7/27 Laura James, DSP toxin, Bill Taylor, vibrio, pro-coal ads, NW moths, B.C. porpoise, coast cams

Laura James (PHOTO: West Seattle Herald)

Congratulations, Laura! KIRO 7, in partnership with The Trust for Public Land (TPL), announced Laura James as Western Washington's 2012 Cox Conserves Hero. As her nonprofit of choice, Sustainable West Seattle will receive $10,000. As an eco-friendly scuba diver, she volunteers her time to removing batteries and other pollutants from the water. James was nominated as a Cox Conserves Hero for her commitment to the Puget Sound. KIRO 7 Announces Laura James as Western Washington's 2012 Cox Conserves Hero   See also: Congratulations! Laura James wins Cox Conserves Heroes award, gets $ for Sustainable West Seattle

A newly discovered shellfish toxin in Central Hood Canal has resulted in an expanding closure area for recreational shellfish harvesting in Jefferson County. The latest closure, which covers beaches from Seal Rock in Olympic National Forest south to the Mason County line, results from a finding of unsafe levels of diarrhetic shellfish poison, or DSP, in the Brinnon area. The closure, announced Thursday, follows a similar closure three weeks ago for Quilcene and Dabob bays.  Chris Dunagan reports. New-found shellfish toxin raises concerns  

If you like to watch: Bill Taylor, a 4th generation oyster farmer, and President of Taylor Shellfish Farms shares his families century old connection to the shellfish industry his great grandfather helped develop, and to the South Puget Sound where they continue to successfully farm a variety of oysters (Olympia, Pacific, Kumamoto, and Virginica oysters) and other shellfish.  A 4th Generation Oyster Fisherman, and Early Ties to the Oyster Industry (VIDEO)  

The B.C. Centre for Disease Control is reminding people not to harvest shellfish in areas that are closed due to toxins or bacterial infection. Five people in B.C. have fallen ill so far this year from Vibrio parahaemolyticus, a bacteria that causes gastrointestinal illness.  The illnesses have been linked to raw shellfish served in restaurants, purchased through retail outlets or harvested by individuals. Health agency warns of illnesses linked to raw or contaminated shellfish

A campaign is kicking off in the Northwest to build support for coal exports. The Alliance for Northwest Jobs and Exports includes major mining companies, railways and labor groups, all signing on to support coal export terminals in Oregon and Washington. The group is launching newspaper, radio, and television ads.  Courtney Flatt reports. Pro-Coal Group Launches Ad Campaign

Butterflies are easy to love, but their night-flying cousins have always been a little harder to cozy up to. A group of Northwest biologists hopes to change that with the first comprehensive guide to the region's moths. Far from being a bunch of drab stepsisters, the lesser-known branch of the lepidopteran family includes hundreds of flamboyant varieties and exhibits a degree of diversity that puts butterflies to shame, said Merrill Peterson, the Western Washington University biologist who conceived of the online guide. For every butterfly species in the Pacific Northwest, there are at least six types of moths.  Sandi Doughton reports. Moths hold the spotlight in first comprehensive guide to Northwest species

The health of an injured harbour porpoise is slowly improving since he was rescued off a beach near Victoria Tuesday, a Vancouver Aquarium official says. The porpoise is eating small amounts of fish, his appetite is increasing and he is moving his body slightly again, but it’s still unclear why he beached himself, said Lindsay Akhurst, manager of the aquarium’s marine mammal rescue centre.  Rescued B.C. porpoise slowly improves

For couch potatoes: the National Weather Service has a new web page showing cams along the coast.

Now, your weekend tug weather--
WEST ENTRANCE U.S. WATERS STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA- 300 AM PDT FRI JUL 27 2012
TODAY
W WIND 10 KT. WIND WAVES 1 FT OR LESS. W SWELL 2 FT AT 7 SECONDS. AREAS OF DRIZZLE.
TONIGHT
W WIND 10 TO 15 KT. WIND WAVES 1 OR 2 FT. SW SWELL 2 FT AT 18 SECONDS.
SAT
W WIND 10 KT. WIND WAVES 1 FT OR LESS. SW SWELL 2 FT AT 18 SECONDS.
SAT NIGHT
W WIND 10 TO 15 KT. WIND WAVES 1 TO 2 FT. SW SWELL 2 FT.
SUN
W WIND 5 TO 15 KT. WIND WAVES 1 TO 2 FT. SW SWELL 2 FT.

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