Seamester

Thalassia testudinum meadows from 0.5 m and 2.0 m (MLW) depths were studied a t 9 sites in the Florida Keys and western Caribbean. Two meadows, one offshore of a populated island with over 2000 septic tanks, and one offshore of a large bird rookery, were similar in having elevated levels of water column nutrients (DIN and SRP), greater epiphyte levels, low shoot densities, low leaf area indces, and low biomass. Increased blade turnover time was partially responsible for increased epiphyte levels offshore of the populated island, but epiphyte communities developed faster on seagrass blades there than at a paired site offshore of an uninhabited island. Results of aquarium experiments approximated the observed phenomena from the field studies: elevated water column nutrients produced increased epiphyte levels and decreased blade turnover rates. Reduced irradiance moderated the effect of nutrient enrichment on epiphyte levels. Elevated levels of water column nutrients, by stimulating epiphyte growth, reduced rhizome growth rates. This could b e related to the observed lower shoot density of T. testudinum meadows near sources of water column nutrient enrichment.

Legacy mining facilities pose significant risks to aquatic resources. From March 30th to April 9th, 2021, 814 million liters of phosphate mining wastewater and marine dredge water from the Piney Point facility were released into lower Tampa Bay (Florida, USA). This resulted in an estimated addition of 186 metric tons of total nitrogen, exceeding typical annual external nitrogen load estimates to lower Tampa Bay in a matter of days. An initial phytoplankton bloom (non-harmful diatoms) was first observed in April. Filamentous cyanobacteria blooms (Dapis spp.) peaked in June, followed by a bloom of the red tide organism Karenia brevis. Reported fish kills tracked K. brevis concentrations, prompting cleanup of over 1600 metric tons of dead fish. Seagrasses had minimal changes over the study period. By comparing these results to baseline environmental monitoring data, we demonstrate adverse water quality changes in response to abnormally high and rapidly delivered nitrogen loads.

The popularity of the anti-vax movement in the United States and elsewhere is the cause of new lethal epidemics of diseases that are fully preventable by modern medicine [Benecke and DeYoung, 2019]. Creationism creeps into science classrooms with the aim of undermining the teaching of evolution through legal obligations or school boards’ decisions to present both sides of a debate largely foreign to the scientific community [Taylor, 2017]. And one simply has to turn on the TV and watch so-called science channels to be bombarded with aliens, ghosts, cryptids and miracles as though they are undisputable facts [Prothero, 2012]. Deprecated by its detractors, scientific proof is assimilated to become one opinion among others, if not a mere speculation. Worse, scientific data that challenge partisan positions or economic interests are dismissed as ‘junk science’ and their proponents as ‘shills’ [Oreskes and Conway, 2010]. By echoing such statements, some members of the media, often willing accomplices in conflating denial and scepticism, amplify manufactured controversies and cast growing doubt upon scientific credibility.

The doctor-patient relationship lies at the heart of family practice. Yet in a digital age, our understanding of this relationship has been trimmed to a transaction between free agents that can be fully measured and isolated in time. The vow of connectedness restores the broader view. We know that lasting change-in attitude and behavior, toward healing and hope-arises from those relationships that encompass the doctor, his or her patients, and our common connections in the communities we serve.

Abstract The three contiguous National Estuary Programs of southwest Florida, along with partners from six coastal counties, have developed a tidal creek water quality assessment framework to help prioritize natural resource investigations across a large population of tidal creeks between Tampa Bay and Estero Bay, Florida. The assessment framework is based on outcomes of a multidisciplinary study and includes a nutrient based report card that characterizes nutrient conditions relative to regional numeric nutrient criteria developed for contributing freshwater streams, identification of site-specific water quality indicators of tidal creek condition, and an online open science dashboard to display the assessment framework and provide access to all information relevant to its implementation. Application of the assessment framework has provided an actionable list of southwest Florida tidal creeks prioritized for further research and potential management action along with a host of site-specific indicator results that provide insights into drivers of tidal creek condition. The open science dashboard provides a platform for dissemination of this information in a readily accessible and reproducible format and a means to incorporate new data and indicators as they become available. Local resource managers are in need of tools to help prioritize natural resource investigations and management actions that achieve the greatest resource benefit with limited available resources. This assessment framework informs these efforts and builds capacity for future research to identify and refine management tools for these creeks where management resources, data, and sentinel biological response endpoints are limited.

