June 24, 2011 - Jean-Michael and Celine Cousteau, son and granddaughter of Jacques (1910-1997), are working with the Brooklyn production company Mammalfish Inc. to make a 1-1.5 hour movie under the working title of, "he White Sharks of Chatham". Their goal is to raise awareness of the sharks' role in the marine ecosystem. The team will be interviewing people this week, for a week in July and three weeks in August.
Read the full story at thebostonchannel.com.
June 15, 2011 - Six years ago Captain Eric Loftfield moved the Black Seal, a 70' schooner he had been building for a quarter of a century, from his front lawn in Sandwich to the water at Falmouth Harbor. On Tuesday morning he unloaded his ship's first cargo delivery in Brooklyn: 20 tons of cocoa beans from the Dominican Republic. 1939 was the last time a sailing ship unloaded commercial cargo in New York. The total amount of fuel consumed during the 30 day voyage, including motoring into and out of harbors, was only 50 gallons. People at the scene reported that the boat smelled great.
The idea of using a sailing ship to transport cocoa came from Rick and Michael Mast, co-founders of Mast Brothers Chocolate. They thought it would generate good publicity, send a positive environmental message and maybe even save money. Two out of three isn't bad. And maybe some day, with more practice, they'll find a way to use a sailing ship to deliver cocoa efficiently. But they may need to find another vessel. Captain Loftifield sounds a little cranky.
Here's more from Andrew Grossman at WSJ.com.
A 34 Mile Marathon Standup Paddle to Help Support Christopher’s Haven
takes place on August 20, 2011
The Cape Cod Bay Challenge began in 2008 when 8 paddlers, the 1st to ever paddle across the bay, raised $12,000 for charity. Our numbers have more than doubled each year and last year our paddlers raised in excess of $80,000 to help support kids with cancer. August 20th, 2011 will see the 4th Annual Cape Cod Bay Challenge.
This year will be our 1st year landing in Wellfleet and facing an increased challenge of 34 miles. The CCBC is not a race, while there is a finish line, it's all about everyone making it across. Our focus is inspiration and the support of others, most especially the kids. Come join the family of CCBC paddlers from around the country and world that are crossing Cape Cod Bay to help support kids battling cancer.
The Cape Cod Bay Challenge launches August 20th pre-dawn from historic Plymouth. That afternoon and 34 miles later we land in Wellfleet to join the ongoing celebration. The CCBC is known for it's great parties and this year we are taking it up a notch. We finish this year in Wellfleet to allow for a bigger and better party. Tents on the beach, a live band, demos and vendor booths, and cold Wachusett brews will make for a great time. Come join us and be treated to some great music, food, and camaraderie. Paddlers, family and friends can register for the event and the party at http://ccbccrossing.eventbrite.com/
In 2010 we expanded on the success of the CCBC by adding three other events that provide some fun competition and at the same time allow for almost anyone to participate. This year we start our season June 11th with the Wellfleet SUPathalon. The SUPathalon is classic Cape Cod on one of the great beaches of the world and includes a race and surf contest. We continue on July 16th with our Challenge on the Charles, a 4 mile race from Community Boating in the basin of the Charles River next to the Hatch Shell and esplanade (of 4th of July and Boston Pops fame). The CCBC, the main event and detailed above, is on August 20th. Our final event of the season is in Marshfield, the Humarock Late Summa Paddle, a costume required cruise with a focus on fun. All of the events feature great parties and include raffles and auctions of great gear thanks to our generous sponsors. We'll be raffling a new 14' Naish Glide, Maui Jims sunglasses, Kialoa paddles, Cape Cod Beach Chairs, Barefoot Wines, artwork and much more. You’ll find the registration pages for all our events here.
All proceeds from the CCBC and other events will benefit Christopher’s Haven, a 501-c3 non-profit dedicated to providing housing for kids that come to Boston from around the world to undergo cancer treatment. The haven can house up to 7 families at a time in a comfortable homelike atmosphere and help relieve some of the strain during a very difficult time. Christopher’s Haven is a home for kids when cancer hits home. http://www.christophershaven.org/
For detailed information on all the events and for more on paddling, sponsoring, or to donate visit our website at www.capecodbaychallenge.org.
May 8, 2011 - Chilmark fisherman Jeff Lynch and two friends sighted a great white shark circling the carcass of a minke whale off Gay Head last Friday morning. They estimated the shark to be 20 feet long. Here's more at Boston.com.
BOSTON – April 20, 2011 – The Patrick-Murray Administration yesterday announced the nomination of the eastern shore of Cape Cod from Provincetown to Chatham as a No Discharge Area (NDA), a federal designation that prohibits the discharge of any treated or untreated boat sewage.
The proposed designation, which the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA), submitted to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for approval, would cover 179 square miles. After intensive efforts by the Patrick-Murray Administration, there are now 14 NDAs along the Massachusetts coast, covering 60 percent of state waters. Designation of the outer Cape NDA would bring the total coverage to 67 percent, with only two areas remaining undesignated---Nantucket and Vineyard Sounds and Mt. Hope Bay, where work leading to NDA designation is also underway.
