4/27 Fisheries Act, tanker traffic, Portage Bay, global warming, Stewart Wechsler, Bay Rendezvous

Salish Sea tanker routes (KGW News)

Cliff Mass tells all: Rain Shadow Secrets  

The Harper government unveiled a massive omnibus budget implementation bill Thursday that includes Fisheries Act amendments that will strip the term "habitat" from the most crucial section of the law.  The government's intent, according to a spokeswoman, to assist "everyday Canadians" in their dealings with federal fisheries bureaucrats. Fisheries Act changes introduced amid debate over new law's intent

As Victorians fuss about the idea of an expanded Kinder Morgan pipeline sending 350 oil tankers sliding past our front door every year, consider this: We already have 800 going the other way. U.S. government statistics show 548 tankers entered Juan de Fuca Strait bound for Washington state ports in 2010. Another 252 came in bound for Canada. Jack Knox unpacks the numbers.  The oily truth, strait up: 800 tankers a year  



Portage Bay was added to a list of threatened shellfish growing areas after routine water samples were found to have high levels of fecal coliform bacteria. The pollution isn't severe enough to restrict or close shellfish harvesting at Portage Bay. The threatened list highlights for policymakers shellfish areas in the state that need to be watched more closely, said Scott Berbells, a growing area supervisor for the state Department of Health. Portage Bay shellfish area on threatened list

Hey, listen up:  The star of a scientific study about how marine life will adapt to global warming is usually thought of as a garden pest. But an experimental study at the University of Washington’s Friday Harbor Marine Lab is giving the pest some notoriety. What is it? Hint: rhymes with whale. Martha Baskin tells us more.  A Ubiquitous, Much Smaller Marine Organism Takes Center Stage in Global Warming Study at West Coast Hot Spot  

Naturalist Stewart Wechsler, 55, makes his rounds around West Seattle daily, with binoculars in hand and an illustrated bird guide in his back pocket. Tan Vinh at the Seattle Times profiles Stewart. Seattle nature lover gives a hoot (to help you get a look at owls)

Charter vessels from around the Northwest will gather in Bellingham next weekend to open their boats to the public, trade stories and celebrate maritime history during the second annual Bellingham Bay Rendezvous to be held at the Bellingham Cruise Terminal April 28 and 29. Historic vessels on show at Bellingham Bay Rendezvous this weekend  

Now, your weekend tug weather--
WEST ENTRANCE U.S. WATERS STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA- 300 AM PDT FRI APR 27 2012
TODAY
SW WIND 5 TO 15 KT. WIND WAVES 1 TO 2 FT. W SWELL 8 FT AT 12 SECONDS. A CHANCE OF SHOWERS.
TONIGHT
SE WIND 5 TO 15 KT. WIND WAVES 1 TO 2 FT. W SWELL 7 FT AT 10 SECONDS. A CHANCE OF SHOWERS.
SAT
SE WIND 10 TO 15 KT...BECOMING 5 TO 10 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. WIND WAVES 1 TO 2 FT. W SWELL 6 FT AT 10 SECONDS. A CHANCE OF SHOWERS.
SAT NIGHT
W WIND 10 TO 15 KT. WIND WAVES 1 TO 2 FT. W SWELL 6 FT.
SUN
W WIND 5 TO 10 KT...BECOMING NW 5 TO 15 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. WIND WAVES 1 TO 2 FT. W SWELL 6 FT.

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