Tag Archives: Carl Safina

A Divided Community Speaks at Wind Farm Hearing

East Hampton residents crystalized their hopes and fears about Deepwater Wind’s proposed offshore wind farm 36 miles off the coast of Montauk in a three-hour-long public hearing at LTV’s Wainscott studio May 17. Their views highlighted a deepening divide within the community, with many saying the project is a necessary tool in combatting catastrophic climate change, while others worried that the price of the power from the project has not been disclosed, and many said that Rhode Island fishermen whose work was impacted by the company’s Block Island wind farm weren’t fully compensated for their losses, and were asked to sign non-disclosure agreements when they settled their case with the wind power company. >click to read<08:52

Speaking of Greenpeace, Even in fish science, payers may sway players

clownsMany scientists, conservationists and policy makers who’ve been perplexed and vexed by Hilborn’s industry-friendly advocacy in debates about reauthorizing our federal fisheries law, or California’s process to create a network of marine protected areas, or seafood sustainability, have been surprised—but maybe not too surprised—to learn the extent of Hilborn’s industry ties. – Yesterday Carl Safina, and John Hocevar, Oceans Campaign Director for Greenpeace USA put up an op-ed on NatGeo, referencing research funding specifically relating to UW fisheries biologist Ray Hilborn. The premise is that Hilborn didn’t disclose funding sources for some of his research, which seems to be a sticking point for the doom and gloomers that receive funding from Pew Charitable Trust to push Pews anti-fishing agenda. Read Even in fish science, payers may sway players, click here While we’re at it, lets look at some of Carl’s funding, click here  No need to look at Greenpeace funding because, Greenpeace has been working to protect people and planet since 1971. The organization does not accept corporate or government funding. Wink! 12:27

Comment by John Sibert, University of Hawaii: Environmental Bullies – Conservationists or Agenda-pushers?

CFOODDr. Molly Lutcavage wrote a piece last week on Medium titled, Environmental Bullies, how conservation ideologues attack scientists who don’t agree with them. Though a summary follows, we encourage you all to read the article here. Dr. Lutcavage felt Carl Safina and other ENGOs like Pew Oceans  have maligned her and her peers for their research because it would, “get in the way of fund-raising campaigns, messages to the media, book sales, rich donors, and perhaps the most insidious – attempts to influence US fisheries and ocean policies.” I, like many other scientists, practice my profession with the expectation that my work will be used to improve management policies. However, scientists who choose to work on subjects that intersect with management of natural resources sometimes become targets of special interest pressures. Pressure to change or “spin” research results occurs more often than it should.  Read the comment here  14:23

How In Trouble Are Bluefin Tuna, Really? Controversial Study Makes Waves with Enviro’s

A group of scientists is now making the case that Atlantic bluefin may be more resilient to fishing than commonly thought — and perhaps better able to rebound from the species’ depleted state. But the study is controversial. Several tuna researchers we spoke with warned that the results are preliminary, and it’s much too soon to use them to guide how fisheries are managed. In an email exchange with The Salt, Safina writes, “[T]heir main concern is not recovery, not conservation, but how their findings can allow additional exploitation and more stress to be inflicted on a very beleaguered creature.” Read the article here 08:10

Insanity Caused By Eating Bluefin Tuna – Carl Safina

Recently, the owner of several sushi restaurants in Japan paid nearly $1.8 million U.S. dollars for a single bluefin tuna.  Last year this same individual paid what was then a record price—about $ 740,000. The man says—as he did last year—that he paid so much, “to give Japan a boost.” What duh? No; the man seems to badly need attention. So I’m not mentioning him by name here. My feeling is, he doesn’t need more advertising from me; he needs counseling. Read more.