Dan's Papers - September 12, 2008

Stony Brook University began its fall marine and atmospheric sciences public lecture series last Friday evening with a talk on global warming at the Southampton campus. Professor J. Kirk Cochran, an Arctic specialist, discussed the shrinking Arctic Ocean ice cap and what it means for us. Unlike Antarctica, which is an ice-covered continent, the Arctic is an ocean surrounded by land; four of the world's largest rivers drain into the Arctic and continental shelves from the land extend out into the ocean.

Arctic waters are constantly in motion like a conveyor belt - the heavier waters at the lowest levels are saltier than the lighter waters at the top. Each fall, sea ice starts to form from the bottom up but, with warmer temperatures during the last several years, the ice has thinned. Global seas are rising at about three millimeters per year but the carbon particulates in the sea waters, a food source for marine plants and animals, are still decomposing and reaching the bottom.

There are large mineral deposits including oil and gas reserves under the Arctic Ocean and, with the sea passages opening during the summer as the ice melts, the United States, Canada and Russia are eyeing these deposits. The U.S. has never signed on to the Law of the Sea but, with participating countries talking about accessing Arctic reserves, the U.S. must consider joining. (Polar bears, which travel on the ice floes to hunt seals, have been swimming many miles to get their prey but an Inuit scientist told Dr. Cochran the polar bears can swim up to 100 miles.)

The talks at Stony Brook Southampton are open to the public on the first Friday of every month this fall. The next talk, "Conservation of Endangered Marine Fishes in the World's Oceans," is October 3, 7:30 p.m., given by Dr. Ellen Pikitch, the director of Stony Brook's Institute for Ocean Conservation Science. There is no admission charge and a reception follows the talk.

One of the endangered marine fishers is bluefin tuna, caused by the enormous worldwide appetite for prime bluefin sushi. The overfishing of this species was featured on the television newsmagazine "60 Minutes" last Sunday. It showed a huge fleet of circle-seining ships in the Mediterranean, the prime breeding spot for bluefin tuna. The ships use fish-spotting planes, then circle and corral the fish within their nets, herding them into fishing-farm pens to fatten them up for the sushi market.

Local fishing reports were sparse last weekend due to Tropical Storm Hanna, but with the waters settling down and cooling a bit, I think we are in for a good fall season. There are reports of blitzes of striped bass and bluefish chasing pods of bait. Surfcasters, using tins and plugs, have been catching fish at Turtle Cove just south of Montauk Point.

Scott at East End Bait and Tackle, Hampton Bays, says there are some weakfish off Roses Grove in the Peconic bays and striped bass in Shinnecock Bay. He weighed in a 30-pound striped bass caught in Shinnecock on a popper.

Ken Morse of Tight Lines Tackle, Sag Harbor, tells us George Pharaoh is catching large sea bass in local bay waters. Linda at Jamesport Bait and Tackle says there are still large porgies and snapper bluefish in the Peconic bays.

The Montauk Classic Surf Fishing Tournament is September 26 through noon September 28. Prizes will be awarded for the five largest striped bass and bluefish hooked and landed in the surf or from jetties from Napeague State Park east to Montauk. The entry fee is $15; call 631-321-3510 for information. The Trade-Winds Stephen Sloan Memorial Tag-and-Release Shark Tournament is October 3 to 5 in Montauk (IGFA-certified). Entry fee is $1300 per team (boat); call 631-289-5500.