upwelling
Volume 13 | April 2022
The Ocean Policy Working Group (OPWG) is an interdisciplinary graduate and professional student working group at Duke University.
The OPWG aims to facilitate cross-disciplinary discussions and collaborations that explore the political, economic, scientific, and cultural dimensions of human interactions with the ocean. Our activities examine current issues involving the global oceans and the impact of these issues on marine policy and ocean governance. We strive to relate to an audience beyond those directly studying the coast.
Upwelling Volume 13 Published April 1, 2022
Cover: Pismo Beach, CA - Gabriella Ballardo, MEM CEM '23
Publication design by Gabriella Ballardo
Duke University Ocean Policy Working Group dukeOPWG@gmail.com
Inside Cover: Ice Storm [January 2022] (Front Street, Beaufort, NC) - Nora Ives, MEM CEM '22
A Letter from the Editor The thirteenth edition of Upwelling features artwork, photography, a poem, and informative articles from Duke University graduate students and faculty.
These creative and professional pieces showcase the ocean's impacts on the Duke community. I hope that they inspire you to connect with and protect coastal environments and better understand the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in marine conservation.
Thank you to the Nicholas School of the Environment, the Graduate and Professional Student Council, and the Duke University Center for International Studies for their ongoing support of the Ocean Policy Working Group and Upwelling.
Sincerely, Gabriella Ballardo Gabriella Ballardo OPWG Publication Coordinator MEM CEM '23
Dusk over the Rachel Carson Reserve (Beaufort, NC)
- Nora
Ives, MEM CEM '22
3.
In This Edition 5 Argentina’s Conflicting Fisheries Management Objectives
10-11 Ocean Everblue
Marty Smith, Professor of Environmental
and Ellie Jones
Tyler McFarland (MEM ESC '23)
Economics
12 Killer Whales in Monterey Bay 6-7 Blockchain and Seafood
Joshua Meza-Fidalgo (MEM CEM '23)
Hugh Cipparone (MEM CEM '23)
13-15 Should I Eat Seafood? 8-9 Marine Life Photos
Hugh Cipparone (MEM CEM '23)
Lexi Addison (MEM CEM '23), Juliette Lee (MEM CEM '22), Mackenzie Audino (MEM BE/MBA
16 Australian Pelican
'24), and Joshua Meza-Fidalgo (MEM CEM '23)
Andrea Bruns (MEM ESC '23)
17 A Sea Puppy and The Blue Shark Juliette Lee (MEM CEM '22)
Surface Level - Snorkeler dives to get a closer look at fish on the Great Barrier Reef off the coast of Queensland, Australia [February 7, 2020] - GuruBandaa Khalsa, MEM ESC '23
Argentina’s Conflicting Fisheries Management Objectives Great egret (Taylor’s Creek, Beaufort, NC)
By: Marty Smith
- Nora Ives,
MEM CEM '22
Hake trawly! Rule folly! Stephanie Stefanski balances fish profits with equity.
Her micro-data-based panel-Poisson-model guides Argentina’s seafood policy.
Taking a Breath - Two spotted dolphins in the Gulf Stream during Andy Read's marine mammal biology class
- Juliette Lee, MEM CEM '22
5.
Blockchain and Seafood: The Next Frontier? By: Hugh Cipparone Blockchain technology is the hottest topic in
procedural trust. Approved data chunks, or
seafood sustainability. How does it work? Will it
blocks, are then organized into chains
really revolutionize seafood production?
guarded by cryptographic “hash values”. Blocks cannot be deleted, and modifications
Seafood is a global commodity. Seafood on your
to a block’s data are treated as transactions
table may have been caught near Indonesia,
subject to verification.
processed in China, packaged in Ecuador, and sold in Raleigh. Many of these linkages are
This system introduces an unprecedented level
difficult to trace for a number of reasons,
of transparency to transactions. Now, network
including a lack of data interoperability between
participants, potentially including consumers,
supply chain actors and corporate hesitancy to
can view and verify each step of the supply
invest in costly technologies that may result in
chain from initial production to retail.
the loss of competitive advantages.
