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Yahoo
24-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Experts issue warning about invasive fish that can survive out of water
An invasive species of fish that can live out of water has been found lurking in Canada, experts warn. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada confirmed reports of Misgurnus anguillicaudatus -- also known as the Oriental Weatherfish or the pond loach -- in the LaHave River near New Germany, Nova Scotia. This is the first time the species, which can survive on land, has been observed in the wild in the Maritimes region in eastern Canada, according to the Nova Scotia Invasive Species Council. MORE: Florida biologists prove invasive Burmese pythons are swallowing deer, alligators whole The invasive species poses a "significant threat" when introduced to native ecosystems, officials said. The pond loach can reduce aquatic insect biodiversity and compete with native fish species for food and spawning habitat. They are also known to carry parasites and pathogens that are harmful to both wildlife and humans, according to the Nova Scotia Invasive Species Council. The pond loach is a common aquarium species and likely was released into the ecosystem, which is illegal in Canada, officials said. It has a long, eel-like body and can grow to nearly 10 inches in length. The species typically lives in shallow freshwater ecosystems with muddy or silty floors. MORE: Invasive ocean species detected in Florida waters, scientists say They can survive on land for short periods due to their ability to breathe air and tolerate low-oxygen conditions, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The species can propagate quickly because they are asexual and can breed young on their own. The specimen that was found was a single egg-carrying female, according to reports. "We don't know if there are any others," Ken Donnelly, the supervisor of the Nova Scotia Invasive Species Council, told the Chronicle Herald, a newspaper based in Halifax. "We certainly hope not." Its presence was reported as a result of citizen science, according to the Nova Scotia Invasive Species Council. A witness entered an account into iNaturalist, a scientific organization that helps to identify species, officials said. MORE: Northern snakehead fish, invasive species that can survive on land, found in Georgia The global economic cost of invasive species over the past 60 years has amounted to about $35 billion annually -- a similar figure to the global costs of extreme weather events attributable to climate change, according to a paper published last month in Nature Ecology & Evolution. North America has likely experienced a cumulative loss of $285 billion in the last six decades as a result of invasive species, the researchers said. Invasive plant species such as the butterfly bush, the water hyacinth and water primrose were found to be the group resulting in the highest total estimated cost over the past 60 years, at $926.38 billion, according to the paper. Arthropods and mammals had the next-highest estimated costs, at $830.29 billion and $263.35 billion, respectively. In addition, biological invasions have contributed to about 60% of recorded global extinctions, the researchers said.
23-06-2025
- Science
Experts issue warning about invasive fish that can survive out of water
An invasive species of fish that can live out of water has been found lurking in Canada, experts warn. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada confirmed reports of Misgurnus anguillicaudatus -- also known as the Oriental Weatherfish or the pond loach -- in the LaHave River near New Germany, Nova Scotia. This is the first time the species, which can survive on land, has been observed in the wild in the Maritimes region in eastern Canada, according to the Nova Scotia Invasive Species Council. The invasive species poses a "significant threat" when introduced to native ecosystems, officials said. The pond loach can reduce aquatic insect biodiversity and compete with native fish species for food and spawning habitat. They are also known to carry parasites and pathogens that are harmful to both wildlife and humans, according to the Nova Scotia Invasive Species Council. The pond loach is a common aquarium species and likely was released into the ecosystem, which is illegal in Canada, officials said. It has a long, eel-like body and can grow to nearly 10 inches in length. The species typically lives in shallow freshwater ecosystems with muddy or silty floors. They can survive on land for short periods due to their ability to breathe air and tolerate low-oxygen conditions, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The species can propagate quickly because they are asexual and can breed young on their own. The specimen that was found was a single egg-carrying female, according to reports. "We don't know if there are any others," Ken Donnelly, the supervisor of the Nova Scotia Invasive Species Council, told the Chronicle Herald, a newspaper based in Halifax. "We certainly hope not." Its presence was reported as a result of citizen science, according to the Nova Scotia Invasive Species Council. A witness entered an account into iNaturalist, a scientific organization that helps to identify species, officials said. The global economic cost of invasive species over the past 60 years has amounted to about $35 billion annually -- a similar figure to the global costs of extreme weather events attributable to climate change, according to a paper published last month in Nature Ecology & Evolution. North America has likely experienced a cumulative loss of $285 billion in the last six decades as a result of invasive species, the researchers said. Invasive plant species such as the butterfly bush, the water hyacinth and water primrose were found to be the group resulting in the highest total estimated cost over the past 60 years, at $926.38 billion, according to the paper. Arthropods and mammals had the next-highest estimated costs, at $830.29 billion and $263.35 billion, respectively.
