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Vol. IX, No.3 VIMS, May/June 1977

type I ..treatment devicetype II ..treatment device with more stringent

requirementstype III ..no discharge device

To flush, or not to flush? Should boats per-manently moored in designated Virginia oyster-and clam-growing waters be required to installtreatment toilets or holding tanks?

Public hearings held in Richmond June 1 and 10attempted to answer this question. For the firsttime since hearings were initiated six years ago,representatives of all pertinent federal agencies,state agencies, waterman's associations, marinetrade associations, and boat owner groups met todiscuss their concerns.

The hearings and other meetings are being con-ducted by a legislative subcommittee which isworking with the State Health Department. Theprimary issue being considered is whether the Foodand Drug Administration's (FDA) National Shell-fish Sanitation Program will require the healthdepartment to condemn additional oyster- andclam-growing areas for direct marketing aroundmarinas if holding tanks are not required. Exist-ing condemnation areas might also be reduced ifthe state went from the current no treatmentto holding tanks or Coast Guard-certified flow-through treatment toilets.

Could a significant number of productive oyster-and clam-growing acres be re~pened or securedfrom future condemnation if Virginia imposed aholding tank regulation? Unfortunately, no stateor federal official at the hearings could answerthis question. Several unknowns affect the sit-uation, such as the relationship between dischargefrom a boat and the resulting bacteria count inthe water overlying shellfish, or the turnover(flushing) rate of water in any given marina basin.

Dave Clem, Chief of the FDA National Shell-fish Sanitation Program, stated in the June 10 hear-ing that, in general, a total retention system(holding tanks) was preferable to use of flow-through treatment devices and guaranteed greaterprotection for shellfish-growing waters. Clem alsostated that use of flow-through treatment devices

would be an improvement over no treatment ofsewage from boats. He said that a holding tankregulation possibly could result in a worse situa-tion than requiring treatment devices, if use of"cheater pumps" became common practice.Clem testified FDA will always stronglyrecommend that states enforce condemnationzones around marinas because of the potentialgasoline and oil spills as well as sewage. Whenasked if condemned areas around such facilitiescould be opened if all boats in marinas had holdingtanks, he responded that possibly some areascould be recovered for direct marketing of shell-fish. Clem urged that the boating communitymake every_effort to meet deadlines of the fed-eral marine sanitation device regulations

The Water Resources Research Center of Vir-ginia Polytechnic Institute and State Universityhas been requested by the legislative subcommitteeto analyze the many issues surrounding the holdingtank question. The center will likely submit itsreport in time for the results to be included in the

Coni. on Poge 2

(MSD). Any boat built prior to the January 1975deadline (an "existing" vessel), if it is outfittedwith a Coast Guard-certified device, will becomeexempt from state requirements at the time ofinstallation i,Jnless the state has an EPA no dis-charge regulation. A list of Coast Guard-certifiedsmall vessel marine sanitation devices is availablefrom the Office of Merchant Marine Safety, U.S.Coast Guard Headquarters (G-MMT -3/83), Wash-ington, D.C. 20590 (202-426-1444), or from JonLucy, Department of Advisory Services, VIMS,Gloucester Point, VA 23062 (804-642-2111).Lucy can also provide additional informationon the holding tank issue.

HOLDING TANK, coni from pose 1

subcommittee's report to the Senate October 1.At a closed hearing on May 10, Dr. James Kenley,State Health Department Commissioner, statedthat his department would delay enforcing thepumpout facility requirements at marinas untilthe legislative study is completed.

Where does this leave the coastal Virginia boatowner who wants to install a device aboard hiscraft and not violate the law? According to theJune 10 hearing testimony from U.S. Coast GuardHeadquarters, any boat built after January 30,1975 (a "new" vessel) is exempt from state reg-ulations as of January 1977 and must comply withfederal regulations for marine sanitation devices

MENHADENSEASON BEGINS IN MAY

VIMS RESEARCHERSCONTRIBUTE TO BOOK

During June 1972 tropical storm Agnes releasedrecord amounts of rainfall on the watersheds ofmost major tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay. Theresulting floods, categorized as a once-in-200-yearsoccurrence, caused environmental fluctuations inthe Bay on an unprecedented scale.

Under the direction of the Chesapeake ResearchConsortium, scientists examined the effects of thisexceptional natural event on the hydrology, ge-ology, water quality, and biology of the region.Other specialists studied the impact of the stormon the economy of the Tidewater Region and onpublic health. Their reports identify and estimatethe direct income losses to fishing and recreationindustries resulting from ecological damage and ad-verse weather. Raw sewage, hazardous chemicals,silt, and debris carried into the Bay by the floodspresented many threats to public health. The de-scription of prompt measures taken by governmentand other groups will, it is hoped, provide usefulmodels for coping with future natural disasters.

