage of waste through the territory. The move comes after a shipment of contaminated plastic waste, which had been rotting in Hong Kong's waters for over a month after being rejected by China, was returned to the US, the country from which it originated. Apparently, off]dais at the Chinese mainland port of Fuzoh refused to accept the 200 t of plastic waste because it was mixed with rotting household waste and sent it to the importers who are based in Hong Kong. This is not the first case of this type, several such shipments being returned from Shenzhen. As a result of this the Hong Kong government is to put a Waste Disposal Amendment Bill 1996 to the legislative council before the end of the year. This will require those who apply to export waste through Hong Kong's port to obtain a permit from the Environmental Protection Department. China is also introducing stricter controls and waste dealers now have to obtain approval from government customs, commodity inspection and environmental protection before they can import rubbish.
The growth and anticipated expansion of the California squid fishing fleet, together with the decision by the US Department of Commerce not to proceed with the Pacific Fishery Management Council's pelagic species management plan, has prompted the California Legislature to introduce a Bill to place a moratorium on further development of the state's squid fishing industry. In addition to establishing a moratorium on new entry into the fishery for a three year period, the new Bill also charges the fishing industry and the Department of Fish and Game with developing recommendations to the legislature for a limited entry system, identifying the optimum number of vessels for the fishery and establishing a research and stock monitoring programme to determine the annual harvest levels and seasons for a sustainable fishery.
Mussel Move
News In Brief
20,000 mussels are to be moved to make way for a new bridge in Minnesota at a cost of $165,000. The state Department of Transportation (DOT) have hired a number of divers to move a large colony of mussels 300 m upstream from the $60 million proposed bridge on the St Croix river to a new site 800 m up from the area. 696
Protection for Californian Squid
Australia Sushi-grade jellyfish may be on their way to the Asian markets if research into their viability as a part of the Australian export fishery is established. The jellyfish will