Fraser River Sockeye Need Your Help

For a number of years British Columbia has allowed foreign corporations to set up farmed salmon operations in their waters. The total number of fish that have escaped is unknown, but some are diseased, causing the wild fish to become infected, in particular, the Fraser River sockeye. There has been a campaign for many years to close down these farms. A public comment deadline of September 12 has been set to receive comments on the fish farming as well as the diseases affecting the wild salmon. You can email Ed Porter at the Canada Department of Oceans and Fisheries at PAR-RPA@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

To sign the petition and get more general information:

www.salmonaresacred.org

To read cases studies on fish diseases and the Fraser River sockeye

http://www.sfu.ca/cstudies/science/

Fisherman Bay Birds

Lopez Beach Watchers have done several bird surveys this summer with ornithologist Kelley Palmer-McCarty (Lopez resident and graduate student at WWU,) as part of the Kwiaht/WSU Beach Watchers Fisherman Bay Marine Health Observatory project.
With spotting scope, clipboard, and copies of Sibley in hand, Kelley, Ann Palmer, (Kelley's Mom,) and several Beach Watchers have been watching the birds from eight different locations around the bay on a regular basis. Among the interesting things we have seen so far:

A good number of Pigeon Guillemots appear to be nesting in the cliff just north of the entrance to the F.B. channel.
Caspian Terns have been regular visitors to the inland side of the tombolo at Otis Perkins Park, and have been seen catching fish from the Bay.
California gulls are back and mingling with the year-round resident Glaucous-Winged Gulls. Flocks of upwards of 80 birds have been observed.
A pair of Ospreys and at least one juvenile eagle have been seen. Adult eagles also.
On our last outing, we saw nine Great Blue Herons roosting in evergreen trees at the south end of the Bay.

The bird surveys will continue through the summer. Meanwhile Kwiaht intern Anne Harmon has been focusing on the marine life in the bay. The next fish and marine life survey will be Aug. 10, from 9:30 am to 3:00 pm. Meet at the Galley dock if you're interested in helping.

Indian Island Research

This weekend will be the final 4 days of research and outreach on Indian Island for the summer. The schedule is as follows:

Saturday August 7 Outreach team on beach 9-11 am; fishing at 11 and at noon.
Sunday August 8 Outreach team on beach from 9 am to noon.
Monday August 9 Invertebrate surveys -- team on beach 10 am to noon.
Tuesday August 10 Outreach team on beach and on island 11 am to 1 pm.

Please feel free to join us, everyone is welcome.

Acidification of Sea Water

This is a good article on the affects of acidification in several areas on our coastal and inland waters. Besides affecting the reproduction of shellfish, acidification could also affect the orcas and other animals that use sonar by making marine waters noisier.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2012502655_acidification01.html

Puget Sound Partnership has New Chairman

Bill Ruckelshaus, the first chairman of the volunteer Puget Sound Partnership Leadership Council, retired from the position at the end of last month, Gov. Chris Gregoire announced last Saturday. Gregoire praised Ruckelshaus for his service and declared July 30th “Bill Ruckelshaus Day” in honor of his work to protect Puget Sound. Gregoire has asked Martha Kongsgaard, previously the vice chairwoman, to serve as the new chairwoman of the Leadership Council.