Spring Brings New Life To Washington’s Recovering Elwha River – Earthfix

Posted on June 5, 2012 by Al Bergstein

The work continues to restore the Elwha, and small changes in fish are already showing. I’ve talked to many people over the years about restoration, and many of them say the same thing, once a place is restored (or under way to restoration), nature starts working very quickly at times. While only showing up at the river’s estuary area, these are positive changes.

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On the Olympic Peninsula the largest dam removal project in history is well underway, and the Elwha River is starting to show signs of life not seen here for nearly a century. There haven’t been salmon in the upper Elwha for almost 100 years. But that’s changing. Ashley Ahearn reports.

http://earthfix.kcts9.org/water/article/spring-brings-new-life-to-washingtons-recovering-e/

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Help Write State Sports Fishing Regulations – Bellingham Herald

Posted on June 4, 2012 by Al Bergstein

Proposing revisions to a portion of the annual set sport fishing regulations under which we all fish has been made more convenient by the state fish and wildlife department. With the new online option, citizens have until June 15 to submit ideas for rewrites and additions to or deletions from the personal use (sport) regulations, which if they make the grade, would become the law of the Washington landscape, May 1, 2013. The WDFW website for proposing and submitting fishing regulations is here, http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations/rule_proposals/myproposal.html.

You’re invited to rewrite a sports fishing rule

http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2012/06/03/2547376/youre-invited-to-rewrite-a-sports.html

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Hood Canal council OKs program to handle federal restoration money- Kitsap Sun

Posted on June 4, 2012 by Al Bergstein

A mitigation program that could bring millions of federal dollars to restoration projects in Hood Canal was approved Friday by the Hood Canal Coordinating Council. If approved by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Washington Department of Ecology, the new program would first be used to compensate for environmental damage from the Navy’s $715-million explosives handling wharf to be built at Bangor.

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2012/jun/01/hood-canal-council-oks-program-to-handle-federal/

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Another Dalco Passage in the making as State & Federal Agencies Dawdle

Posted on June 1, 2012 by Al Bergstein

Back in the early part of the last decade, a tug passing in the middle of the night saw an oil spill south of Vashon Island. After alerting the Coast Guard and the State, the tug captain left, expecting something would be done. 12 hours later State and CG people showed up, leading to an outrageous oil spill that seemed compounded by lack of action. The Governor called for an investigation and the whole incident led to the forming of the Puget Sound Partnership.

Fast forward to today. The Deep Sea, a 140-foot fishing vessel, that the State Derelict Vessel Program knew about but did nothing of any consequence, caught fire and sank almost three weeks ago. It’s been leaking oil ever since, forcing the closure of multimillion dollar local shellfish beds, the kinds of beds that the Puget Sound Partnership and the Governor are claiming they want to protect. The boat’s set to be removed from Penn Cove on Sunday. What’s taken so long? Is the Governor going to call for some changes that can stop this kind of nonsense once and for all? Our environmental activist organizations, such as People For Puget Sound, don’t even have a mention of it on their web site as of today (Friday, June 1).

Again, everyone seems asleep at the wheel, and unable to get anything of any consequence done to avoid this kind of fiasco in the first place.

I call on the Governor to get a sense of urgency about this situation, make changes to the Derelict Vessel Program, and making legal changes to bring this kind of negligence by the State to an end. When your car breaks down on the side of the road, it is routinely towed, usually within 24 hours, though it may not be a hazard to anyone. Why can’t a derelict vessel be towed in less than a week?

Sunken Vessel Off Whidbey Island to be Removed Sunday

http://earthfix.kcts9.org/water/article/sunken-vessel-off-whidbey-island-to-be-removed-sun/

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EPA Agreeing to Hold Seattle Bristol Bay Hearing on May 31

Posted on May 31, 2012 by Al Bergstein

Seattle hearing requested by Cantwell will outline how the Pebble Mine would impact Bristol Bay salmon and WA state jobs, maritime economy

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) released the following statement regarding the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) announcement that the agency will hold a public hearing in Seattle next week to discuss how large scale development in Bristol Bay, Alaska – like the Pebble Mine proposal – could hurt salmon and Washington state jobs. The hearing will be held on Thursday, May 31st, at 2:00 p.m. Pacific time at the Federal Building in Seattle.

Earlier in May, Cantwell had asked EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson to hold this Seattle hearing following the agency’s release of its draft watershed assessment, which itmade public last week. The EPA is also holding public hearings in Alaska June 4th-7th.

“I’m glad that Washington state voices will be heard as EPA works to finalize its scientific watershed assessment,” Cantwell said. “This public hearing is a critical step in ensuring Washingtonians’ livelihoods are protected. With thousands of Washington state jobs dependent on healthy, sustainable Bristol Bay salmon, I will continue fighting to ensure a final decision is based on sound science.”

