Advocates are calling for catch limits and a buffer zone to protect menhaden in the Gulf of Mexico. Menhaden, known in Louisiana as pogies, are small bait fish that number in the billions in the Gulf and the Atlantic Ocean. Pogies are considered an essential food source for larger marine species including sportfish such as sea bass and redfish along with predators such as whales and dolphins. But with the industrial-scale commercial harvest of pogies, advocates are sounding the alarm over the threat to the Louisiana fishery ecosystem as well as the sportfishing industry.

Chris Macaluso, director of marine fisheries for the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership said harvest limits are needed to preserve the fishery.

"The science is becoming a lot clearer in the last few years -- just what a critical part the pogies play in the food chain in feeding larger predator fish, and that a reduction in the current catch limit is going to be needed in order to have healthy stocks of other fish species," he explained.

A bill requiring regular reporting on harvested menhaden and establishing annual catch limits in state waters passed the Louisiana House last year but stalled in the Senate. The legislation would have established limits in zones based on distance from the shore. Industry opponents of the legislation point to the 2021 Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission Stock Assessment Report, which states the Gulf menhaden population is not overfished and there is little risk of it.

The process by which menhaden are harvested includes spotter planes that find the large schools and deploy fishing boats. The boats catch menhaden via purse seining, where large nets are used to capture hundreds of thousands of fish at once. Purse seining conducted in shallower water is known to impact seabed sediments, which advocates say contributes to erosion and disturbs the nursery and spawning habitats for a number of species. Another issue is by-catch, the unintended capture of other fish in nets. Macaluso said these issues are made worse by fishing in the shallows.

"When you look at the number of, say, redfish, or speckled trout, or other fish that are being caught in these nets, which could be 30, 40, 50 million pounds annually of other fish in the Gulf," he explained. "A lot of that is exacerbated by them fishing in shallower water."

The commercial harvest of menhaden is large at more than a billion pounds per year in the U-S. Most of the fish are utilized by the 'reduction fishery' industry, which processes the menhaden into livestock feed, fish meal, fish oil, fertilizer and other products. NOAA data for 2021 indicates 589-million pounds of menhaden were harvested off the coast of Louisiana. Captain Eric Newman, owner and operator of Journey South Outfitters in Venice, said he wants to see regulations to help protect the long-term health of the Louisiana fishery.

"We need some sustainable quotas. We need buffer zones to protect our fish, especially the breeder redfish," he continued. "We have the best red fishery in the world, hands down, and those menhaden nets threaten those breeder redfish every day."

Many Floridians online are expressing concerns over the DeSantis administration's surprise proposal to add golf courses, pickleball courts and lodges throughout the state's award-winning park system.

The initiative, which some argued could redefine Gov. Ron DeSantis' conservation record, has ignited a firestorm of public backlash. The proposed changes include building a golf course at Jonathan Dickinson State Park and constructing park lodges with 350-room capacities at Anastasia and Topsail Hill Preserve state parks.

Julie Wraithmell, executive director of Audubon Florida, expressed concern over the proposals' content and the expedited timeline for public input.

"Because it's happening so quickly," Wraithmell explained. "The announcement came out on Tuesday, and public meetings available for comment are as quick as next Tuesday during the workday when many Floridians won't be able to attend."

With just six days to review the sweeping park plans, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection will hold simultaneous, in-person-only meetings across the state. All meetings are set for Tuesday from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.

A growing bipartisan group of elected officials, including Sen. Kathleen Passidomo, R-Naples, president of the Senate, have called for the proposal not to move forward, saying it is "not in line with the peaceful and quiet enjoyment of nature." DeSantis spokesman Jeremy Redfern said Thursday, "It's high time we made public lands more accessible to the public."

Critics argued the developments conflict with the traditional purpose of Florida's state parks, which have long been celebrated for their natural beauty and environmental significance. Wraithmell pointed out the potential ecological effects, especially at Jonathan Dickinson State Park, home to endangered species such as the Florida scrub jay.

"The idea that we would be trading habitat without which this iconic Florida species can't survive, and instead we'd be getting yet another golf course that's left a lot of Floridians kind of scratching their heads over the wisdom of this proposal," Wraithmell asserted.

Several members of Florida's Cabinet, including Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson and Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis, have also voiced opposition to the proposals.


get more stories like this via email

This past Friday marked the second anniversary of the Inflation Reduction Act, a milestone for Ohioans looking to make their buildings and homes more energy efficient.

Tax credits in the IRA have provided crucial financial incentives, and some Ohioans - both homeowners and businesses - have been taking advantage of them.

But Marcus Hazelwood, director of building optimization with EA Energy Solutions, said not everyone is aware of how tax deductions can offset the initial cost of energy-efficient upgrades - so it's important to keep getting the word out, especially to business owners.

"Helping them understand that with their existing infrastructure, the opportunity to see how a source of funding and capital to improve their buildings - which in the long term reduces their operational costs," said Hazelwood, "this is kind of supporting the initial up-front capital needed."

Ohio's new energy code simplifies qualifying for IRA deductions, which backers say also promote economic growth by supporting well-paid local jobs.

But critics of the IRA have said its cost is too high and that it doesn't do enough to lower the cost of energy-efficient products and services.

Ben Evans - federal legislative director with the U.S. Green Building Council - said the IRA isn't focused only on businesses, but also has benefits for individual property owners.

He explained that the versatility of the tax incentives, grants, and low-cost financing allows homeowners to maximize their savings and make meaningful improvements to their property.

"And the beauty of the Inflation Reduction Act is that you can combine a lot of these," said Evans. "It's not like you have to just pick one. You can get a couple of different tax incentives for the same project. Let's say you're renovating a building and you're also adding some rooftop solar. You can get tax incentives for each of those."

The IRA is made up of multiple programs, like the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, to boost energy efficiency.

Evans said Ohio is well-positioned to lead in this area, and that people have ample time to leverage these incentives over the next decade.




get more stories like this via email

The Inflation Reduction Act turns two today and one expert contended its impact in the state of Nevada has been significant.

Shannon Heyck-Williams, associate vice president of climate and energy for the National Wildlife Federation, said the legislation has kicked off growth in the clean energy economy in the Silver State and across the nation. She added the benefits made possible through the law have led to the creation of thousands of jobs and unleashed billions of dollars in private-sector investments at the state level.

"A lot of that growth is from renewable energy development," Heyck-Williams pointed out. "Solar power in particular is taking off in a big way in Nevada, and bringing that clean energy to the state and to the residents there."

She noted as the transition to electric vehicles also gains momentum, the Inflation Reduction Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law include investments for EV charging infrastructure. There are close to 2,200 charging stations throughout Nevada, according to PlugShare. Since transportation is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions, Heyck-Williams stressed investments in infrastructure are key.

The cost of the climate provisions in the measure, at around $730 billion, has drawn criticism, since it surpasses what was initially expected. But the Center for American Progress claims over the next decade, the savings made possible through the legislation will exceed the costs.

Heyck-Williams said the law is also helping to lessen the economic burden of energy-efficiency upgrades for homes and businesses.

"It includes credits to help homeowners be able to upgrade their appliances," Heyck-Williams outlined. "To be able to finally afford that new electric vehicle, to be able to replace dirty school buses for their kids with electric, clean school buses."

Heyck-Williams emphasized climate change is already here and is a serious problem communities in Nevada are facing. She contends the major federal investments are critical tools for a cleaner future.

"If they are implemented as planned, they should reduce those emissions by about 40%," Heyck-Williams reported. "Which is significant and puts us on track in the direction that we need to go, to actually get to a midcentury goal of net-zero emissions overall."