Proponents believe that this transparency can drastically reduce the ability of illegally-
This lack of clarity permits bad actors to mix
caught fish to enter supply chains, reducing
illegally-caught fish into supply chains,
profit margins for criminal fishers. The
contributing to the high rates of seafood fraud
challenge, however, comes in the logistics.
observed globally (FishWise, 2018). For seafood to be tracked, every company in Blockchain provides a potential solution.
the supply chain needs to retain physical tags
Blockchain technology is a distributed and
and ensure that fish captured in one location
unchangeable record of transactions (Gupta,
do not mix with fish caught in another. The
2020). In blockchain data structures, network
technology required to transmit real-time
participants upload transaction data to be
data across the chain offers further
approved by other participants or third-party
challenges. Finally, blockchain cannot solve
validators. This verification encourages
issues of data accuracy; though it may
facilitate supply chain audits, the structure
"Despite these limitations, I believe that blockchain can move the needle on illegal fishing."
itself can only ensure that the data that has been uploaded to the chain remains tamperfree (Rosen).
These changes come with a price. Private sector change requires profit motives, often produced at the point of sale. This means that retailers might not be driven to use blockchain on inexpensive fish marketed to pricesensitive consumers. Instead, this technology
Sources
would only be applied to more expensive fish for which consumers might be willing to spend
Blaha, F. K., Kenneth. (2020). Blockchain
a premium to ensure the product’s alignment
Application in Seafood Value Chains. Food and
with their values (Blaha, 2020).
Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 37.
Despite these limitations, I believe that blockchain can move the needle on illegal
FishWise. (2018). Advancing Traceability in the
fishing. Tuna, a high-value, long-lived,
Seafood Industry: Assessing Challenges and
threatened species, is a frequent target of
Opportunities.
illegal fishing. Often produced and distributed in long global supply chains, tuna
Gupta, M. (2020). Blockchain For Dummies. John
is ripe for intervention with blockchain
Wiley & Sons, Inc.
technology. I believe that even if blockchain technology only improves the sustainability of
Rosen, N. Unpacking the Blockchain: A Seafood
tuna production, the technology would be a
Perspective on Blockchain Technology.
major seafood success story.
https://www.salttraceability.org/storyhub/unpacking-the-blockchain-a-seafoodperspective-on-blockchain-technology/
7.
Shark Watch
2.
1.
3.
4.
1. Up Close and Personal - Lexi Addison, MEM CEM '23
5.
4.
Caribbean
Reef
Shark
in
the
Keys National Marine Sanctuary -
Florida
Juliette
Lee, MEM CEM '22 2. Nurse Shark Cruising the Ocean Floor Lexi Addison, MEM CEM '23 3. Hammer on the Move - Lexi Addison, MEM CEM '23
5. Feeding - Lexi Addison, MEM CEM '23
Sea turtle in Lombok -
Mackenzie Audino,
MEM BE/MBA '24
Sea otter mother and pup -
Lexi Addison,
MEM CEM '23
Breaching humpback calf in Monterey Bay, taken while out with Discovery Whale Watch -
Joshua Meza-Fidalgo, MEM
CEM '23
9.
Ocean Everblue By: Tyler McFarland and Ellie Jones
it is imperative that we find alternative ways to share science with people who live and work outside of the ivory tower (or should I say ivory lab?) of academic research. We need more creative, inclusive, and engaging forms of scientific communication.
This is where Everblue comes in.
As an undergraduate student at the University of Oregon, Ellie Jones sought to bridge the gap between the scientific literature written about the ocean and her broader community. Rob Waibel, a mentor and dear friend, inspired her to take action. With the help of a ready and willing team of friends, Ellie launched Everblue on January 1, 2018. Ellie’s passion for science communication and encouraging Everblue’s audience to live sustainable (or, as Everblue calls them, “ocean-conscious”) lifestyles quickly attracted other people across the globe. Over time, Everblue became established as a nationally-recognized
Jones, Ellie. "Ellie Jones." Ocean Everblue, 2022, https://www.oceaneverblue.org/
ocean science communication organization, with partners, team members, and supporters in Oregon, California,
Science is a phenomenal tool for understanding our oceans, but all too often, science itself can feel like it’s written in a different language. Published journal articles from high-ranking researchers will read “Anthropogenic Effects on Anthropleura Xanthogrammica” when they just as easily could say “Human Effects on the Green Sea Anemone.” They mean the same thing, but one requires an advanced degree in order to understand. In an age where understanding science is necessary to inform conservation, sustainability, and marine management decisions,
Washington, North Carolina, South Carolina, Utah, Colorado, Virginia, Hawai‘i, Florida, Arizona, the British Channel Island of Guernsey, Austria, and Singapore. Everblue has engaged thousands of people through conferences, community service, webinars, social media, and free at-home educational resources.
