Orcasphere

<More photos> Just back from the meeting in which NOAA invited the public to comment on the proposed rules for vessel-orca interactions.  Before a captive audience of Pacific salmon and rockfish, the 2.5 hours of public comment was dominated by the commercial whale watch, recreational and commercial fishing, and kayaking industries.  It seems like a [...]

In a bit of press coverage related to a new publication by John Ford et al. we orca advocates are again getting the confusing message: southern residents need a place at the table where Chinook salmon management is derived, but it’s sure to be nearly impossible to represent them.  I say it’s time to stop [...]

It seems a crisis is emerging on the Fraser River.  For those of us in the U.S. working to restore salmon runs, this article provides a glimpse into the complexity of Fraser River management and science (and politics). Where have all the salmon gone? And where on Earth are our public watchdogs? Scientists tipped them [...]

NOAA recently released an incidental take authorization associated with the Navy’s proposed expansion of the Northwest Range Training Complex.  The authorization and associated Navy documents are Complex, indeed!  Unfortunately, NOAA has allocated too little time for public comment on the . Below I’ve quoted an inspirational letter from Fred Felleman.  Please emulate him and join [...]

Despite the outstanding questions about measurable impacts and cost/benefit ratios, this constitutes progress for the marine environment of the SRKWs. Does anyone have pointers to the independent reports mentioned in this article? clipped from seattletimes.nwsource.com Victoria to stop sending untreated sewage to sea Regional politicians last week approved a $1.2 billion plan to build four [...]

Here’s an opportunity to act (at least symbolically) for resident orca and WA salmon by reducing electricity (mostly from hydropower) demand for a special hour: 8:30-9:30pm this Saturday, March 28. On March 28 you can VOTE EARTH by switching off your lights for one hour. The results of the election are being presented at the [...]

Elisabeth Duffy*, David Beauchamp Juvenile salmon are moving through Puget Sound (PS) from April-July.  By end of July most have made it to the deep ocean.  Percent of fish from hatcheries is about 50% in N PS and 90% in S PS. Nearshore fish comunity: herring and perch up north, hatchery salmon dominate in the [...]

Implementation of the recovery plan for SRKWs Section 7 consultations: Looking at Federal actions (funding, permiting, regulating) that might affect hydropower (hatchery production), water treatment plants, sewer outfalls, in-water construction, upland projects, habitat restoration, research, tidal and wave energy, etc. Recovery plan implementation: started in 2003 really with funding before plan was final (research, enforcement [...]

Andrea Copping, Chief Leah George-Wilson, Richard Beamish, Mary Ruckelshaus, Joel Baker Richard Beamish: State of the Salish Sea (Richard Beamish) Warming trends over last 30yrs  in Strait of Georgia [SoG] (steady) and Puget Sound (slower) Decline in % early marine survival of Coho from 15% down to 1% since 1996 (entrance to SoG through Sept [...]

Andrew Rosenberg from U of New Hampshire speaking on “Ecosystem-based Management:developing a framework for implementation” at 9:25am PST. Evidence for ecosystem effects: We know ecosystem-level impacts occur (from scientific and traditional knowledge) We know regine shifts occur and that our perception change with shifting baselines Keep in mind that we are approaching theoretical limits of [...]