Thousands of Washington state jobs – including commercial and recreational fishing, processing, shipbuilding and the restaurant industry – depend on Bristol Bay’s healthy, sustainable wild salmon populations. Nearly 1,000 Washingtonians hold commercial fishing permits in Bristol Bay. In 2008, Bristol Bay yielded over $113 million dollars in total value for Washington state commercial fishers. Recreational salmon fishers yielded an additional $75 million for Washington state businesses alone.

Bristol Bay is the most productive salmon run in the world, generating a total value of approximately $500 million dollars each year and supporting 14,000 full and part-time jobs.

In a September letter to Jackson, Cantwell became the first U.S. Senator to call on the EPA to use its Clean Water Act 404(c) authority to block any large development project in Bristol Bay if science determined that the project would “have unacceptable adverse impacts on water quality and the fish stocks that depend on it.”

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DNA Evidence Shows That Marine Reserves Help to Sustain Fisheries – Science Daily

Posted on May 29, 2012 by Al Bergstein

This has ramifications for the debate locally over creating Marine Protected Areas. Supporters of MPAs, including the NW Straits Foundation (whom support the work of local Marine Resource Committees (MRCs) in counties on the north Sound and Coast, which have, over a fifteen year period, been unable to get such areas created to protect Rock Fish populations.

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Researchers reporting online on May 24 in the Cell Press journal Current Biology present the first evidence that areas closed to all fishing are helping to sustain valuable Australian fisheries. The international team of scientists applied a forensic DNA profiling approach to track the dispersal pathways of fish larvae throughout a network of marine reserves on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef.

Read the whole story at:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120524123019.htm

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Protect forage fish, cornerstone of our ocean’s food web – Seattle Times

Posted on May 28, 2012 by Al Bergstein

Amen to this…

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Pew Trust’s Paul Shively opines that, while salmon may be iconic, we must not forget to protect the health and numbers of the cornerstone of our ocean’s food web — namely, the less-well-known forage fish.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2018262940_guest23shively.html

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Meet the biologist who is salmon farming’s worst enemy – Seattle Times

Posted on May 27, 2012 by Al Bergstein

As the IHN virus spreads from Canadian fish farms down to US farms here in the Puget Sound, and the people in Canadian government still refuse to believe the possibility of this disease affecting wild fish runs, the Seattle Times highlights the woman who has done more to keep this issue alive, Alexandra Morton. Kudos to the Times, which did a nice job of highlighting her battle. Here’s hoping that all of you are buying wild salmon. If not, start today.

BY Craig Welch – BROUGHTON ARCHIPELAGO, B.C. — She’s perched in her boat near a fish farm, talking about diseases, the kind that might escape and kill wild salmon. Then she spies a worker peeling toward her in a boat.

Alexandra Morton, bane of North America’s salmon farms, runs a hand over tired eyes and awaits a confrontation.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2018296338_viruslady27m.html

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EPA sets hearing in Seattle on Alaska Bristol Bay Gold Mine issue – Seattle PI

Posted on May 25, 2012 by Al Bergstein

Given the number of both present and past Alaska fishermen in our area, I thought I’d repost this from the Seattle online paper. Some of you might be interested in going and putting in your two cents. Obviously, a gold mine of this size upstream of the last massive wild salmon run in Alaska, is a subject worthy of debate.

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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is scheduled to hold a public hearing in Seattle next Thursday on whether the world’s greatest salmon fishery — at Alaska’s Bristol Bay — can coexist with a gargantuan proposed gold, copper and molybdenum mine.
The session, on May 31 at 2 p.m. in the Federal Building, is likely to hear from Puget Sound-area fishers and restaurant owners who oppose the proposed Pebble Mine on economic as well as environmental grounds.

Joel Connelly asks: Can Bristol Bay salmon survive big mine?

http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlepolitics/2012/05/24/can-bristol-bay-salmon-survive-big-mine-epa-sets-hearing/

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Second BC salmon farm under quarantine for virus – Times Colonist

Posted on May 25, 2012 by Al Bergstein

A second B.C. salmon farm is under an official Canadian Food Inspection Agency quarantine order after a positive test for infectious haematopoietic necrosis virus. Grieg Seafood put its Ahlstrom Point farm, near Sechelt, into voluntary quarantine last week after routine tests by Fisheries and Oceans found a low positive result for IHN in the company’s coho salmon.

http://www.timescolonist.com/life/Second+salmon+farm+under+quarantine+virus/6677571/story.html

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Blue Ribbon panel warns about dangers of ocean acidification–KPLU

Posted on May 24, 2012 by Al Bergstein

Carbon emissions are threatening Washington’s shellfish industry. That’s the concern of the Governor’s Blue Ribbon Panel on Ocean Acidification, which meets today in Seattle.