Winnipeg Free Press
26-04-2025
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Globe and Mail big winner at National Newspaper Awards
The Globe and Mail took home the most prizes at the National Newspaper Awards on Friday, with nine wins in the 23 regular categories. The Toronto Star had the second-most wins, with six. The Chronicle Herald, Montreal's La Presse and Reuters won two awards each, which celebrate the best in Canadian journalism. Katrina Clarke and Jeff Hamilton of the Free Press were nominated for the George Brown Award for Investigations for their six-part series — called Building Blocks, Crumbling Foundation — published in June on the state of child care in Manitoba and related underlying issues. Frank Gunn / The Canadian Press Files The Canadian Press photographer Frank Gunn was nominated for a National Newspaper Award in the sports photo category for this image of Toronto Argonauts receiver Dejon Brissett being upended by Winnipeg Blue Bombers defensive back Tyrell Ford at the 111th Grey Cup in Vancouver. Robert Cribb, Wendy-Ann Clarke, Declan Keogh and Owen Thompson of the Star won that category for their reporting on a program meant to fund mental health care for First Nations and Inuit people. The Star also won the John Honderich Award for Project of the Year for its work on childhood sexual abuse and the complicated legacy of literary icon Alice Munro. Aaron Beswick of the Chronicle Herald won the E. Cora Hind Award for Local Reporting for his coverage of the lawlessness in lobster and eel fisheries. He was also named Journalist of the Year. The Globe led all newspapers with 16 nominations, followed by the Star with 15 and La Presse with 13. The winners were announced at a gala in Montreal. Kari Medig of the Globe won in the feature photo category for an image of double amputee Oleksandr Budko and the Wild Bear Vets program. Two photographers — Winnipeg resident David Lipnowski for The Canadian Press and Shane Gross of the Globe — were nominated in that category for pictures taken in Manitoba. Nathan Denette of The Canadian Press won in the sports photo category for an image of Canada's men's pursuit team at the Olympics. Frank Gunn of The Canadian Press was nominated for an image of a Toronto Argonauts receiver being upended by a Winnipeg Blue Bombers defensive back at the 111th Grey Cup in Vancouver. Meanwhile, a Free Press sports reporter was first past the post at another awards gala earlier this week. Mike McIntyre won in the writing category at the Jockey Club of Canada's 50th annual Sovereign Awards. During Elections Get campaign news, insight, analysis and commentary delivered to your inbox during Canada's 2025 election. The ceremony was held in Woodbridge, Ont., Thursday. The awards celebrate 'outstanding human and equine achievements in Canadian thoroughbred racing and breeding.' McIntyre won for his August feature on a former jockey who returned to riding nearly a decade after she was paralyzed in an accident at Assiniboia Downs. 'I'm very honoured to receive this prestigious award,' McIntyre wrote on social media. Clarke and Hamilton's child-care series is also nominated in the written news category at the Canadian Association of Journalists awards. The CAJ winners will be announced in Calgary on May 31. fpcity@
National Post
26-04-2025
- National Post
Postmedia wins National Newspaper Awards, including Journalist of the Year
Postmedia Network journalist Aaron Beswick, a reporter at the Chronicle Herald in Halifax, has been named journalist of the year by the prestigious National Newspaper Awards, one of two Postmedia winners at a gala ceremony Friday night. Article content Article content Beswick, who was also the winner of the E. Cora Hind Award for Local Reporting, was honoured for his coverage of lawlessness in Nova Scotia's lobster and eel fisheries. Article content Article content 'He shed light on a topic that is important to the industry, Canadians nationwide and internationally,' the award judges said. Article content Article content That award is meant to recognize such extraordinary journalism that it deserves further recognition. Judges selected Beswick's work as a stand-out among the 16 winning works submitted by one or two journalists. Article content 'Some stories are simply unforgettable, some journalists beyond exceptional,' the National Newspaper Awards says in its explanation of the award. Article content Beswick was joined as an award winner by Postmedia journalist Brandon Harder of the Regina Leader-Post, for his intensive telling of the story where police went undercover to get Joe Thauberger to confess to the murder of his brother. Harder won the William Southam Award for Long Feature. Article content 'Our strength has always been rooted in our deep connection to communities across the country, with our organization being almost entirely focused on local reporting, so I'm gratified to see the recognition for Brandon Harder of the Regina Leader-Post and Aaron Beswick of The Chronicle Herald in Halifax,' said Duncan Clark, Postmedia's chief content officer. Article content Article content 'Aaron being chosen as Journalist of the Year is also a wonderful representation of the commitment from all our teams in Atlantic Canada that made our recent acquisition there so important.' Article content Michael de Adder, a freelance cartoonist whose nomination included work for the Chronicle Herald, received the editorial cartooning award. Article content 'We are immensely proud of all our nominees and congratulate our deserving winners tonight,' said Clark. 'It's no mistake that the common thread in all the nominations from Postmedia's products is how they speak to our mission to bring Canadians together through informed, meaningful journalism.