Introduction Cultural eutrophication threatens numerous ecological and economical resources of Florida’s coastal ecosystems, such as beaches, mangroves, and seagrasses. In April 2021, an infrastructure failure at the retired Piney Point phosphorus mining retention reservoir garnered national attention, as 814 million liters of nutrient rich water were released into Tampa Bay, Florida over 10 days. The release of nitrogen and phosphorus-rich water into Tampa Bay – a region that had been known as a restoration success story since the 1990s – has highlighted the potential for unexpected challenges for coastal nutrient management. Methods For a year after the release, we sampled bi-weekly at four sites to monitor changes in nutrients, stable isotopes, and phytoplankton communities, complemented with continuous monitoring by multiparameter sondes. Our data complement the synthesis efforts of regional partners, the Tampa Bay and Sarasota Bay Estuary Programs, to better understand the effects of anthropogenic nutrients on estuarine health. Results Phytoplankton community structure indicated an initial diatom bloom that dissipated by the end of April 2021. In the summer, the bay was dominated by Karenia brevis , with conditions improving into the fall. To determine if there was a unique carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) signature of the discharge water, stable isotope values of carbon (δ 13 C) and nitrogen (δ 15 N) were analyzed in suspended particulate material (SPM). The δ 15 N values of the discharge SPM were −17.88‰ ± 0.76, which is exceptionally low and was unique relative to other nutrient sources in the region. In May and early June of 2021, all sites exhibited a decline in the δ 15 N values of SPM, suggesting that discharged N was incorporated into SPM after the event. The occurrence of very low δ 15 N values at the reference site, on the Gulf Coast outside of the Bay, indicates that some of the discharge was transported outside of Tampa Bay. Discussion This work illustrates the need for comprehensive nutrient management strategies to assess and manage the full range of consequences associated with anthropogenic nutrient inputs into coastal ecosystems. Ongoing and anticipated impacts of climate change – such as increasing tropical storm intensity, temperatures, rainfall, and sea level rise – will exacerbate this need.

Native habitats in Florida face dual pressures at the land-sea interface from urban development and sea-level rise. To address these pressures, restoration practitioners require robust tools that identify reasonable goals given historical land use trends, current status of native habitats, and anticipated future impacts from coastal stressors. A restoration framework for native habitats was created for the Tampa Bay watershed that identifies current opportunities and establishes short-term (2030) targets and long-term (2050) goals. The approach was informed through a three-decade habitat change analysis and over 40 years of habitat restoration projects in the region. Although significant gains in subtidal habitats have been observed, expansion of mangroves into salt marshes and loss of native upland habitats to development highlights the need to target these locations for restoration. The long-term loss of potentially restorable lands to both coastal and upland development further underscores the diminishing restoration opportunities in the watershed. The established targets and goals identified habitats to maintain at their present level (e.g., mangroves) and those that require additional progress (e.g., oyster bars) based on past trends and an expected level of effort given the restoration history of the region. The new approach also accounts for the future effects of sea-level rise, climate change, and watershed development by prioritizing native coastal habitats relative to subtidal or upland areas. Maps were created to identify the restoration opportunities where practitioners could focus efforts to achieve the targets and goals, with methods for repeatable analyses also available using an open source workflow.