It was created after shellfish hatcheries noticed a correlation between declining PH values in Hood Canal and dying oyster larvae.

Carbon pollution, absorbed by the ocean, interferes with their ability to form shells.

Bill Dewey, with Taylor shellfish farms, says it’s been seven years now since Willapa Bay oysters have hatched naturally.

Listen to the whole story at:

http://www.kplu.org/post/blue-ribbon-panel-warns-about-dangers-ocean-acidification

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Penn Cove company shifts shellfish harvesting operation to Quilcene Bay–Port Townsend Leader

Posted on May 23, 2012 by Al Bergstein

Luckily for Penn Cove Shellfish, they have a backup location. Hope that the State starts taking derelict vessels more seriously after this.

Until it gets the “all clear” notice that Penn Cove waters are clean, Penn Cove Shellfish has relocated its mussel-harvesting operation to its Quilcene Bay farm on Hood Canal.

Read the whole article at the PTleader online

http://www.ptleader.com/main.asp?FromHome=1&TypeID=1&ArticleID=31481&SectionID=36&SubSectionID=55

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Four honored for work to protect and restore Strait of Juan de Fuca

Posted on May 23, 2012 by Al Bergstein

Four honored for work to protect and restore Strait of Juan de Fuca

TACOMA – Four “Puget Sound Champions” were honored on Friday, May 11 by the Puget Sound Partnership, the agency charged with coordinating Puget Sound cleanup and restoration.

The awards were presented by Gerry O’Keefe, the Partnership’s Executive Director, and Ron Sims, former King County Executive and current member of the Partnership’s Leadership Council, at a meeting of the Strait Ecosystem Recovery Network. The Network is one of eight regional sub-groups that coordinate and prioritize projects and programs aimed at creating and sustaining a healthy Puget Sound.

The award recipients are:

The North Olympic Salmon Coalition, which was honored for its work to implement salmon recovery plans in the Strait, and to work with landowners, local tribes, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, and others to initiate projects such as the Salmon Creek Estuary and Morse Creek Restoration.

Micah McCarty and Chad Bowechop of the Makah Tribe, were honored for their effective leadership to improve oil spill prevention, preparedness and response in Puget Sound. Micah McCarty was also honored for his policy work as a member of the National Oceans Council and the Governor’s Blue Ribbon Panel on Ocean Acidification.

Michelle McConnell, Jefferson County planner, was honored for her work on the Shoreline Master Program maintaining fresh and saltwater migratory pathways for fish and wildlife, creating complementary policies among neighboring jurisdictions, and for initiating an ambitious community-wide planning process for a complex county divided by a national park, and bordering Hood Canal, the Strait and the Pacific Ocean.

Bob Campbell, Facility Coordinator with Feiro Marine Life Center in Port Angeles, was honored for providing accessible, high-quality information about the Sound, and training docents for the more than 1,600 visitors who come to the Center each year. Campbell also provides educational, hands-on experiences with near-shore environments to 1,800 students a year, encouraging scientific inquiry and appreciation for the natural wonders of the marine environment.

“I commend you all for your dedication, commitment and collaboration in ecosystem recovery. We are all indebted to you. The Strait Ecosystem Recovery Network has done impressive work, and serves as an excellent example of local coordination,” said Ron Sims.

“Although we are recognizing four recipients today, there are many other hard working individuals and organizations making important contributions in the Strait Action Area. Today’s recipients were nominated by their peers for doing outstanding work that deserves to be recognized and to serve as an example for others,” said Gerry O’Keefe.

The Partnership will honor Puget Sound Champions in other local coordinating entities it collaborates with to advance Puget Sound recovery. Upcoming meetings include June 11 in the greater Seattle area and June 20 in Hood Canal. More information about these meetings will be available at http://www.psp.wa.gov or by contacting Michael Grayum at Michael.grayum@psp.wa.gov.

“There’s lots of work to do to ensure a healthy future for the Sound,” said O’Keefe. “Only by working together can we restore this natural asset and keep it thriving for generations to come.”

