6/22 Shrimp, green crab, open-net farms, B'ham climate tax, old-growth logging protest, not as low tides, BC Ferries, heat-dome die-off, humpback health

Dock shrimp [Dave Cowles/Walla Walla U]

Dock shrimp Pandalus danae
A brownish shrimp with brown lines and spots on the head and tail, and may have small red or blue dots on the head. Dock shrimp seem to prefer areas of sand and gravel with swift tidal currents. Large individuals may reach 5 1/2 inches in length (14 cm), excluding the antennae. (WDFW)

60K green crabs captured in Washington waters so far in 2022 ... that's a lot
State wildlife officials say more than 60,000 European green crabs have been captured in Washington state waters so far in 2022. That is far more than what they captured and killed by this time last year. The green crab is a small, but voracious predator that can quickly damage native shellfish populations and salmon habitat. John Ryan reports. (KUOW)

So Long to Open-Net-Pen Salmon Farms?
This year could see the end of open-net-pen salmon aquaculture on the US and Canadian west coasts. This approach to salmon farming is already banned in California, Oregon, and Alaska, leaving British Columbia and Washington State as the last two holdouts. Now, with leases and licenses for the few remaining open-net-pen salmon farms about to expire, politicians in both jurisdictions must decide whether to renew them, or end the practice for good. Brian Owen reports. (Hakai Magazine)

Mayor gets cold feet on climate tax
Bellingham's proposed Climate Action Fund, a tax to finance climate-change measures that had been proposed for the November ballot, was "paused" Tuesday by Mayor Seth Fleetwood. The Climate Action Fund proposed a property tax of 37 cents per $1,000 of assessed value, or $185 annually on a $500,000 home. The city canceled a public hearing on the tax measure scheduled for June 27. (Julia Lerner and Ralph Schwartz report. (CDN) Bellingham mayor announces change in plan on proposed tax to fight climate change  (Bellingham Herald/paywall) Climate fund proposal paused while other significant climate initiatives advancing  “Strategic pause” is in response to community feedback, allows time to build support. (City of Bellingham)

Protesters against old-growth logging train for blockades, say they'll keep disrupting traffic until they win
Save Old Growth activists have been blocking rush-hour traffic in hopes of ending old-growth logging. Ethan Sawyer reports. (CBC)

Low tides not as extreme as forecast but do not disappoint Puget Sound beachgoers
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration had forecast Wednesday’s low tide to be the lowest since 2009 and Thursday’s just 3 inches higher. Those tidal predictions are based on complex analyses of 38 different movements of the Earth, moon, and sun, including a 19-year wobble in the moon’s orbit that is nearing its peak in 2025. But wind and weather often push tides higher or lower than those gravity-based predictions, and the week’s lowest tides came in (or went out, really) 6 to 8 inches higher than forecast, according to preliminary tide gauge readings in Seattle and Friday Harbor. John Ryan reports. (KUOW)

Short-staffed B.C. Ferries calls back unvaccinated staff after vaccine mandate ends
Multiple sailing cancellations on Tsawwassen-Swartz Bay route for Queen of New Westminster until June 30 because of crew shortage. Jeff Bell reports. (Times Colonist)

New study: 2021 heat wave created ‘perfect storm’ for shellfish die-off
...During the heat wave, also called a heat dome, scientists and community members alike noticed a disturbing uptick of dying and dead shellfish on some beaches in Washington and British Columbia, both in the Salish Sea and along the outer coast.... Now, a team led by the University of Washington has compiled and analyzed hundreds of these field observations to produce the first comprehensive report of the impacts of the 2021 heat wave on shellfish. Michelle Ma reports. (UW News)

Humpback Health | Changing Seas
How does the body size and overall health of humpback whales change across their migratory cycle? A team of researchers studying the animals, which spend part of the year feeding in Alaska and a few months fasting while in their Hawaiian breeding grounds, is making remarkable discoveries. Watch.  (PBS)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  220 AM PDT Wed Jun 22 2022   
TODAY  W wind 5 to 15 kt becoming 10 to 20 kt in the afternoon.  Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 2 ft at 8 seconds. 
TONIGHT  W wind 10 to 20 kt. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. SW swell  1 ft at 9 seconds building to W 5 ft at 5 seconds after midnight.

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