About 30 VIMS researchers contributed to the752-page publication. To order, send $22.50 toThe Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore,MD 21218.

The 1977 menhaden fishing season in Virginiaextends from the third Monday in May through theFriday before Thanksgiving. The Atlanticmenhaden ranges from Maine to Florida and is oneof the most abundant fishes found along theAtlantic coast.

Menhaden are not usually eaten directly byman but are processed into meal, oil, and con-densed soluble proteins. The meal and condensedsolubles are rich in protein and make an excellentfood supplement for poultry, swine, and cattle.The oil is used in various industrial products in-cluding paints, soaps, and lubricants, and is ex-ported to Europe to be made into margarine.

VIMS scientists serve on the Atlantic Men-haden Scientific and Statistical Committee, whichis sponsored by state and federal governments andindustry. The committee is working to ensurepropcr management of the fishery.

Menhaden fishing is allowed only in certainportions of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries.Detailed boundary descriptions may be obtainedfrom Section 28.1-59 of the Laws of Virginia,Relating to Fisheries of Tidal Waters, or by con-tacting your local office of the Virginia MarineResources Commission.

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A thesaurus of index terms used in the NationalAquaculture Information System (NAIS) has beenpublished recently by VIMS. The thesaurus hasbeen developed to facilitate use of the NAiS,which is a part of the federally funded Oceanic andAtmospheric Scientific Information System(OASIS). The thesaurus, which costs $3.00, andfurther information are available from VIMS Ma-rine Education Center, Gloucester Point, V A23062.

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THE...,'n:P FISH HOUSE KITCHEN

The concept of fondue originated in eighteenth century Switzerland when humble mountaindwellers sought to ease the monotony of eating stale bread. We'd like to offer a variation on theclassic cheese pot --the fish fondue.

Fish and shellfish are well suited to this cooking method because they cook quickly; guests orfamily won't become impatient preparing one morsel at a time. But be sure and buy fresh fishif possible. Fish that have been frozen and thawed are extremely delicate and tend to falloff thefondue fork while cooking.

CHEESE-CRAB FONDUE

8 ounces fresh blue ~ cup milk or 2 teaspoons lemon juicecrab meat, lump or half & half creamspecial dash paprika

7 can (70 ounces) Y2 cup shredded dash white pepperfrozen condensed process American orcream of shrimp Cheddar cheese 2 teaspoons sherry, optionalsoup

Drain crab meat and remove any remaining shell or cartilage. Thaw shrimp soup and combinewith milk in fondue pot. Cover, heat over direct moderate flame, stirring often. Fold in remainingingredients except sherry. Adjust heat to low flame. If desired, stir in sherry just before serving.

Use as an appetizer with Mebla toast or as a luncheon dish on toast points or in patty shells. Addmore milk if a thinner mixture is desired. Makes approximately 2% cups, or at least six servings.

VIMS TO ADVISE PROCESSORS ON \NATER POLLUTION REGULATIONS

ment standards along with the techniques designedto meet those standards. The VIMS advisors willmaintain contact with federal and state water pol-lution agencies, particularly the Water ControlBoard.

The advisory effort will provide a number of dif-ferent services to the state's seafood processingbusinesses. These services include:

.Plant visits upon request.Explanation and interpretation of permit

requirements and effluent limitations.Advice on proper sampling techniques and

flow calculations.Recommendations on improvement of

waste control processes to decrease pollu-tant load

.General advisory assistance on other as-pects of seafood processing which might af-fect waste water discharge

The seafood processor advisory program is bei ngcoordinated by VIMS Division of EnvironmentalSciences and Engineering. Further information onthe program is available from Joseph Mizell orWalter Priest at VIMS Wetlands Section.

The Federal Water Pollution Control Act prom-ises to affect Virginia's seafood industry in sever-al ways. By significantly decreasing the dischargeof harmful pollutants into the nation's waters, theAct will benefit the industry as production of mar-ketable fish and shellfish increases. At the sametime, however, regulations controlling the dis-charge of waste wat~rs into navigable waterwaysimpose stricter requirements on the state's seafoodprocessors.

