4/18 Pepé Le Pew, Pacific fishing, Canada climate, WA recycling, flood prevention, SnoCo habitat law, lake fishing, California salmon season, wolf numbers, first 100 days, week in review

 

Pepé Le Pew

Pepé Le Pew is an animated character from the Warner Bros. Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies series of cartoons, introduced in 1945. Wikipedia

Today's top story in Salish Current: OPALCO moving closer to tidal power

Trump Lifts Commercial Fishing Ban On Key Protected Area In Central Pacific
President Donald Trump has opened one the largest protected swaths of the Central Pacific Ocean to commercial fishing, lifting a ban that sought to help conserve the region’s imperiled fish, shark, sea turtles, marine mammals and other species. Members of the Trump administration signaled that Papahānaumokuākea, the protected area around the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, could be next.  Marcel Honoré reports. (Civil Beat)

Canadian voters ranked climate change as a top issue — even during a pandemic. Has the U.S. trade war changed that?
Climate change has dropped in Canadians’ list of priorities this election — but that doesn’t mean climate issues are no longer relevant. Julia-Simone Rutgers reports. (The Narwhal)

WA’s recycling system may finally get an overhaul
A bill dubbed the “Recycling Reform Act” would standardize the state’s recycling system by creating a single list of materials accepted for recycling, boost recycling rates, lower costs for residents and expand access to curbside recycling. Amanda Zhou reports. (Seattle Times)

Trump administration pulls funds for WA communities at risk for floods
In announcing plans to end the program earlier this month, a FEMA news release called the program “wasteful and ineffective.” The news release identified about $882 million to be rescinded nationwide. Isbella Breda reports. (Seattle Times)

Snohomish County Council member offers new proposal for habitat ordinance
The new proposal, Amendment Three, comes after months of discussions on how to update the policy, with the council trying to find an appropriate balance between environmental preservation and the county’s desperate need for housing, and new protections affrf to stream buffers. Eliza Aronson reports. (Everett Herald)

Lowland lakes set to open across Washington state, over 14 million trout to be stocked in 2025
April 26 is the official opening day for fishing at lowland lakes and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife stocks these lakes with rainbow, cutthroat and the occasional tiger trout. Sam Kristofferson reports. (My Bellingham Now) 

California commercial salmon season is shut down again
The decision by the Pacific Fishery Management Council means that no salmon caught off California can be sold to retail consumers and restaurants for at least another year. A brief windows will be allowed for sportsfishing.  In Oregon and Washington, commercial salmon fishing will remain open, although limited. Alastair Bland reports. (Cal Matters)

Oregon wolf population surpasses 200 for first time in 8 decades
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife staff counted 204 wolves in December, a 15% increase from the year before. Washington sees first population drop since wolves returned to that state in 2008. April Ehrlich reports. (OPB)

The First 100 Days

• Civil society groups are now in Trump's sights for punitive action (Associated Press)
  
• Supreme Court keeps hold on Trump’s restrictions on birthright citizenship but sets May arguments  (Associated Press)
  
• The State Department is changing its mind about what it calls human rights  (NPR)
  

Salish Sea News Week in Review 4/18/29: Piñata Friday, NOAA firings,BC forest worth, dying sea lions, Trump's logging, bathroom cleaning, pinto abalone, ESA 'take,' salmon farm pathogens, Pacific fishing.

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Here's your weekend tug weather—
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  235 AM PDT Fri Apr 18 2025    
TODAY  S wind around 5 kt, veering to NW late this morning,  backing to W 10 to 15 kt this afternoon. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave  Detail: W 4 ft at 8 seconds and W 3 ft at 12 seconds.  
TONIGHT  W wind 15 to 20 kt. Seas 4 to 6 ft, building to 5 to  8 ft after midnight. Wave Detail: NW 8 ft at 8 seconds and W 3 ft  at 12 seconds. A chance of showers in the evening.  
SAT  NW wind 10 to 15 kt, becoming W 15 to 20 kt in the  afternoon. Seas 5 to 7 ft. Wave Detail: W 7 ft at 9 seconds.  
SAT NIGHT  W wind 15 to 20 kt, easing to 10 to 15 kt after  midnight. Seas 5 to 8 ft. Wave Detail: W 8 ft at 9 seconds.  
SUN  W wind 10 to 15 kt, rising to 15 to 20 kt in the  afternoon. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: W 2 ft at 4 seconds and W  5 ft at 10 seconds. A chance of showers.

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