ADVERTISEMENT RETURN TO ISSUEPREVCorrespondence/Rebut...Correspondence/RebuttalNEXTResponse to Comment on "Particle/Gas Concentrations and Distributions of PAHs in the Atmosphere of Southern Chesapeake Bay"Kurt E. Gustafson and Rebecca M. DickhutView Author Information Sarasota Bay National Estuary Program 53333 N Tamiami Trail, Suite 104 Sarasota, Florida 34234 School of Marine Science The College of William and Mary Gloucester Point, Virginia 23062Cite this: Environ. Sci. Technol. 1997, 31, 12, 3738–3739Publication Date (Web):November 26, 1997Publication History Published online26 November 1997Published inissue 24 December 1997https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/es9720117https://doi.org/10.1021/es9720117article-commentaryACS PublicationsCopyright © 1997 American Chemical Society. This publication is available under these Terms of Use. Request reuse permissions This publication is free to access through this site. Learn MoreArticle Views184Altmetric-Citations4LEARN ABOUT THESE METRICSArticle Views are the COUNTER-compliant sum of full text article downloads since November 2008 (both PDF and HTML) across all institutions and individuals. These metrics are regularly updated to reflect usage leading up to the last few days.Citations are the number of other articles citing this article, calculated by Crossref and updated daily. Find more information about Crossref citation counts.The Altmetric Attention Score is a quantitative measure of the attention that a research article has received online. Clicking on the donut icon will load a page at altmetric.com with additional details about the score and the social media presence for the given article. Find more information on the Altmetric Attention Score and how the score is calculated. Share Add toView InAdd Full Text with ReferenceAdd Description ExportRISCitationCitation and abstractCitation and referencesMore Options Share onFacebookTwitterWechatLinked InRedditEmail PDF (41 KB) Get e-AlertscloseSUBJECTS:Aerosols,Computer simulations,Desorption,Enthalpy,Gases Get e-Alerts

An alternative method for lithium isotope amount ratio analysis based on a combination of high-resolution atomic absorption spectrometry and spectral data analysis by machine learning (ML) is proposed herein. It is based on the well-known isotope shift of approximately 15 pm for the electronic transition 2 2 P←2 2 S at around the wavelength of 670.8 nm, which can be measured by state-of-the-art high-resolution continuum source graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. For isotope amount ratio analysis, a scalable tree boosting ML algorithm (XGBoost) was employed and calibrated using a set of samples with 6 Li isotope amount fractions ranging from 0.06 to 0.99 mol mol −1 , previously determined by multi-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (MC-ICP-MS). The calibration ML model was validated with two certified reference materials (LSVEC and IRMM-016). The procedure was applied to the isotope amount ratio determination of a set of stock chemicals (Li 2 CO 3 , LiNO 3 , LiCl, and LiOH) and a BAM candidate reference material, that is, LiNi 1/3 Mn 1/3 Co 1/3 O 2 (NMC111) cathode material. The results of these determinations were compared with those obtained by MC-ICP-MS and found to be metrologically comparable and compatible. The residual bias was −1.8‰ and the precision obtained ranged from 1.9‰ to 6.2‰. This precision was sufficient to resolve naturally occurring variations, as demonstrated for samples ranging from approximately −3‰ to +15‰. To assess its suitability to technical applications, the NMC111 cathode candidate reference material was analyzed using high-resolution continuum source molecular absorption spectrometry with and without matrix purification. The results obtained were metrologically compatible with each other.