To help these businesses understand and complywith the regulations, this year VIMS establishedthe "Advisory Assistance for Seafood Processors"service. Support for the project is being providedby the Coastal Plains Center for Marine Develop-ment Services. The main purpose of the new VIMSprogram is to provide technical assistance to pro-cessors who discharge their waste water into navi-gable streams, and to advise on procedures for ob-taining the necessary discharge permits from Vir-ginia's State Water Control Board.

In addition, advisory personnel are consultingwith representatives of neighboring states to invest-igate the technology for treatment of seafood pro-cessing wastes, and are updating discharge treat-

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ent. We might even call the ocean sunfish,which grows to over a ton, planktonic sinceit is such a poor swimmer.

Zooplankton is commonly divided into groupsbased on whether or not the animal is plank-tonic for its whole life or only a part. Theocean sunfish is one of very few fishes whichare planktonic as adults, although manyfishes have planktonic larvae. Wholly plank-tonic animals are called holoplankton, whileanimals planktonic for only part of their lifeare called meroplankton.

Q: I would like some information on zooplanktonand phytoplankton of the sea.

Emilie Hancock, Midlothian, VA

r\l1ARINE EDUCATIONACTIVITIES FOR SUMMER

This summer's schedule for the VIMS MarineEducation Program includes programs lastingfrom one hour to eight weeks, for students fromkindergarten to graduate school, at two VIMSlaboratories and in the field. These programs,like others throughout the year, have beendeveloped to increase awareness of andappreciation for our marine environment and itsresources. While some of the programs have beengoing on for several years, there are several whichare new.

One new program of particular interest is theYouth Conservation Corps (YCC), which willinvolve approximately 20 young people betweenthe ages of 15 and 18 in an eight-week work/studyprogram. Each participant will be paid to work 30hours per week on conservation and marine scienceprojects. In addition, 10 hours a week are setaside for classroom and field instruction. Activitieswill include cruises aboard VI MS research vessels,trips to beach and marsh, and student semi nars.

The York County Public Schools program forthe gifted and talented will cooperate with VIMSin providing a week-long program for 40 studentsat the institute and York High School. The VirginiaWildlife Federation (VWF) is sponsoring a similarfive-day study program to be held at the EasternShore lab in Wachapreague. The VWF program willinvolve 28 students between the ages of 15 and 17.Those selected for the program will study marinelife, beaches, and the general ecology of saltmarshes. The VWF is providing room and boardfor all the participants during their week at

Wachapreague.Educational programs at VIMS are scheduled

almost daily for school groups, clubs, or other or-ganizations. Education specialists will also travel.within Virginia and to other states to participatein professional workshops, to instruct summercourses, and to provide expertise in the marinesciences for students, fellow educators, and the

general public.

A: The Greek word plankton means wandering,and it is this way of moving that distinguishesboth the animals known as zooplankton,and the plants we call phytoplankton. Altho-ugh some of these organisms can swim, mostare so small that their only effective self-directed movements are up and down. Theirhorizontal distribution is determined by watercurrents.

Phytoplankton is in many ways the basis forlife in the sea since among its members arethe tiny plants which turn solar energy intofood through photosynthesis. This foodis eaten by the zooplankton, which may beeaten by larger animals in a food chain v/hichoften ends with man. Some fishes, like men-haden and anchovies, and some whales, likethe blue whale, make this chain short andsimple by feeding directly on plankton.

The smallest type of phytoplankton is callednanoplankton. They are poorly studied simplybecause they are delicate and hard to see.Their size belies their importance since bytheir astronomical numbers they actuallyoutproduce the larger forms of phytoplanktonsuch as diatoms and dinoflagellates.

Diatoms are microscopic in size. They, likethe dinoflagellates, can be collected using anet with a mesh size similar to that of a nylonstocking, while the nanoplankton would passthrough such "large" holes. The diatoms,which live in beautiful and delicate two-partglasslike shells, have been called the "grass ofthe sea" because of their importance as foodfor "grazers" of the sea like zooplankton,oysters, and menhaden.

The d) noflagel lates, while also importantas food for the grazers, are perhaps mostfamous for the toxic properties of somespecies. The so-called red tides, which havekilled fishes in Florida and contaminated clamsin Massachusetts, consist of millions of poison-ous dinoflagellates in concentrations so densethat they color the water.

Zooplankton, while mostly small by humanstandards, are large enough to use the phyto-plankton as food. Some larger animals, likethe stinging nettle, can be thought of as plank-ton since they essentially drift with the curr-

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A CLOSER LOOK

at the DEPARTMENT OF ECOLOGY-POLLUTION

Marine pollut.ion --now that we have it, howdo we deal with it? A good place to start is anassessment of the effects pollutants have onorganisms and their environments. Then en-lightened decisions can be made on how to manageour marine resources and plan for the future.

