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Reader Q&A By: Katherine M. Clements

Question:

RE: Catalina Island and SoCal Edison’s

Desalination Plants are Quenching

Thirst (JULY 8-21)

“What happens to the salt that is removed from the water? Is it pumped back into the ocean? Does that not create an eco-issue, too much salt in a given area?”

—-Doug

Answer: According to Senior Supervisor of Water and Gas Operations for SoCal Edison, Frank Beach, only about 40-44 percent of the salt water that is taken in is treated to become fresh water.

The remaining 60 percent is sent back to the ocean along with the additional salt as brine that is extracted from the 40-44 percent as to not shock the ocean’s salt balance.

The desal plant has to undergo a regular permitting process which ensures the facility isn’t impacting the ocean and surrounding environment.

“The State Water Resources Control Board issues SCE an operational permit, regularly renewed, that ensures the higher salinity water we release does not have any adverse impact to the surrounding environment,” said SoCal Edison Spokesperson Brian Leventhal in a July 20 email. “One of the conditions of this permit is that we routinely sample ocean water in close proximity to our facility to validate that the salinity of the ocean water is not changing. We take this responsibility seriously and are committed to being good stewards of Catalina’s environment…. In addition, our desalination plant reduces reliance on the limited groundwater supply in Catalina. This makes these groundwater supplies more available to the Catalina ecosystem and leads to more fresh water flowing back into the ocean above and below ground.”

On Board With Johnson by J.R. Johnson

FAST FACTS Letters/Online Comments

The Recent Progression of Shark Artificial Insemination

By: KATHERINE M. CLEMENTS

LONG BEACH— The Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach has shown a progression in science with its research on the artificial insemination of sharks. The Aquarium of the Pacific’s Veterinarian, Dr. Lance Adams, was the lead author of a new paper published in the journal Frontiers in Marine Science . The paper, Artificial Insemination and Parthenogenesis in the Zebra Shark Stegostoma tigrinum, describes a study of artificial insemination of zebra sharks to reproduce this species at an aquarium.

The new paper detailed the methods used in the study and animal care, genetics, efficacy of artificial insemination, and other affiliated variables. Among a population of zebra sharks consisting of three females and one male,

Fern the Zerba shark reproduction failed despite the constant male presence with

Image courtesy of The Aquarium of the Pacifi c Please see FAST FACTS, PAGE 17 RE: Ask a Maritime Attorney: What is the Coast Guard Auxiliary’s role? (MAY 27-JUNE 9)

“I think the other two commenters did well to explain the situation, but I wanted to simplify those explanations a bit. In simplest terms, the Auxiliary has NO law enforcement authority, to include underway safety inspections. However, they do provide boats to regular Coast Guard personnel to perform their tasks.

It is very likely that the boarding was done by a Coast Guard boarding team member, and not the Auxiliary, and despite the boat used, a Coast Guard ensign would be flown on it to denote it being used under Coast Guard authority.

Please check your boarding form to see who performed the inspection.

If it is an auxiliary form, you may report this as an infraction to the local Coast Guard sector and they will investigate.”