In der Erinnerung vieler Mediziner ist Gerhard Domagk vor allem der Mann, der unter der Nazi-Diktatur den Nobelpreis für die Entwicklung der Sulfonamide nicht annehmen durfte und dafür in Gestapo-Haft geriet. Auffallend wenig bekannt ist aber seine für unsere Zeit folgenreichste Leistung, vielleicht, weil sie wie vieles andere nach dem Ende der Diktatur in andere Hände kam: die Entwicklung der Tuberkulosemittel Conteben (Tb1) und Neoteben (INH). Ihre Bedeutung kann sich kaum vorstellen, wer nicht die Tuberkulose als Volksseuche erlebt hat. Noch um die Mitte des 20. Jahrhunderts war die Lungentuberkulose überall alltäglich. Krankenstationen, ganze Kliniken, Sanatorien waren voll von elend dahinsiechenden hustenden, spuckenden Menschen. In jeder Nachbarschaft gab es „offene“ Tuberkulöse mit oft blutigem Auswurf, von denen man Abstand hielt. Der Gedanke, dass die Luft um Hustende voller Bakterien war, machte den Umgang mit Kranken unheimlich. Befall anderer Organe war weniger auffällig, außer an der Haut: Hauttuberkulose war zwar kaum selbst infektiös („Die Haut hustet nicht!“), führte aber zu furchtbaren Entstellungen. Hautherde konnte man zwar manchmal operativ ganz beseitigen [1] [2], aber sonst versuchte man vor allem mit guter Ernährung, Luft, Licht, Sonne, „Abwehrkräfte“ zu stärken. So begann vor 150 Jahren die fast hundertjährige Blütezeit der Lungensanatorien in heilklimatischen Kurorten. Sonnenbestrahlung wurde später durch künstliche UV-Strahlung ergänzt [3]. Zudem hatten in Belgien und Frankreich seit etwa 1942 die Dermatologen Fanielle und Charpy Vitamin D2 erprobt. Das brachte erkennbare Besserungen bei Hauttuberkulose, verlor aber nach wenigen Jahren an Bedeutung, als gegen Mykobakterien wirksame Medikamente entwickelt wurden [4] [5] [6] [7]:

A Somló és Ság hegy, mint a Kisalföld síkjából kiemelkedő, jellegzetes formakincsű bazalt tanúhegyek, mint borvidékek ill. a Ság, mint egykori bányaterület széles körben ismertek. A kisebb, inkább dombvidéki jellegű, de hasonló keletkezésű bazalthegyek (Kissomlyó, Hercseg, Vásárosmiske-Gércei tufagyűrű apró hegyei), már inkább csak regionális szinten ismertek, kutatottságuk is ennek megfelelően jóval kisebb mértékű. A dunántúli bazalt tanúhegyek mindegyike ma már egész területén magán hordozza az évszázados emberi tevékenység hatásainak eredményeit. Ennek következtében természetes vegetációjuk sehol sem érintetlen, de néhol még megőrződtek az eredeti, vagy az ősihez közelítő, szépen regenerálódott növénytakaró maradványai, értékes fajaikkal együtt. Munkánk célja, e bazalt ill. bazalttufa hegyek edényes flórájának, még fellelhető botanikai értékekeinek megismerése volt.

ABSTRACT Objective We sought to apply the reflex action mortality predictor method and to predict discard mortality of intermolt blue crabs Callinectes sapidus in two regions of Florida to better inform stock assessments and management decisions. We additionally sought to provide an empirical estimate on market-bound mortality, which has not been incorporated into landings data or stock assessments. Methods Intermolt crab condition (measured as reflex impairment), injury score, and environmental salinity were collected in the northeast (NE) and west-central (WC) regions of Florida during the summer and winter from 2019 to 2021. A subset of market-bound crabs provided an empirical estimate of market-bound crab mortality at the time of live-market sale. Results Predictive modeling estimated that discard mortalities were 5.78% in the NE region and 3.76% in the WC region of Florida during the winter months and 2.35% (NE) and 14.4% (WC) during the summer months. Market-bound crab mortality was relatively low in the winter months (0% [NE]; 3.19% [WC]) and increased to 10.11% (NE) and 12.81% (WC) in the summer months. Conclusions The discard mortality estimates derived in this study showed that the highest mortality occurred at higher salinities during summer. The lowest mortalities were observed at lower salinities during summer and at higher salinities during winter. Market-bound mortality was highest in the summer and did not appear to be influenced by salinity. The results of this study underscore the importance of adding seasonal- and habitat-based estimates of discard mortality due to the complexity and diversity of the habitats fished during all seasons. This study provides crucial information on two important types of mortality that can now be considered explicitly when refining mortality estimates in Florida blue crab stock assessments.