We use our website, social media, and original educational programs to share summaries of recently published marine research followed by suggestions for sustainability tips. We also connect our audience directly with scientists and the work they are doing around the world to learn more about the ocean, creating unique connections between science, industry, and the public.
We invite you to join us on our journey to protect and advocate for the ocean by following us on social media @oceaneverblue, checking out our
Jones, Ellie. "Everblue Logo." Ocean
website and subscribing to our newsletter, and
Everblue, 2022,
donating to our nonprofit to help support monthly
https://www.oceaneverblue.org/
costs of upkeep of our websites and virtual programs. In our world today, it is of the utmost importance that our science and outreach are transparent, equitable, and collaborative in order to increase scientific literacy, build understanding of the biggest issues facing our ocean home, and inspire ocean-conscious living. Everblue’s mission is to build a bridge between science and people to learn how we can better care for our oceans.
So, will you join us to #keeptheoceaneverblue?
Find us on our website at www.oceaneverblue.org and follow us on social media @oceaneverblue.
"In our world today, it is of the utmost importance that our science and outreach are transparent, equitable, and collaborative in order to increase scientific literacy, build understanding of the biggest issues facing our ocean home, and inspire ocean-conscious living."
11.
Breaching male killer whale in Monterey Bay, taken while out with Princess Monterey Whale Watch -
Joshua Meza-Fidalgo, MEM CEM '23
Family of transient killer whales in Monterey Bay, taken while out with Princess Monterey Whale Watch -
Joshua Meza-Fidalgo, MEM CEM '23
Head Count - Snorkel guide surfaces to take a head count of the group on the Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, Australia [March 16, 2020] - GuruBandaa Khalsa, MEM ESC '23
Should I Eat Seafood? By: Hugh Cipparone I almost ordered shrimp in my Chinese takeout
Beef is the worst live protein. Cows produce
a few weeks ago. “Is this shrimp sustainably-
methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Cows
caught?” I asked tentatively. The waitress
also inefficiently convert feed into edible
didn’t know. I thought of bulldozed mangrove
biomass, making them a major driver of land
trees and ordered the chicken instead. Was
conversion (1). Beef, like other red meats, is
this the right choice? Most environmentally-
also full of saturated fat. Seafood, on the
conscious consumers already know that plant-
other hand, converts feed into edible
based diets are the most sustainable option.
biomass very efficiently. Studies consistently
But when environmentalist consumers do want
rank seafood as a lower greenhouse gas
to eat live proteins, is seafood their best
emitter than beef (2, 3). Seafood is a lean
choice? Or their worst? This is my attempt to
protein full of omega-3s important for heart
answer an impossible question.
health. Seafood is a better choice than beef.
13.
Pork is a more difficult comparison. Pigs do not
Seafood, on the other hand, has comparable
release methane but convert feed to edible
greenhouse gas emissions and nutritional
biomass less efficiently than chicken or fish,
quality to chicken but suffers from labor
driving land cover change and greenhouse gas
abuse and overfishing (6). While sustainable
emissions (4). Spills from hog waste lagoons
seafood avoids these issues, it is not always
degrade water quality and disproportionately
available to consumers. I would choose eco-
harm minority communities. Pork is also red
certified seafood over chicken, but the choice
meat full of saturated fat. Seafood, by
here is a toss-up.
comparison, produces fewer greenhouse gas emissions than pork, converts feed more
This analysis has flaws. It ignores vast
efficiently, and is a lean protein that is good for
variations in environmental and social impacts
heart health (2, 3, 5). Still, the global seafood
based on production methods and locations
trade suffers from human rights abuses and
and doesn’t examine the methodologies of
overfishing (6). While consumption of eco-
the studies involved nor the magnitude of
certified seafood can minimize these dangers,
each issue. It also reflects my own
consumers don’t always have these options.
prioritization of environmental and social
Consistent mislabeling the country of origin and
concerns. Despite this, I believe that
production method further distort consumer
consumers faced with endless options need
choices (7). I prefer seafood to pork based on
simple formulas like this: vegetables > chicken
the issues with feed conversion, greenhouse gas
or seafood > pork > beef.
emissions, and personal health, but only barely.