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Island fish farm gets rid of all its quarantined fish – Vancouver Sun

Posted on May 23, 2012 by Al Bergstein

Tofino is not that far away as the water flows…

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A Vancouver Island salmon farm says it has now emptied a site that was quarantined because of a virus. Mainstream Canada announced last week that tests confirmed the presence of an infectious virus known as IHN at its Dixon Bay site, north of Tofino.

http://www.vancouversun.com/health/Vancouver+Island+fish+farm+gets+quarantined+fish/6665262/story.html

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US Halts Makah Whaling Study After Seven Years – PDN

Posted on May 23, 2012 by Al Bergstein

A 7-year-old study on the potential environmental impact of Makah whaling is being ditched, the federal government announced. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Marine Fisheries Service and Department of Commerce issued a “notice to terminate” the draft environmental impact statement Monday. This is the latest development in lengthy legal battles over the Makah tribe’s treaty right to hunt whales — and comes only days after the 13th anniversary of a Makah whaling crew legally killing a gray whale off Neah Bay. U.S. halts Makah whaling study after seven years over ‘new scientific information’

Whaling Study for Makah by Feds Stopped

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Training available to handle oiled birds

Posted on May 23, 2012 by Al Bergstein

It’s a not well understood issue with the public, that if there were an oil spill, that most volunteers could be turned away without proper training. Getting this training now would allow you to be put to work helping when it would be most needed. Here’s your chance!

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Attached is registration information for the 2012 oiled wildlife class series, to be held June 2 and June 23 at the Clallam County Fairgrounds. The classes, sponsored by the Clallam Marine Resources Committee and Surfrider, offer training to volunteers who want to be able to help wildlife in the event of an oil spill. Actual wildlife (well, domesticated wildlife – ducks, actually) will be a part of the training – nothing like hands-on experience to make it real.

8-hour Hazwoper certification is required to take these classes. Class limit is 24 people per class.

You will receive a confirmation email once you have registered. You can click on the link in the pdf file, or directly on the link below:

http://websrv7.clallam.net/registration/ccmrc_traininglist.php

Please call or write with any questions. I look forward to seeing you at oiled wildlife recovery class!

Thank you
Cathy Lear
Habitat Biologist
360.417.2361
B.I.-&-S.-training-6-2-2012.jpgB I S training 6 2 2012

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June 4th: Silence is not an option in Canada

Posted on May 23, 2012 by Al Bergstein

Things are not going well for environmental protection on the north side of the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Since Canadian voters elected a majority conservative government and PM, an all out slashing of social and environmental programs is underway. Programs that have long supported environmental protection and science are falling away. The most immediate concern for those of us on this side of the Strait, is the removal of tanker monitoring to somewhere near Ottawa. This would be like moving our Coast Guard monitoring to Chicago. When governments let their guards down, is usually when mistakes happen, and get compounded. Given the ease by which oil spreads on water. We must be helping our friends on the other side to restore these disastrous cuts before we are cleaning up a mess that will be “our” mess too. Letting federal officials, like Patty Murray, Maria Cantwell, and others, know that you are concerned about this, would be a good start. On June 4th, Canadian environmental groups and others are planning a ‘black out’ day to alert the public to the threat.
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Georgia Strait Alliance writes: ‘In recent memory, there has never been such an open attack by our federal government on our environment and the civil society that is its voice. And that is why there has never been a more important time for us to speak up. So on June 4th Georgia Strait Alliance is joining organizations, businesses, unions, bloggers and individuals from across the country to “Black Out, Speak Out”.’

http://georgiastraitalliance.blogspot.ca/2012/05/june-4th-silence-is-not-option.html

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Quilcene hatchery releases juvenile coho–PDN

Posted on May 22, 2012 by Al Bergstein

Quilcene National Fish Hatchery’s recent releases of nearly 600,000 juvenile coho salmon into Hood Canal and Puget Sound waters marked the 101st consecutive year the hatchery has continued a program that supports area tribal and sport fish harvests. http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20120522/news/305229993/quilcene-hatchery-releases-juvenile-coho

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New analysis shows greater harm from current Navy activities–Kitsap Sun

Posted on May 21, 2012 by Al Bergstein

A new analysis by the Navy suggests that ongoing training and testing activities could cause greater harm to marine mammals than previously estimated. The new analysis, incorporated into a study of Navy activities in California and Hawaii, also is likely to reveal that the Navy causes more injuries to whales, dolphins and seals in Northwest waters than predicted by environmental studies completed two years ago, Navy officials confirm.

Chris Dunagan reports. http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2012/may/19/new-analysis-shows-greater-harm-from-current/

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New Canadian Holding Tank Rules – Times Colonist

Posted on May 18, 2012 by Al Bergstein

So, you’re sailing through the Gulf Islands and your sewage holding tank is full, but there’s no pump-out station within range and new federal regulations say boaters can’t discharge untreated sewage within three nautical miles of land. What to do? Pick the mid-point, find a fast-flowing current, get up some speed and dump, according to regulations that came into effect this month. “The regulations do allow you to do a discharge close to land if there’s no pump-out station available, but there’s no definition of available. It’s very vague,” said Michelle Young, Georgia Strait Alliance clean marine program co-ordinator. Navigating the new sewage rules

http://www.timescolonist.com/news/Navigating+sewage+rules/6636374/story.html

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