Current Events: November 12, 2009

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/12/science/earth/12scallops.html?_r=1&ref=earth


GREENPORT, N.Y. — Bone-tired but grinning, Peter Wenczel and his son Ben eased their 26-foot work boat toward the dock here one recent afternoon, its deck piled high with bags of scallops.


There is a return of the scallop population in the Peconic Bay as of late. Recently there hasn't been a bounty of scallops due to the brown tide that has been present in the water. The brown tide is a result of high nitrogen levels, which alter the environment of the scallops and kill them off. The reason for the high level of nitrogen is unknown, but now that the levels are back to normal. To me, it's a good thing that the scallops are back to where they were, but i think they should try to figure out what was wrong with the water and try to fix the problem with organic material. They could test the water to make sure that everything is alright, because the scallop population was a mega source of commerce for the eastern Long Island natives. It's a good thing that the norm is back, but environmental agencies should think about finding a way to contain the water.