2/16 Thresher shark, WA cap-and-trade, plastic lies, WSF talk group, Oak Bay sewage, orphaned baby bears, seabed mining, Whidbey waters, HistoryLink, Week in Review

 

Common thresher shark [Walter Heim/NOAA]

Common thresher shark Alopias vulpinus
Common thresher sharks are found along the continental shelves of North America and Asia of the North Pacific, but are rare in the Central and Western Pacific. This species tends to be more common in coastal waters over the continental shelves. Caught incidentally in the commercial fishery off the outer Washington coast with longline, troll, and jig handline gear. This species of shark is a very fast, strong swimmer and has been known to leap entirely out of the water! This shark can also maintain a body temperature warmer than the water surrounding it, a trait it shares with its relatives: makos and great whites.

Today's top story in Salish Current: The Boldt Decision 50 years on — much done, much to do

More shark talk
Our man on Lopez shares: "The Greenland shark, a close relative of the Pacific species, has the longest known lifespan of all vertebrate species, estimated to be between 250 and 500 years! This suggests that there are sharks alive today that were youngsters before the U.S. became a country. It reaches sexual maturity at about 150 years of age and pups are born alive after an estimated gestation period of 8–18 years (also the longest of any known vertebrate). The flesh contains a high concentration of a nitrogen compound that causes the meat to be toxic to mammals. Greenland shark flesh, treated to reduce toxin levels, is eaten in Iceland as a delicacy known as hakarl.  From personal experience, my wife and I concur that the so-called “delicacy” tastes like a sponge soaked in household ammonia."

Washington’s key climate law is under attack. Big Oil wants it to survive
How did a cap-and-trade program considered the "gold standard" gain the support of oil companies? Kate Yoder reports. (Grist)

Reduce, reuse, redirect outrage: How plastic makers used recycling as a fig leaf
The plastics industry has worked for decades to convince people and policymakers that recycling would keep waste out of landfills and the environment. Consumers sort their trash so plastic packaging can be repurposed, and local governments use taxpayer money to gather and process the material. Yet from the early days of recycling, plastic makers, including oil and gas companies, knew that it wasn't a viable solution to deal with increasing amounts of waste, according to documents uncovered by the Center for Climate Integrity. Michael Copley reports. (NPR)

Bill seeks to improve ferry reliability with a work group
House Bill 2497 would create the Washington State Ferries 75 Work Group, a reference to Washington State Ferries’ 75th anniversary in 2026. While the state Department of Transportation isn’t completely on board, Rep. Greg Nance thinks his bill will help ferries long-term. Jenelle Baumbach reports. (Everett Herald)

Uplands pipe upgrade to prevent sewage flowing into ocean
Funding from the federal and provincial governments will allow Oak Bay to replace the single-pipe system that was built nearly a century ago. Darron Kloster reports. (Times Colonist)

See where 120 orphaned baby bears take shelter as B.C. wildfires and drought shrink their habitat
As climate impacts increasingly drive bears into communities, many cubs are left alone and starving. In northern B.C., a small group is dedicated to rescuing and rehabilitating the orphans. Matt Simmons reports. (The Narwhal)

Where could the United States mine in its own seabed?
No longer the stuff of science fiction, the deep-sea mining industry is speeding up efforts to mine precious minerals in international waters. But some countries are looking to do so within their national boundaries. Norway, for example, became the first country to allow mining exploration in its own waters, and the United States may not be far behind. Elham Shabahat reports. (Hakai Magazine)

Whidbey diver-turned-citizen scientist provides ongoing data
Longtime Whidbey diver Jan Kocian has circled the island exploring the marine environment. It looks a lot different than it used to, he said. “That diversity is gone,” he said. “It’s unfortunately in every location on the island. The diving is not even close to what it used to be. I know I sound like an old guy.” According to the Pacific Biodiversity Institute, the Salish Sea was one of the most productive and diverse marine ecosystems in the world and has seen a 300-year decline caused by overfishing, by-catch, pollution, dredging and coastal development. Sam Fletcher reports. (South Whidbey Record)

HistoryLink, WA's own online encyclopedia, was born before Wikipedia
Exactly two years before Wikipedia came online, Washington’s own digital encyclopedia was born. That was 25 years ago, on Jan. 15, 1999, Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday. Erik Lacitis writes. (Seattle Times)

Salish Sea News Week in Review 2/16/24: Kyoto Protocol, warming world, greenwashing, Hood Canal bulkhead, naming birds, BC aquaculture, WA PFAS, seafood harvest, kelp and climate, disappearing diversity.

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Here's your weekend tug weather—
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  428 AM PST Fri Feb 16 2024   
GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE TONIGHT    
TODAY  E wind 20 to 30 kt becoming 25 to 35 kt in the  afternoon. Wind waves 8 to 10 ft. SW swell 6 ft at 12 seconds.  
TONIGHT  E wind 25 to 35 kt. Wind waves 7 to 9 ft. SW swell 6  ft at 12 seconds building to 11 ft at 12 seconds after midnight. A  chance of rain after midnight.  
SAT  E wind 15 to 25 kt. Wind waves 3 to 5 ft. SW swell 12 ft  at 13 seconds. Rain likely in the morning then rain in the  afternoon.  
SAT NIGHT  E wind 10 to 20 kt becoming 5 to 15 kt after  midnight. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 9 ft at 10 seconds.  S
UN  E wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 1 to 2 ft. W swell 9 ft at  14 seconds.

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"Salish Sea News & Weather" is compiled as a community service by Mike Sato. It is included as a daily feature in the Salish Current newsletter. Click here to subscribe. Questions? Email mikesato772 (@) gmail.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



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