The common loon (Gavia immer) is considered a sentinel of ecosystem health, and declines in this species have been linked to several different drivers. Loons are widely recognized as being very sensitive to fungal respiratory disease, and this has proven a major barrier to successful clinical care and rehabilitation. The goal of the present study was to assess the presence of antibody reactivity to Aspergillus with secondary testing including Aspergillus antigen and gliotoxin detection as well as plasma protein electrophoresis and complete blood count as sample volume permitted. Conducted over two years in collaboration with multiple centers in Maine, New Hampshire, and Florida, samples were collected in the Northeast from healthy wild adult and juvenile birds (n = 72) as well as clinically abnormal birds presented for rehabilitation (n = 29). In addition, a cohort of rehabilitation samples was obtained from clinically abnormal overwintering birds (n = 6). Necropsy results were available for those found moribund or euthanized (n = 29). Of these birds, eight were confirmed to have aspergillosis where the remainder were diagnosed with other complications. Only three of eight displayed antibody reactivity to Aspergillus using a recombinant antigen-based ELISA and four tested positive for the presence of gliotoxin. An abnormal electrophoretogram was present in samples from all eight birds. The presence of antibody reactivity was not observed in clinically normal loons and only in one of the necropsied loons without aspergillosis. Overall, aspergillosis appears uncommon in healthy, free-ranging birds but likely can be an opportunistic infection after a stress inducing event. Serological testing and protein electrophoresis may provide an opportunity to monitor the health of this species and may improve the ability to manage this species in captivity.

From March 30th to April 9th, 2021, 814 million liters of legacy phosphate mining wastewater and marine dredge water from the Piney Point facility were released into lower Tampa Bay (Florida, USA). This resulted in an estimated addition of 186 metric tons of total nitrogen, exceeding typical annual external nitrogen load estimates to lower Tampa Bay in a matter of days. Elevated levels of phytoplankton (non-harmful diatoms) were first observed in April in the lower Bay. Filamentous cyanobacteria blooms (Dapis spp.) peaked in June, followed by a bloom of the red tide organism Karenia brevis. Reported fish kills tracked K. brevis concentrations, prompting cleanup of over 1600 metric tons of dead fish. Seagrasses had minimal changes over the study period. By comparing these results to baseline environmental monitoring data, we conclude that many of the biological responses observed after the release from Piney Point are abnormal relative to historic conditions.