Chicken is the most difficult live protein to differentiate from seafood. Chicken converts feed less efficiently than seafood but more efficiently than pork or beef (5). Spills from piles of chicken feces harm waterways, and abuses of migrant workers in chicken facilities have occurred in the United States (8). However, chicken produces relatively few greenhouse gas emissions – lower than pork and, in some cases, fish (2, 5). Chicken is also a lean protein, although it doesn’t contain seafood’s omega-3s.
See sources on the following page
"This is my attempt to answer an impossible question....Despite this, I believe that consumers faced with endless options need simple formulas like this: vegetables > chicken or seafood > pork > beef."
Sources
1. Ranganathan J, Vennard D, Waite R, Lipinski B, Searchinger T, Dumas P, Forslund A, Guyomard H, Manceron S, Marajo Petitzon E, Mouël C, Havlík P, Herrero M, Zhang X, Wirsenius S, Ramos F, Yan X, Phillips M, Mungkung R. (2016). Shifting diets for a sustainable food future. 10.13140/RG.2.1.3808.2961. 2. Gephart JA, Davis KF, Emery KA, Leach AM, Galloway JN, Pace ML. The environmental cost of subsistence: optimizing diets to minimize footprints. Science of the Total Environment. 2016 May 15;553:120-7. 3. Scarborough P, Appleby PN, Mizdrak A, Briggs AD, Travis RC, Bradbury KE, Key TJ. Dietary greenhouse gas emissions of meat-eaters, fish-eaters, vegetarians and vegans in the UK. Climatic Change. 2014 Jul;125(2):179-92. 4. Poore J, Nemecek T. Reducing food’s environmental impacts through producers and consumers. Science. 2018 Jun 1;360(6392):987-92. 5. Protein ScoreCard. In: Institute WR, editor. https://www.wri.org/data/proteinscorecard2016. 6. UW SF. Social & Environmental Justice in Seafood [Available from: https://sustainablefisheries-uw.org/seafood-101/social-environmental-justice-inseafood/. 7. Warner K, Timme W, Lowell B, Hirshfield M. Report on National Seafood Fraud. Oceana: Oceana; 2013. 8. Rundquist S, Carr D. Under the Radar: New Data Reveals N.C. Regulators Ignored DecadeLong Explosion of Poultry CAFOs. Environmental Working Group: Environmental Working Group; 2019.
15.
Australian pelican (Pelecanus conspicillatus) in Hervey Bay, Queensland, Australia
- Andrea Bruns, MEM ESC '23
Top: A Sea Puppy - This is a watercolor of a California sea lion that joined us on a free dive for a rocky reef off of Santa Catalina Island, CA.
Bottom: The Blue Shark - This is a watercolor of a photograph of a blue shark that I witnessed off of Santa Catalina Island, CA.
-
Juliette Lee, MEM CEM '22
17.
2021-2022 OPWG Leadership Publication Coordinator Gabi Ballardo, MEM CEM
Outreach Coordinator Mollie Bowness, MEM BE
Action Coordinator Chelsea Nielsen, MEM EEP/J.D.
Seminar Coordinator Mackenzie Audino, MEM BE/MBA
Symposium Coordinator Lexi Addison, MEM CEM
Symposium Coordinator Steven Wagner, MEM EEP/MBA
Administrative Coordinator Natalie Dixon, MEM EEP
Acknowledgements: We would like to thank the following supporters of the Ocean Policy Working Group and Upwelling:
Submit to Upwelling Upwelling is a biannual publication that provides a platform for the Duke community to share their thoughts, art, and research pertaining to the ocean or coastal and marine policy. We are interested in all ocean-related work, including short research articles, essays, photographs, illustrations, and other creative content. We welcome work from students (in any department), alumni, faculty, and staff. To learn more and to view past issues, please visit https://sites.duke.edu/opwg/.
Contact: dukeOPWG@gmail.com
Back Cover: - Sea turtle in Lombok -
Mackenzie Audino, MEM BE/MBA '24
19.