CBC
13-02-2025
- Business
- CBC
PC government enters House session with new plans and increased power
As MLAs prepare to return Friday for the start of a winter session at the Nova Scotia Legislature, Premier Tim Houston has been setting the stage for the direction his government will follow at the beginning of its second mandate with headwinds already looming. Last month, Houston shared a manifesto with members of his caucus outlining the challenging times the province faces and the need to become more self-sufficient. The population boom that's allowed the PCs to overspend budgets by billions of dollars is plateauing and the potential of United States tariffs could necessitate government intervention to support affected businesses. For Houston, the path to resiliency is paved with increased natural resource exploration and extraction. The premier has said he wants to take the "no" out of Nova Scotia and revisit all development bans in the province. His will be the government that finally stands up to an unspecified group of special interests and "professional protesters" who, in Houston's view, have prevented the province from harnessing its full economic potential. A new political target It's a message Houston has since shared with the public in a $10,000 front page ad the government purchased in a recent edition of the Chronicle Herald newspaper and similar language is appearing in Progressive Conservative fundraising appeals. Municipal Affairs Minister John Lohr took a less adversarial tone in a letter making the rounds to municipal councils. Lohr is asking that if councils favour more resource development in the province that they express their support in a letter to government or a news release. It is perhaps not a surprise that Houston is looking for a new target as he enters his second mandate. As a politician, Houston has been combative by nature and much of his government's first term was spent taking shots at Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and a federal government the premier often argued treats Nova Scotia unfairly. With Trudeau weeks away from political retirement, Houston has shifted his focus to a small subset of the population that he argues — without example — has had outsized influence on the direction of the province. Despite this, government House leader Brendan Maguire says the PCs are not coming into the session with their minds made up about everything. Changing times mean conversations must happen, he said in an interview, but Maguire points to another word Houston has used repeatedly when discussing resource development. "Every time I hear the premier or the minister talk about this, the word that keeps coming out of their mouth is 'safe,' and that's something that Nova Scotians should care about because, you know, we want to do this in a way that's not going to impact them." NDP Leader Claudia Chender, whose party now forms the Official Opposition, said her caucus supports resource development, but she thinks the government would be better off focusing on further development of other sectors, too. Chender said some of the development bans that exist in the province followed extensive public consultation and that's something she thinks the PCs need to keep in mind as they revisit practices such as fracking and uranium mining. "This government is going to have to have conversations that are hard and not just steamroll through opposition," she told reporters on Wednesday. Chender said her caucus would advocate for issues such as health care, housing, affordability and gender-based violence during the session. She's also pushing for more information and collaboration from Houston when it comes to the government's response to any tariffs imposed by the U.S. Interim Liberal Leader Derek Mombourquette faces challenges of his own after his party was reduced to just two seats in the November election. But Mombourquette said he and Timberlea-Prospect MLA Iain Rankin are ready for the session and will push the government to show how it will grow the economy. The size of the Liberal caucus won't affect its ability to participate in House debate, he said in an interview. "Iain and I have been around a long time. We both have a lot of experience being ministers in multiple departments. We're very aware of the process when it comes to the [budget debate] and the questions we want to ask and the focus we want to have." This session will also provide the public a chance to see how Houston wields the power that comes from having a supermajority in the legislature. With 43 seats, the Progressive Conservatives can change the operational rules of the legislature even without the support of opposition members. Any rule changes would be 'fair' Already the government has used its majority to reduce the amount of time opposition MLAs have to ask questions during some committees and this week Houston dissolved Communications Nova Scotia, the independent government agency required by legislation to provide non-partisan communications support. Those duties are now being put under the responsibility of the office tasked with supporting Houston and his cabinet. Chender and Mombourquette have accused Houston of trying to consolidate power and stifle opposition with those moves. They say changes to how the House functions would be a further step in that direction. As House leader, Maguire will be responsible for moving any rule changes through the House. Although he wouldn't share any details about what could be coming, he said if changes do take place they would be "fair and things that may need some changes or may need to be cleaned up." "I wouldn't say there's going to be massive, drastic changes."
