Haint Blue

This post is the first in a series of posts by the graduating class of the Master in Coastal and Ocean Policy program.  As part of their capstone, each student is working on a policy analysis of a coastal topic of interest to them.   First up... Doug Barker is a graduate student in the Master of Coastal and Ocean Policy Program at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. His interest in fisheries related issues stem from previous experience as a fishing guide on the Outer Banks of North Carolina and participating in water quality studies during his academic career. Living in the coastal region of North Carolina over the past 20 years, he has developed personal relationships with people who participate in both the commercial and recreational fisheries.  The North Carolina blue crab fishery is the state’s largest commercial fishery. In fact, North Carolina is second in the nation for blue crab production. However, in recent years, the blue crab fishery h...

I have a guest post at the international blog, Socializing Finance .  The post reflects on the Super Bowl... America's best watched state of the union show.  In particular, I focus on PayPal commercial that ran during event (embedded above).  An except is below, check out the post in full here . The Super Bowl is a favorite American pastime.  Akin to asking someone if they will watch the event is equivalent to ensuring someone has a warm home in which to share the holidays.   In general, 1/3 of America watches the football-sporting event every year. Super Bowl 50, garnered  114 million viewers .  For comparison,  126 million viewers  turned out for the 2012 presidential election.   I consider the Super Bowl as a type of ‘State of the Union.”  The commercials, halftime show, network’s computer graphics depict a good portion of America’s consciousness at that moment.  It reflects what Americans’ value, their hope...

CDC : Countries and territories with active Zika virus transmission The Zika virus spreading rapidly through Latin America and headlines has also made it's way into religious controversy.   Catholics for Choic e, an advocacy group, founded in 1973, has harnessed scientific findings from the CDC to request the Pope reverse the Church's stance on birth control.  Several political issues are wrapped up together with the scientific fact.   Of grave concern with the Zika virus is the potential for fetal microcephaly.   The CDC writes,  Zika virus can be spread from a pregnant woman to her unborn baby. There have been reports of a serious birth defect of the brain called microcephaly in babies of mothers who had Zika virus while pregnant. Knowledge of the link between Zika and birth defects is evolving, but until more is known, CDC recommends special precautions for pregnant women.  Pregnant women in any trimester should consider postponing ...

Last night 1/3 of America watched the Broncos beat the Panthers in the 50th Super Bowl.  Leading up to the event San Franciscans protested the rising cost of living in the beloved city.  The protesters claim long gone are the days of aspiring artistry and gentle wanderers with flowers in their hair .  Now, if you are going to San Francisco be sure to bring lots of cash... more cash than most Americans ever fathom carrying.  As a desirable place to live- beautiful, progressive, comfortable climate- the wealth wealth flocked there.  In more recent years they have flocked in association with the tech industry that pays handsomely.   Thus, as a city and the broader Bay Area region has on the one hand,  done well for itself.  It has established a productive industry bringing money people to the area that are capable of paying taxes and fostering upkeep of their communities.  Real estate is booming which is favorable for the national econ...

This past week, I attended the NCSE conference in Washington DC.  This year's theme focused on the " Energy-Water-Food Nexus ."  The Nexus is a focused effort on a specific aspect of resilience, sustainability, systems analysis or whatever the buzz word was before that.   At the heart of society is food, energy, and water and if one system crumbles then the larger system collapses.  One man in the audience, pointed out that food, energy, water leaves out air which of course is integral to society.  But air, doesn't have a whole lot of infrastructure and the focus seemed to be on necessary systems that also have infrastructure.   In any case, one of the keynote speakers, argued that the Chinese government has been more encouraging to environmental litigation.  I have no idea what is really meant by more encouraging or if it is necessarily interesting that China is doing this.  However, his point was that China encourages environmental protec...

It is the new year- an event often marked by resolutions. Similar is the development of coastal areas.  Many think we shouldn't for one reason or another.  Many others think it feels good and there is money to be made.  Thus, we regularly build and regularly resolve to limit or refrain from building again. A 2005 academic journal article sought to better understand the failures of the Coastal Barrier Resource Act (CBRA) .  The author, David Salvesen, argued while the CBRA intended to limit development in specified areas, development continued because state and local government enabled it to through activities such as, infrastructure development and land management variations. Too often, I think, the role of land management policy and those charged with upholding it are overlooked in meeting national development goals. Because the act restricts the availability of federal aid to developments in CBRA zones,  Salvensen suggests the CBRA success is in lim...

It's the end of fall semester for universities across the nation.  I generally find this time of year sort of a bummer.   The days are shorter and colder.  The winter holidays are around the corner which I'm sure elate many, but I find that the holidays bring up an array of social concerns I have about consumption.  My birthday is also around this time and that became way less exciting around 29.   Perhaps most of all though, the end of fall semester is a time of reckoning.  The semester starts of with great hope.  Students and faculty are relaxed and tan from their summer fun. First years are bright eyed and eager to solve the world's most difficult issues.  We all have our highlighters, stickies, and organizers in hand- THIS will be the semester that we: get that grant, publish that paper, get straight A's, accomplish all great tasks.   Then December rolls around and we find, very clearly, what we have accomplished in the pa...