4/5 L112, orca talk, pesticide ban, tar-sand risks, Arctic cod, ocean acid, Delta farmland, 'coon isle

Raccoon Island (PHOTO: Martin Halliwell)

New blog: Things People Say

Federal law-enforcement officers have launched an investigation into the death of the orca L-112, with an emphasis on looking for those who may have been involved in her fatal injuries. Chris Dunagan at the Kitsap Sun blogs on Orca’s death enters the realm of law enforcement  

Dawn Noren is a research fishery biologist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Marine Mammal Program who works on where to find the resident orcas of Puget Sound when they are not home. Ashley Ahearn at EarthFix reports. Catching Up With Orcas

Support for a complete ban on lawn and garden pesticides is growing across political lines in B.C., according to a new survey prepared for the Canadian Cancer Society. The survey polled residents in the Port Moody-Coquitlam byelection riding, and shows support for the ban of 71, 70 and 69 per cent respectively among NDP-, Liberal- and Conservative-leaning voters. Survey shows cross-party support for pesticide ban  

In a Seattle Times guest editorial, environmentalists point out that Kinder Morgan intends to more than double the capacity of its Trans Mountain pipeline from Alberta to Burrard Inlet in Vancouver, B.C., while deepening its port there to utilize tankers larger than those allowed to enter Washington waters. Should a spill occur, the international boundary in the Strait of Juan de Fuca won't be much of a barrier to the toxic spread from these larger vessels. Tar-sand risks threaten health of Puget Sound

In a first for North America and possibly the world, the Vancouver Aquarium has successfully bred Arctic cod in captivity. Within weeks, an estimated 500 to 600 juvenile cod will be on display for the public. Vancouver Aquarium makes Arctic cod breeding breakthrough

Eric Scigliano at Crosscut reports on how 50-year-old carbon emissions came back to ravage Northwest shellfish, how scientists and hatcheries unraveled the mystery of acid upwellings, and how a clam farmer persuaded Gov. Gregoire and the Obama administration to take action, with a little help from Ron Sims.  Rallying to save the souring seas and the Northwest's cherished oyster harvest

The battle to save Metro Vancouver’s agricultural land is heating up, with regional officials pushing back at the potential loss of 600 acres of prime south Delta farmland for port expansion. Directors at Metro’s environment committee Wednesday agreed unanimously to have staff investigate an option-to-purchase agreement for the active farm land, which is now in the Agricultural Land Reserve but is tagged for a logistics and rail yard for the province’s Gateway Project. Metro Vancouver rejects potential sale of farmland

Wildlife experts say that raccoons, intelligent and highly adaptable scavengers, are found in large numbers all around the Seattle area and aren’t necessarily more abundant on Vashon. But while the cute and pesky creatures  knock over trash cans and pick fights with dogs in the city, on Vashon raccoons — who frequently raid gardens and massacre flocks of chickens — seem to have earned a special place of wonder, amusement and disdain among Islanders. Raccoon Island: Vashon struggles with its cute but pesky neighbors  

Now, your tug weather--
WEST ENTRANCE U.S. WATERS STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA- 300 AM PDT THU APR 5 2012
TODAY
W SWELL 9 FT AT 11 SECONDS. W WIND 5 TO 15 KT. WIND WAVES 1 TO 2 FT. SCATTERED SHOWERS.
TONIGHT
W WIND 10 TO 15 KT. WIND WAVES 1 OR 2 FT. W SWELL 8 FT AT 10 SECONDS. SCATTERED SHOWERS.

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