The US seafood system is in critical need of revitalization, especially pathways for mid-scale fisheries. With the significant conservation-based downsizing of US fisheries since the early 1980s, commercial fishing communities have experienced a steady decline in infrastructure and support businesses (Culver et al. 2007;Pomeroy et al. 2011;Colburn & Jepson 2012;Speir et al. 2014;Richmond et al. 2019;Cook et al. 2024). Seafood processing and distribution have become more consolidated, with a small number of buyers dominating the industry and, in some cases, a single buyer controlling seafood handling at a given port (Gephart and Pace 2015). Due to some combination of such consolidation, high overhead costs, unfavorable markets, regulatory challenges, and/or resource conditions, there has been an uptick in closures of processing plants throughout the US (e.g. White 2024;Frankowicz 2024;Burns 2024;Chase 2024;Seaman 2024). Some ports (e.g. Eureka, California; King Cove and Larsen Bay, Alaska) have even lost their only major seafood handler. Local seafood processing, cold storage, and distribution are important for coastal community resilience, providing fisheries-related jobs, economic activity, and a variety of market pathways for selling one's catch (Cramer et al. 2023;Pomeroy et al. 2020).We believe that these marked shifts in the seafood system necessitate both scholarly and practical responses. To date, responses have focused on the development of direct marketing strategies that primarily suit small-scale fishery operations. Here, we call for the development of a complementary agenda focused on revitalizing and enhancing mid-scale fishery operations and market pathways -"fisheries of the middle" (FOTM) -as an essential component of a resilient seafood system. Further, the agenda invites collaborations with the agriculture sector which has experienced similar challenges and gained insights on possible solutions coalescing around an "agriculture of the middle". While this agenda is oriented by the California context, it describes challenges and potential solutions that pertain across the US and beyond.US-based seafood processing and distribution have increasingly relied on a long-supply-chain model, with the catch unloaded, then often handled by multiple entities, whether as live product or processed into seafood products (e.g. fillets, cooked and canned), frozen or refrigerated, and distributed to various domestic and foreign markets -typically far from the communities where the catch was landed (Kelling et al. 2023;Pomeroy et al. 2020;Talley et al. 2016). Large quantities of US-landed catch are exported for processing and re-imported for sale and consumption (Gephart et al. 2019). This model has been criticized for its detrimental environmental, economic and social impacts, particularly for failing to support the communities and markets where the catch originates (Kelling et al. 2023;Greenberg 2015;Campbell et al. 2014).Many have been exploring direct-marketing strategies as an alternative or complement to this long-supply-chain model. Under these strategies, fishermen (and often their families) take on one or more of these post-harvest functions, selling their catch directly to consumers, restaurants and/or retailers (Johnson et al. 2007;Culver et al. 2015;Stoll et al. 2015;Brinson et al. 2011). In some cases, they also take on processing functions, preparing, packaging, and storing their products. While many of these efforts have been successful, direct marketing is not a panacea (Culver et al. 2015;Tookes & Yandle 2021;Goodwin et al. 2015;Pomeroy et al. 2020). Fishermen have identified numerous challenges in developing and sustaining such marketing arrangements. Moreover, direct marketing may not be practical or effective for mid-to large-scale fishing operations. Especially in rural communities, there may not be enough consumers, retailers or restaurants to absorb all the catch. Thus, while direct marketing provides a valuable alternative, it cannot alone fill the gap left by the loss of larger-scale seafood processing, storage, and distribution functions.For researchers studying land-based agricultural food systems, the story unfolding in the seafood system may seem strikingly familiar. Kirschenmann et al. ( 2008) describe the US agricultural food system as having evolved along two distinct paths. One entails small-scale farms and food businesses flourishing by tapping into direct-to-consumer markets. The other involves large, consolidated agribusinesses building global supply chains focused primarily on advancing their corporate interests through the movement of bulk commodities. They note, "this pattern of food systems has had a disastrous effect on independent family farmers -it has led to a disappearing agriculture of the middle."Throughout the 2000s, US scholars and practitioners began to coalesce around a theoretical framework and solutions related to revitalizing an "agriculture of the middle" (AOTM) (Brekken et al. 2016;Clancy 2010;Lyson et al. 2008). AOTM includes "farms and ranches that are declining because they are too small to be served well by commodity markets and too large or otherwise unsuited to be served well by direct markets" (UW 2025). Research shows that compared to large-scale operations, small-and mid-scale agricultural operations may have fewer environmental impacts and contribute more to the social fabric of their communities (e.g. Lyson et al. 2001;Hinrichs & Welsh 2003;Francis et al. 2005;Leonard et al. 2011). Many AOTM solutions revolve around restoring or reconfiguring the "mid-system" food pathway functions between production and consumption including buying, aggregating, processing, storing, marketing, and distributing food products. Solutions include the development of "values-based food supply chains" (UW 2025), defined as food pathways "that preserve the social, environmental, and community values that are incorporated into production" (UC 2025).We propose the development of a parallel and intertwined research and advocacy agenda related to "fisheries of the middle" (FOTM). We suggest a preliminary definition of FOTM as fishery operations that likewise are too large or otherwise unsuited to be served fully by direct markets, but due to scale, circumstance, or values are unsuitable for long supply chain or commodity-based channels (Figure 1). FOTM can incorporate both local and non-local sales of catch and operate at various scales; the primary distinction is that FOTM operations cannot perform all functions in-house and require auxiliary aggregation, processing, storage, and/or distribution entities to facilitate the sale of their products to consumers. Many FOTM operations have a place-based identity with strong connections to their port community. Direct-marketing pathways are less reliant on independent processing and cold storage, but they are limited in the potential scale, seasonality, and location of sales. Long-supply-chain models often rely on aggregation, processing, storage, and distribution out of the