Do Cyanobacteria Blooms Enhance Parasite Loads in Lake Erie Yellow Perch?

Harmful Algal Blooms composed of cyanobacteria (HABs) are a major concern globally, especially in ecosystems that support commercial and recreational fisheries. Although HABs have been shown to negatively affect the services provided by ecosystems (e.g., safe water for drinking and recreation), their influence on fish populations, and fish health in particular, remains largely unknown. Given that Lake Erie has been experiencing large HABs during the past 15 years and supports important commercial and recreational fisheries, I sought to help Lake Erie agencies understand if HABs are posing a health risk to their valued fish populations. To this end, I explored the relationship between parasite loads in yellow perch (Perca flavescens), which supports Lake Erie’s largest commercial fishery and second largest recreational fishery, and cyanobacteria concentration. Specifically, I tested the hypothesis that parasite loads in the liver of young-of-year yellow perch would increase with increasing cyanobacteria concentration, as cyanotoxins associated with HABs (e.g., microcystin) have been shown to cause liver damage and physiological stress in other fish species. To answer this question, I measured parasite loads in 519 individuals captured from 54 sites across the western basin of Lake Erie during 2011-2019. My results were opposite of my expectations with mean liver parasite loads being negatively correlated with HAB severity. This finding, which was supported by other non-fish studies, suggests that HABs may actually benefit yellow perch by reducing parasite infections. Ultimately, my research points to the need for more research, if fisheries management agencies are truly to understand the net effect of HABs on their valued fishery resources.No embargoAcademic Major: Neuroscienc

The March Toward Liberation

in Lutheran, El Salvadoran context

Reform of Agricultural Export Credit Programs

This paper examines whether government-sponsored export credit arrangements have the same effect on trade as direct export subsidies. The export credit programs for several major agricultural exporters are described. These programs are compared to OECD disciplines for export credit arrangements, and the consequences of extending these guidelines to agriculture are analysed. None of the programs discussed would be consistent with the OECD guidelines. Since export credit arrangements have many of the same characteristics as targeted export subsidies, the same analytical framework can be used to analyse these programs. However, it is necessary to determine implicit subsidy values for the program.export credit, export subsidy, price discrimination, WTO, International Relations/Trade,

Production Effects of the European Union’s Single Farm Payment

Since 1992, reform of the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy has involved several rounds that have gradually changed the method of support from market based intervention purchases to direct producer payments. The change in the method support provides less production incentives and is less trade distorting. The Single Farm Payment (SFP) is the latest policy instrument which is the most decoupled from production decisions. This study examines the SFP in terms of its production effects, its compliance with the Annex 2 of the WTO Agreement on Agriculture, and the implications for Canadian agricultural policy reform.Common Agriculture Policy, decoupled payments, WTO green box, Agricultural and Food Policy, Q17, Q18,

APPROPRIATE REMEDIES FOR NON-TRADE CONCERNS

International Relations/Trade,

The Effects of Biofuels Policies on Global Commodity Trade Flows

biofuel, Agricultural and Food Policy, Demand and Price Analysis, International Relations/Trade,

European Union Grain Export Practices: Do They Constitute a State Trading Enterprise?

One of the disciplines for State Trading Enterprises (STEs), with respect to the WTO, is the requirement to notify the WTO of all endeavors that fit the definition of an STE. This study argues that the European UnionÂ’'s system of grain interventions and export refunds fits the WTO'Â’s definition of an STE. First, a system of agencies that work together for a common purpose can be considered to be an enterprise. Second, the constituents of EuropeÂ’'s grain intervention enterprise receive exclusive and special rights to export grain. Third, the grain intervention system has decisive voice over the timing, quantity and destination of exports. For these reasons the system should be notified to the WTO as an STE.State Trading Enterprises, European Union, WTO, International Relations/Trade,

Implications of the July 2004 WTO Framework Agreement for Canadian Agriculture

International Relations/Trade,

Biases in calculating dumping Margins: The case of cyclical products

A dumping investigation involves comparing export prices with a “normal value” loosely defined as the price in the exporter’s domestic market observed in the course of normal trade. However, domestic sales with prices below production costs are excluded from the computation of a normal value; thus increasing the probability products with cyclical prices will get caught with positive dumping margins although there are no intentions to dump. The objective of the paper is to illustrate how price cycles impact the magnitude of estimated dumping margins. The empirical analysis focuses on Canadian hog exports to the U.S. and U.S. potato exports to Canada. The period and amplitude of each price cycles are estimated. The analysis starts with the assumption that export and domestic prices are equal so no true dumping occurs. Margins are then calculated based on rules that exclude below cost sales. The resulting average dumping margins for Canadian hogs and U.S. potato exports are respectively 11.5 and 5.9 percent. Biases in dumping margins depend on the nature of the cycle, the period of investigations, and the estimate of the cost of production.Anti-dumping; frequency estimation; price cycles; hog/pork trade disputes; potato antidumping case