VIMS Department of Ecology-Pollution isworking to understand the often complex effectsof a variety of contaminants on the marineenvironment. Scientists are studying chemicaltoxicants and their pattern of movement afterentering Virginia's waterways. They are investi-gating the effects of trace metals, pesticides, andpetroleum hydrocarbons which enter the waterfrom sewage treatment plants, industries, and thelike.

disciplines -botany, physics, and both organic andinorganic chemistry. This diversity is required be-cause pollution problems and the instrumentsused to analyze the data are usually quite complex.

An important function of the department isto assist state regulatory agencies such as the WaterControl Board and the Health Department by pro-viding scientific data and recommendations. Forexample, if an oil spill occurs, VIMS staff willvisit the site to estimate impact on the environ-ment and the extent of the cleaning operation.

Current activities in the department include:

---Research to determine how oil pollutionaffects marsh plants and animals.

.Research on the migration of trace metalssuch as copper and cadmium in estuaries.

.Research

to determine if increased watertemperature caused by industrial activityharms or aids plankton.

Alterations of the environment itself affectmarine plants and animals. Changes in water temp-erature around power plants or changes in topog-raphy from dredging and filling may influencethe feeding or reproduction of marine plantsand animals.

Wetlands inventory, research, and advisoryactivities are among the duties of the department'sscientists and staff. This area between land andwater produces plant material which washes intodeeper water and becomes a significant part ofthe marine food chain. In addition, it serves as aspawning area for fish. Activities include mappingand indicating the composition of all wetlandsareas in the state; research on the cycling ofnutrients in the marshes; and an extensive programadvising planners, managers, and landowners onthe environmental effects of marsh development.

The Department of Ecology-Pollution is com-posed of about 45 scientists, technicians, and grad-uate students. Scientific personnel represent several

.Research

on the location of Kepone inriver sediment and how long it will bethere. Scientists are working to deter-mine if the chemical will dissipate, and ifit will not, how authorities can dispose ofit.

-Baseline

data have been gathered on levelsof hydrocarbons and metals oh the OuterContinental Shelf. This study for theBureau of land Management will helpdetermine the feasibility of offshore oildevelopment.

SUPREME COURT DECISION AFFECTS VIRGINIA FISHING

eral, will review the invalidated statutes along withother laws that may be vulnerable. VMRC willthen recommend appropriate changes to the 1978General Assembly.

At present, however, only those laws .consideredby the Supreme Court are invalid. The newruling holds that foreign owned or nonresidentvessels enrolled under federal licensing laws cannotbe excluded by Virginia statutes from fishingin state waters.

In May the U.S. Supreme Court ruled invalidtwo Virginia statutes in Douglas v. Seacoast. Onelaw stipulated that Virginia fishing licenses couldbe issued only to U.S. citizens; the second law per-mitted only Virginia residents to fish for menhadenin the Chesapeake Bay.

The Virginia Marine Resources Commission(VM RC) is the enforcement agency for laws per-taining to the marine environment. Thecommission, with the advice of the attorney gen-

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The Fisherman's Business Guide was written byFrederick j. Smith, a fisheries economist. Thisbook is designed for fishermen or potential fisher-men in all types of fisheries. It presents basic eco-nomic principals and management tools that anyfisherman can use in making decisions. The text isdivided into three parts: economic concepts, man-agement tools, and applications. Mr. Smith pro-vides a framework the fisherman can use to evalu-ate current or proposed operations, considerationof expansion, or concentration in one or morefisheries. The author uses terms and examples thatfishermen can relate to providing definitions ofnew terms and concepts, and following throughwith clear and complete examples on application.(International Marine Publishing Co., Camden,Maine, 1975,172 pp., $10.95)

On June 10, 1970, the Federal CommunicationsCommission adopted new regulations which statethat no new ship double sideband (DSB) licenseswould be issued after January 1, 1972, and thatonly single sideband (SSB) licenses will be permit-ted in the 2 MHz band after January 1,1977. DSBlicenses in effect on January 1,1972, expired onJanuary 1, 1977. SSB will be available for thoseboaters who continue to have a long range com-munications requirement. However, the new regu-lation states that you must have VHF-FM beforeyou can have SSB.

For more information on marine radios contact:

Federal Communications CommissionWashington, D. C. 20054Tel: 202/632-7125

R .sea Grant Advisory .service

VIRGINIA INSTITUTE OF MARINE SCIENCEGloucester Point, Virginia 23062

ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED

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