Scientist Makes Lobsters Her Life Calling. (Maine.)

[NNadir]

HARPSWELL, Maine - The tide is dead low as Diane Cowan lifts seaweed-covered rocks at dawn's first light, something she's done for more than a decade as a way to monitor Maine's most valuable fishery.

Here at Lowell Cove, the number of juvenile lobsters has increased fourfold in recent years, indicating plentiful crustaceans for years to come.

At the same time, however, the water temperature in this picturesque inlet has risen fast — raising concerns. The lobsters, she fears, could begin dying off if the temperature keeps going up.

"It's gone up 10 degrees between 1993 and now," Cowan says as she puts small lobsters — some as tiny as a fingernail — in plastic tubs. "If it does that again, they're gone. They're cooked."

Cowan, 46, is a scientist who has made lobsters her life's calling...

...If the ocean continues to warm up, Cowan thinks it could affect the lobster ecosystem as a whole — lobsters will move east and north in search of colder waters, grow faster and reproduce at a younger age. That, she says, could spell trouble.

"I think global warming is real and I think it's had a detrimental effect on lobsters south of Cape Cod," she said. "And it could do the same in Maine."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070714/ap_on_sc/lobster_researcher

In the last year recorded in this EIA data, 2003, Maine set a record for carbon dioxide release.

http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/1605/ggrpt/excel/tbl_statetotal.xls

The source of Maine's dangerous fossil fuel waste broken down by fuel can be found here:

http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/1605/ggrpt/excel/tbl_statefuel.xls

Maine began burning the dangerous fossil fuel natural gas to generate electricity in the 1990's when major greenhouse gas free electricity generating capacity was eliminated.

Maine's electricity generation profile is found here: http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/electricity/st_profiles/sept04me.xls

[jedr]

1. I share her love....butter melted yet?.......n/t

[flvegan]

2. Nice post.

Yes, butter indeed.

Ass.

[luckyleftyme2]

3. nice to see

Hope these two boneheads aren't right wing "mainers" who follow tubby the blowhard!
This lady and her department has contributed much to our "lobster business" in spite of
the bonehead right who have tried to stop the funding!
our lobster industry was a victim of lobster decline and over fishing-thanks to level headed people and trained scientists the industry has made great strides toward recovery.ONE OF THE GREATEST MOVES WAS TO INCREASE THE SIZE OF LEGAL LOBSTERS.
and the smack price is running about $4.50 -$5.20 in the mid-coast area. considering the price of fuel,the weather we've had thats a bargain!
I like mine with steam clams and corn on the cob on the side.
GOD YOU GOTTA LOVE MAINE! EVEN IN TOURIST SEASON!

[eppur_se_muova]

4. Before you know it, you won't be able to buy live lobsters at the gas station anymore.

What, they don't do that in your area?