Latest news with #JonathanBaxter
Yahoo
10-08-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Electric boat used for fish surveys on River Thames
A unique boat is being used for important fish monitoring surveys along the River Thames. The Environment Agency is carrying out the work between Iffley Lock in Oxford and Teddington Lock in London using a specialised boom boat. The boat uses an electric field to temporarily immobilise fish, allowing officers to study the health of the river's fish population. Jonathan Baxter, team leader at the Environment Agency, said: "We undertake annual fish monitoring on the Thames and its tributaries. "We have a statutory duty to maintain, improve, and develop fisheries, and the Thames Trout makes what could be a tricky process an absolute doddle. The boat used to catch the fish (Image: The Environment Agency) "Surveys such as these provide extremely accurate data from our principal fisheries and can detect trends linked to factors such as climate change." Surveys are typically conducted at dusk when the river is quieter and fish rise closer to the surface, improving capture rates. The Thames Trout boom boat is equipped with the largest front-mounted underwater electrodes in the Environment Agency's fleet. These electrodes cover a wide area of the river, making the process more efficient. The electric field stimulates the fish's nervous system, causing them to swim towards the operator or leaving it unable to swim away. They are then netted and placed in aerated holding tanks to recover before being identified, measured, and released. A sea trout caught during the survey (Image: The Environment Agency) Mr Baxter said this year's warm weather seems not to have had an impact on fish populations. He said: 'Over 6,200 fish were caught in the 2024 survey between Iffley and Benson, with results showing an abundance of healthy fish. "We've surveyed over 10,000 this year and despite the recent dry weather, we have seen no significant impact to the Thames fish population, although as with any dry weather event, anglers should be mindful of the fish they are catching as some species may need a longer recovery period in extreme heat.' The fish populations in the River Thames provide an opportunity for people of all ages to get out and enjoy fishing on one of our country's largest rivers. Anyone aged 13 or older needs a licence to fish for salmon, trout, eels, or freshwater species. Information on when a licence is needed and how to buy one is available online on the UK Government website. Licences can also be bought by calling 0344 800 5386. The income from rod licences helps with the sustainable management of fisheries. The Environment Agency's fisheries enforcement officers check private lakes, rivers, ponds, and canals for illegal fishing, supported by clubs, the Angling Trust, and the police.
San Francisco Chronicle
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
Portola Music Festival is returning to S.F. despite history of noise complaints
Portola Music Festival is coming back to San Francisco's Pier 80 for a third year despite its history of noise complaints from residents across the Bay Area. The permit required to host two nights of bass-thumping live performances at the waterfront space on Sept. 20-21 was unanimously approved by the Entertainment Commission during a public meeting in March. Goldenvoice, the festival's producer, also secured the necessary authorization from the Port of San Francisco. Goldenvoice just needs to ensure that the festival is up to date with fire codes and emergency response access, among other precautions, to receive a final approval from SFFD, according to Lt. Mariano Elías. Captain Jonathan Baxter said that the event plan is expected to be finalized during a meeting with Goldenvoice on July 23. Meanwhile, Goldenvoice has teased the festival's return in an X post shared on Monday, May 5. 'Blue smoke has just been spotted coming from Coit Tower, signifying a new Portola lineup has been chosen,' Portola Festival's official account declared, along with an edited video of cobalt blue smoke coming out of the North Beach landmark. Last year's event saw performances by 'Friday' singer Rebecca Black, controversial rapper and producer M.I.A. as well as headlining sets by French DJ Gesaffelstein and English electronic duo Disclosure that drew 42,000 attendees per day. 'There's a whole generation that missed what dancing and going out was about,' festivalgoer Deron Delgado told the Chronicle last year, reflecting on the pandemic era. 'There's more appetite again for it.' But while Portola Festival is becoming a beloved tradition for EDM lovers, the event has evoked equal frustration among the hundreds of Bay Area residents nearby who have filed noise complaints since it began in 2022. Even with increased efforts to reduce noise from the performances last year — such as reorienting its two outdoor stages, hiring someone to monitor noise levels and enlisting additional call center staff — Portola Festival still drew 224 complaints over the festival weekend. That doesn't seem to be discouraging city officials who already approved a new Pride music festival to take place at Pier 80 next month. Dubbed SoSF and scheduled for June 28, a day before San Francisco's official Pride Parade, the event boasts performances by Oakland R&B star Kehlani, 'Nasty' singer Tinashe and pop artist Kim Petras, who in 2023 became the first openly transgender artist to receive a Grammy Award for best pop duo/group performance (for 'Unholy') and the second transgender woman to win a Grammy following electronic music composer Wendy Carlos. It is unclear if SoSF will be both indoors and outdoors, like Portola Festival. But with the event scheduled to begin at 2 p.m., musical performances are likely to extend well into the evening, when noise complaints tend to surge.