"Designating these waters as a No Discharge Zone is extremely important to the residents and visitors who prize the Cape for its priceless natural resources and recreational opportunities," said EEA Secretary Richard K. Sullivan Jr. "By keeping bacteria and pathogens from boat sewage out of these coastal waters, we are ensuring that everyone can enjoy clean water along this landmark stretch of shoreline."
The proposed new NDA would extend from the previously- designated Cape Cod Bay NDA in Provincetown to the tip of Chatham, covering the waters within the National Seashore, and including Nauset Harbor. Pleasant Bay was separately designated as an NDA in 2010.
NDAs protect water quality and aquatic life from pathogens, nutrients and chemical products contained in discharged sewage and also reduce the risk of human illness, making it safer to swim, boat, fish and eat shellfish from protected waters. NDAs can also help reduce the growth of harmful algae that occurs due to high nutrient levels in sewage discharge and protect commercial clam fishing flats
Under the Clean Water Act, a body of water can be designated an NDA if local, state and federal authorities determine that the area is ecologically and recreationally important enough to merit protection above and beyond that provided by existing state and federal laws. In Massachusetts, EEA’s Office of Coastal Zone Management works closely with communities and the EPA to establish NDAs as part of a comprehensive regional water quality approach.
"There is no better way to mark this year's 50th anniversary of the National Seashore this year than by protecting its waters," said Rep. Bill Keating. "The Cape's unique ecosystem should be celebrated and protected. I applaud the Patrick-Murray Administration for making this common-sense nomination."
The 30 miles of coastline included in the proposed outer Cape NDA are extremely important for recreation and tourism. The area’s 24 beaches include the Cape Cod National Seashore, which is enjoyed by millions of visitors each year. It is also a popular area for boaters, with Nauset Harbor home to 519 vessels, most of which are small skiffs used by local residents in and outside of the harbor. Shellfishing is also another important local recreational activity. A designated no-dumping zone for boat sewage means cleaner water for all recreational pursuits.
Secretary Sullivan submitted the outer Cape Cod NDA application this month, capping a year of extensive work by CZM and six communities (Chatham, Orleans, Eastham, Wellfleet, Truro, and Provincetown) to ensure that there are adequate waste pumpout facilities for boaters to use.
"Like all NDA designations, this was a team effort. Local, state and federal partners worked together to both protect these coastal waters and make it easy for boaters to properly dispose of sewage through convenient pumpout options," said Bruce Carlisle, CZM Acting Director. "I'd like to thank these six Cape Cod communities for their commitment to protecting coastal water quality and habitat"
In particular, the town of Orleans and Goose Hummock Marine were instrumental in providing the necessary coverage for Nauset Harbor by respectively purchasing and agreeing to operate and maintain a new shoreside pumpout facility. The town of Orleans will be reimbursed for 75 percent of the cost of purchasing and operating the pumpout facility via the Commonwealth’s Clean Vessel Act Program administered by the Department of Fish and Game’s Division of Marine Fisheries.
The outer Cape Cod NDA would join a growing list of protected state waters that include these 14 previously designated NDAs:
* Upper North Shore - the coastal waters of Gloucester, Rockport, Essex, Ipswich, Rowley, Newbury, Newburyport, Salisbury, including the Merrimack River in Amesbury, West Newbury, Merrimac, Groveland, North Andover, Haverhill, Methuen, and Lawrence
* Pleasant Bay (Brewster, Orleans, Harwich, and Chatham) and Chatham Harbor
* The coastal waters of Revere, Saugus, Lynn, Nahant, and Swampscott, including the Pines and Saugus Rivers
* All of Cape Cod Bay
* Boston Harbor - the coastal waters of Winthrop, Chelsea, Everett, Boston, Quincy, Milton, Weymouth, Braintree, Hingham, and Hull, including the Charles River in Watertown, Newton, and Cambridge
* Salem Sound - the coastal waters of Manchester-by-the-Sea, Beverly, Danvers, Salem, and Marblehead
* The coastal waters of Cohasset, Scituate, and Marshfield
* The coastal waters of Plymouth, Kingston, and Duxbury
* All of Buzzards Bay
* Waquoit Bay in Falmouth
* The coastal waters of Harwich
* Three Bays/Centerville Harbor in Barnstable
* Stage Harbor in Chatham
* The coastal waters of Nantucket from Muskeget Island to Great Point, including Nantucket Harbor
For more information on No Discharge Areas in New England, please visit: www.mass.gov/czm/nda and www.epa.gov/region01/eco/nodiscrg. For more on boat sewage pumpout locations throughout Massachusetts coastal waters, see: www.mass.gov/czm/nda/pumpouts.
MOCEAN is hosting a premier of Soul Surfer, "the inspiring true story of Bethany Hamilton," 7pm Friday April 8, at Regal Cinemas, Cape Cod Mall, Hyannis. There will be giveaways and raffles including WaveZone skimboard, sticky bumps wax, Sambazon bevergaes, Rip Curl stuff, t-shirts and more. Ticket prioces at the door are $9.50. You can get 2 tickets for $10 by buying from MOCEAN in advance.
MOCEAN is located in Mashpee Commons. Call 508-477-1774 for tickets and more info.
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