port region (and even out of the country), increasing environmental impacts and limiting the benefits to the community such as employment and fish sales. Steps with a carrot icon next to them show areas for potential collaboration with agriculture. Food health and safety requirements may limit opportunities for collaboration in aggregation, processing, and handling.Typically, research and policy related to the seafood and agricultural sectors have been siloed (Olson et al. 2014;Tlusty et al. 2019). However, there is tremendous opportunity for the seafood industry to learn from the agricultural sector (and vice versa) and to collaborate on solutions. A broad agenda related to FOTM could include:Information Gathering & Analysis -Robust datasets and analyses are needed to inform the development of precise definitions for FOTM based on operation size, production level, or market pathway configuration. Researchers should continue to investigate the changing seafood systems landscape in the US and beyond, expanding on local, statewide (e.g.California Sea Grant) and nationwide (e.g. NMFS) efforts to provide much-needed baseline data. Potential questions include: what has been the scope of loss and change in mid-system functions? What has caused these? Why have new businesses not replaced many that have closed? How have these losses and changes affected fishing communities? How have they adapted? To what extent is there evidence of a disappearing or at-risk "middle" scale in seafood production? What positive impacts do revitalized port infrastructure and/or supply chain components have on adjacent communities?Identifying Business Frameworks -Efforts should address the loss of mid-system functions such as processing, storage, and distribution at ports and identify frameworks that can help these businesses flourish.• Ownership: Explore types of ownership models that support the viability and values of mid-system functions. Non-corporate ownership models including co-operative, nonprofit, port/local government, or small/family business could provide alternatives (e.g., Rice & Phillips 2008;Feenstra et al. 2011). • Financing: Explore options for financing the development and maintenance of midsystem businesses and functions. Initial government or philanthropic investment may be needed. • Regulation: Assist emerging businesses with navigating complex environmental, health, and safety regulations for food handling businesses and advocate for regulatory reform when necessary (e.g., Seiler 2015;Culver et al. 2015Culver et al. , 2022). • Sustainability/Viability: Identify the scale(s) of operation that support viable mid-system businesses. Encourage development of business support programs for potential new operations (e.g., Ecotrust's Ag of the Middle Accelerator; Alaska Sea Grant's Fish Biz). • Innovation: Support the establishment and expansion of regional incubators as has been done in the US Midwest agriculture sector (e.g. Food Finance Institute; Agricultural Incubator Foundation), to provide opportunities to grow middle-scale food businesses and, where possible, connect seafood and agriculture. Innovations in marketing and distribution from middle-scale seafood operations could use values-or place-based approaches as is done for AOTM. Lessons learned and innovations developed in programs to support direct marketing for seafood (e.g., Sea Grant's Market Your Catch, Positively Groundfish's Catch + Create Accelerator, Local Catch Network's Seafood Accelerator and Innovations Lab) could be adapted to accommodate larger seafood operations.• Community-driven design: Center those affected by fisheries infrastructure in project design, decision-making and implementation.Building Collaborations -These challenges can be more effectively addressed through collaborations and partnerships within and across sectors and regions. Fisheries interests should network with agricultural interests, including aquaculture, to develop joint strategies such as sharing infrastructure and supply chain pathways that afford year-round capacity and functionality for both, recognizing individual operational requirements such as product seasonality, perishability, and regulatory frameworks (e.g. HACCP health and safety requirements).Fishing communities across California have been developing innovative solutions to support mid-and small-scale fishery ventures. They also have begun to see benefits from seafood and agricultural producers coming together to address common issues. For example, the North Coast Growers' Association (NCGA) has been partnering with Ashley's Seafood to address common challenges in Humboldt County. The region's food system has been hit hard over the last 15 years. In 2010, the seafood ice and cold storage plant in Eureka closed; throughout the 2010s there was major contraction of processing capacity for local dairy; in 2021 an additional cold storage facility in the region shuttered; and in 2024 the region's only USDA-certified slaughterhouse and Eureka's only remaining year-round seafood processing facility ceased most operations. Seafood and agricultural collaboration has led to the community's first dockside seafood market, with an innovative mobile food facility permitted for fish cleaning and other food preparation, and is facilitating the development of a flexible local cold storage facility that would serve seafood, agricultural, and other producers. In addition, NCGA has been connecting local fishermen with its 'Harvest Hub' wholesale buyers including schools and food banks. In Mendocino County, the Noyo Harbor District has developed a publicly-owned ice facility and is exploring ways to develop cold storage and processing facilities that could serve as models to address FOTM challenges (Fishman 2023;Linder 2025). Promising efforts to protect and strengthen infrastructure for small-and mid-scale seafood producers and foster connections across food system sectors are also evident in Southern California (SDFSA 2021;Get Local Fish 2024). For example, the San Diego Food System Alliance, as part of its San Diego County Food Vision 2030, hosted a joint discussion in 2024, "investing in the next generation of farmers and fishermen" and continues to bring seafood and agricultural producers together to discuss common issues and joint solutions (SDFSA 2021(SDFSA , 2024)).A FOTM agenda would be complementary to the remarkable efforts and progress in seafood direct-marketing and small-scale fisheries, supporting a larger goal of diversified markets and supply chains. Stronger mid and small-scale fisheries pathways will provide important economic, social, and cultural benefits to communities including helping maintain fishing jobs and ways of life (Cramer et al 2023;Pomeroy et al. 2020;Witter & Stoll 2017). The consolidation and loss of traditional seafood system functions and infrastructure is profoundly affecting fishing communities. Yet these losses also provide an opportunity to build new functions that better address current and future needs of fishermen and their communities.

