Gulf Restoration Network

[lonestarnot]

1) This week at HealthyGulf.org
Blogging for a healthy gulf: Why all the talk about Louisiana's coast?

As part of her weekly radio show, "Community Gumbo," GRN Special Projects Coordinator Casey DeMoss Roberts invited several influential guests to answer questions about Louisiana's rapidly disappearing coast and what can be done to save it. The list of interviews includes: Carlton Dufrechou, Director of the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation; Mark Davis, Director of the Institute on Water Resources Law and Policy at Tulane Law School; and Dr. Bob Thomas, Director of the Loyola Center for Environmental Communications. Have a listen! Click here.

Action Alert: Make MRGO wetland restoration a funded priority!

Thanks to the hard work of GRN, our community and conservation partners and thousands of concerned citizens, the Army Corps of Engineers has finally begun to shut down the MRGO, the dangerous hurricane highway which helped contribute to Katrina's destruction. While this is a great step in the right direction, it's time for the Army Corps to get to work fixing the coast's natural storm defense. Click here to remind President Obama and Congress of the urgent need to restore the wetlands destroyed by MRGO.

2) Federal fisheries vote draws protest
A federal fisheries management agency just approved regulations that would allow aquaculture in federal waters in the Gulf of Mexico for the first time. Shellfish aquaculture, along with some small finfish operations, are common in state waters, which typically extend three miles from the coast. GRN and its conservation partners strongly oppose the measure (which must still be approved by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), citing concerns over the risk of disease that farm raised fish pose for wild stocks, as well as the depletion of other bait fish populations, such as menhaden. Read the article here.
3) Slideshow: stingray migration
In the warm waters off of the coast of the Yucatán Peninsula, photographer Sandra Critelli ran across a huge migration of cownosed stingrays, travelling at the surface in an enormous wave. Critelli recently shared her incredible photos with GRN. Check out the Flickr slideshow here.
4) From Florida to the Dead Zone...
Stripped from Florida mines, shipped to Midwestern agricultural fields, drained from soil, carried into rivers, dumped back into the Gulf, and ultimately contributing to the Dead Zone, Florida phosphate has a long--and unfortunately circular--path of destruction. This article outlines the cradle-to-grave ecological impacts of phosphate, particularly in Florida, which is struggling to keep its wetlands safe from a burgeoning (and bloated) fertilizer industry. Read the article and don't overlook the interactive map included in the piece. GRN is a leader in the current battle against Mosaic, a large fertilizer company that wants to expand its phosphate mining into a 400-acre tract of valuable wetlands. Read an editorial about it here.

5) Fishing ban may save hundreds of sea turtles
Over the course of 18 months ending in 2007, an estimated 974 sea turtles were captured on fishing "long lines" in the eastern Gulf of Mexico, exceeding (by four times) limits set under the Endangered Species Act. The majority of those captured were threatened loggerhead sea turtles, and only 433 were released alive. The Gulf of Mexico Fisheries Management Council just voted to issue a recommendation to move the long line fishing areas away from sea turtle foraging grounds off the coast of West Florida, and with continued pressure from GRN and other groups, the closure is expected to be approved. Read the article here.
6) Green businesses in Louisiana make history
For the first time in its history, Louisiana met all 2008 federal ozone standards. According to the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, this success can be attributed to the eco-friendly business practices that have become increasingly prevalent among Louisiana merchants. From beauty salons to dry cleaners, greener practices have begun to impact the state's carbon footprint. Read it here.
7) Manatee count reaches record high in Florida survey
A team of Florida scientists counted an all-time high number of manatees in Florida waters during an annual survey the week of Jan. 19. Chilly weather and good visibility combined to allow scientists to take aerial photographs of huge herds of manatees that had gathered in warmer waters. GRN and its partners are encouraged by the high manatee count, and are working to ensure the continued success of wildlife conservation campaigns throughout the Gulf. Check out the photo and read the story here.
8) Events
Freret Street Market, Intersection of Freret and Napoleon Ave., New Orleans, LA, Feb. 7, 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Stop by our table and find out how to get involved in our campaigns, and how to win our "No Coast No Music" cd with tracks by Theresa Andersson, Galactic with Trombone Shorty, Kermit Ruffins, and many others!

"Darwin: His Enduring Legacy in an Age of Ecological Crisis," Weedon Island Preserve
Cultural and Natural History Center, 1800 Weedon Drive N.E. St. Petersburg, FL, Feb. 12, 7:00p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Join H. Bruce Rinker, Ph.D., Director of Environmental Lands Division as he reviews Darwin's major writings and links them to viable solutions for a sustainable future. Refreshments afterward to celebrate Darwin's 200th birthday! Pre-registration required. Call [phone] for details.

Bywater Art Market, Markey Park at corner of Royal St. and Piety, New Orleans, LA, Feb. 21, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Come check out some original works of art and visit us at our table as we work to protect the health of the Gulf of Mexico.

Wild and Scenic Film Festival, BREC Theatre at Independence Park in Baton Rouge, March 5, 6:30 p.m.

The largest environmental film festival in North America is coming to Baton Rouge! Hosted by the Louisiana Environmental Action Network, the festival will feature a selection of films from people around the world who are engaged in protecting our natural resources and wild places. For more information or tickets, click here.

Environmental Education Association of Alabama annual conference: "Woods and Water: Connections in Nature." The Alabama 4-H Center in Columbiana, AL, March 19-21. For information about the event, visit www.eeaa.us or call [phone].

New Orleans Earth Day Festival, Bayou St. John, New Orleans, LA, April 5, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Join earth-friendly organizations and businesses for a great free Fest urging a sustainable New Orleans. Come for the great music, food, beer and vendors! Click here for more details.

Gulf Gathering 2009, May 8-9, at Camp Beckwith in Weeks Bay, AL. The Gulf Gathering is a Gulf-wide conference for coastal advocates and organizers concerned about the Gulf of Mexico. If you're interested in Climate Change, Coastal Habitat Resiliency, Wetlands and Cypress Swamps Conservation, or would like to meet other folks from across the five Gulf states who want to Protect the Gulf - this is the environmental conference for you.
To receive agenda updates and further information, contact Briana Kerstein, [e-mail] [phone] ext. 208.

9) Jobs
Development Director, Gulf Restoration Network, New Orleans, LA. More here.

Administrative Assistant I, Council for Environmental Education, Houston, TX. More here.

Clean Air/Clean Energy Specialist, Environmental Defense Fund, Dallas, TX. More here.

Donor Relations Manager II, The Nature Conservancy, Miami, FL. More here.