Confusing Topicality: Marine Natural Resources

After listening to a NPR segment on invasive and very large Burmese pythons in Florida (Animal CSI), I noticed a number of similar NPR segments: Pythons Blamed for Everglade’s Disappearing Animals, and Will Florida Pythons Slither To Rest Of The U.S.? (NPR seems obsessed with big snakes in Florida. Maybe due to the traumatic Bush/Gore contested election… A few wandering Democrats lost to giant Burmese pythons could shift the next election.)

Invasive species are a significant issue with marine ecosystems, so are important for students researching marine natural resource issues. I wondered if invasive snakes are significant in marine ecosystems. (Snake affirmatives are naturally attractive to male debaters and can provide a valuable advantage in cross-gender debate rounds…)

So I checked for stories on snakes and marine natural resources. This led to an interesting story and perhaps a topicality issue. I leave it to the debate community to figure it out. This snake story notes:

There is a huge variety in the eastern U.S., especially in the coastal wetland areas, and they become more numerous as the weather warms. (source)

So, coastal wetland areas meets the criteria for a marine natural resource issue. The potential confusion? Marine natural resources can involve a wider range of issues, but only when the phrase begins a sentence.