10/6 Anemone, WSF sickout, gray whale haven, prawn fisher fined, wall lizards, democracy watch.

Brooding anemone [Sound Water Stewards]

 

Brooding anemone Epiactis sp.
This is a small anemone, with the crown up to 2 inches in diameter. (The base may be somewhat wider than the crown.) The color varies. It is often red or pink when on rocks and green or brown when on eelgrass. Look for the radiating white lines originating from the oral disk and on the base and column. Also, watch for baby Epiactis attached to the base of the mother. They look like little buds and will stay attached to her for several months until they're large enough to live on their own. (Sound Water Stewards)

Today's top story in Salish Current:  Bellingham superhero scene rises overnight

Sickout devastates WA ferry system; Ferguson urges workers to return Tuesday
Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson told frustrated unionized ferry workers that he expected “every vessel on every route” to be running Tuesday morning as a sickout by members brought much of the nation’s largest ferry system to a standstill Monday. Thirteen of the ferry system’s 18 vessels transporting travelers and commuters across Puget Sound were out of commission at some point Monday, according to the Washington State Department of Transportation. By mid-afternoon, only six ferries were operating. The workers’ union says it didn’t coordinate the sickout that led to mass cancellations and took most of the vessels out of the water. Jake Goldstein-Street and Jerry Cornfield report. (Washington State Standard) 

Gray whale safe haven in Puget Sound takes on new significance amid population decline
Almost 200 gray whales have washed up dead along the West Coast in 2026. A small group of gray whales who feed in Puget Sound is surprisingly central to understanding the crisis. Sarah DeWeerdt reports. (Salish Sea Currents Magazine) 

Prawn fisher fined $30,000 for violating licence terms near Nanaimo
It’s the latest fine for Dean Keitsch, who was fined $250,000 two years ago for fishing in a closed area on the Sunshine Coast. Darron Kloster reports. (Times Colonist) 

Slugs gone, bugs gone, strawberries thriving as invasive lizards boom in B.C.
Gavin Hanke, curator of vertebrate zoology at the Royal BC Museum, said it's estimated that there are about 800,000 to a million European wall lizards in B.C., mostly on Vancouver Island, and they have spread as far as Campbell River, 260 kilometres north of Victoria. He worries their rapid spread could have a "serious impact" on the environment. Nono Shen reports. (Canadian Press) 

Democracy Watch

• White House blocks Politico from Air Force One trip, cannot secure replacement (Washington Post) 

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Here's your tug weather— 

West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  133 PM PDT Mon Oct 5 2026    
TUE  NW wind around 5 kt. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W 4 ft  at 10 seconds. Areas of dense fog in the morning.  
TUE NIGHT  NW wind around 5 kt, veering to NE after midnight.  Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W 4 ft at 11 seconds.

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"Salish Sea News & Weather" is compiled as a community service by Mike Sato.  To subscribe? Questions? Email msato(at)salish-current.org. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



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