Environmental Toxicology and ChemistryVolume 17, Issue 4 p. 536-536 Letter to the Editor The authors' reply Kurt E. Gustafson, Kurt E. Gustafson Sarasota Bay National Estuary, Program Sarasota, FL 34234, USASearch for more papers by this authorRebecca M. Dickhut, Rebecca M. Dickhut College of William and Mary, Gloucester Point, VA 23062, USASearch for more papers by this author Kurt E. Gustafson, Kurt E. Gustafson Sarasota Bay National Estuary, Program Sarasota, FL 34234, USASearch for more papers by this authorRebecca M. Dickhut, Rebecca M. Dickhut College of William and Mary, Gloucester Point, VA 23062, USASearch for more papers by this author First published: 02 November 2009 https://doi.org/10.1002/etc.5620170402Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat No abstract is available for this article. Volume17, Issue4April 1998Pages 536-536 RelatedInformation

Before collapsing, bay scallops (Argopecten irradians) supported commercial fisheries in Florida but, following decades of restoration efforts and management actions, still support a recreational fishery. Settlement was monitored along the west coast of Florida from 1992 through 2018, using collector traps. The primary environmental variables retained in the analyses included temperature, salinity, and red tide concentration (Karenia brevis). The settlement rate generally increased for the first days of trap deployment, then leveled off or declined. Settlement peaked when the average water temperatures were between 21°C and 23°C at four sites: St. Andrew Bay, St. Joseph Bay, West Coast, and Pine Island Sound, indicative of a fall peak in spawning. At the Tampa Bay and Sarasota Bay sites, settlement peaked when temperatures were around 16°C, indicative of winter spawning. At most sites, the highest peak in settlement occurred in association with declines in temperature of 10°C–15°C during the fall, with a smaller, secondary peak occurring with similar increases in temperature during the spring. Warming winter temperatures may already be negatively affecting the ability of the subpopulations to synchronously spawn, with unknown impacts to population dynamics. At all sites, settlement declined rapidly when salinity fell below 30 with little settlement occurring below 27, and approached zero when salinity fell below approximately 20. The occurrence of K. brevis exceeding 10,000 cells/L resulted in reduced settlement. In the core populations of West Coast and Steinhatchee, K. brevis was uncommon, and settlement resumed rapidly when blooms abated. For sites outside the core population, settlement was reduced for 2–4 y after red tides. Recovery of populations in these noncore sites probably relies on exogenous supply of larvae from the core. If blooms of K. brevis that penetrate the core region, as was observed in 2021, become more severe, more frequent, or have longer durations, the entire Florida scallop population could be endangered.