11/6 Portage Is, rain, Dyno Battery. AI and whales, Vancouver Is reservoirs, Padilla Bay shorewalk, democracy watch, week in review.

Editor's Ask: Salish Sea News and Weather is free for all to read and freely available to readers of  Salish Current as a community service. In November and December, we ask our readers to help support independent, nonprofit local news by donating to the NewsMatch campaign where your dollars donated will be matched by national and local funders to meet Salish Current's 2027 operating expenses. Thank you for supporting nonprofit local news. Mike Sato.

Portage Island

Portage Island
Portage Island (also known as Point Francis) is an island in the western part of Bellingham Bay in Whatcom County. It is separated from the Lummi Peninsula by Portage Bay and from the central part of Lummi Island by Hale Passage. At low tide the mudflats connect to the mainland with a long sand strip on the west side of the island called The Portage, allowing access on foot or vehicle. Another sand strip on the east side of the island is called Brant Point. Before European settlers arrived in the Pacific Northwest, Portage Island had long been a winter village, gathering ground, and a place of spiritual significance for the Lummi people.(Wikipedia)

Today's top story in Salish Current:  Native nations fight the 211-mile road that could transform Alaska’s Arctic

Rainfall warning issued for parts of Metro Vancouver, Vancouver Island
Heaviest rain expected from Tofino north to Port Alice and Zeballos. (Canadian Press) 

Seattle battery maker repeatedly cited for lead violations; L&I confirms workers became ill
State inspectors have documented serious workplace safety problems at Dyno Battery for decades. L&I now confirms two workers have filed approved illness claims. Heidi Kirk reports. (KING) 

These rare killer whales are threatened by shipping noise. AI is turning down the din 
A buoy in the Haro Strait is using AI to detect whale calls, with the aim of helping mariners avoid strikes on endangered southern resident killer whales. Tom Page reports. (CNN) 

Vancouver Island reservoirs show impacts of unseasonably dry fall
UVic engineering prof says now is the time for municipalities to evaluate their water infrastructure. Maryse Zeidler reports. (CBC) 

Padilla Bay Shore Trail divides tidelands from farmland in Skagit Valley
The 2⅛-mile trail follows the top of a dike that separates the Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, one of only about 30 such reserves in the nation, from corduroy fields of farmland, allowing views of tideland nature on one side and agricultural nurture on the other. Jon Bauer writes. (CDN) 

Democracy Watch

• Head of Justice Department office on Civil Rights resigns (NPR) 
• Trans sports bans get voter approval in 4 states (Washington State Standard) 

Salish Sea News Week in Review 11/6/26: Sax Friday, Roberts Bank, supertanker risks, science research, Pacific Link opposition, more Canadian oil refineries, Longview mill, C-39, ship noise.

Have you read the Salish Current? 
Independent, fact based news for Whatcom, San Juan and Skagit counties. Community supported, free from ads. Read the latest weekly newsletter here.

Here's your weekend tug weather— 
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  202 PM PST Thu Nov 5 2026    

FRI  SE wind 25 to 30 kt, veering to S in the afternoon. Gusts  up to 45 kt. Seas 8 to 11 ft. Wave Detail: SE 5 ft at 5 seconds  and W 8 ft at 15 seconds. Rain.  
FRI NIGHT  S wind 5 to 10 kt, becoming E 10 to 15 kt after  midnight. Seas 6 to 9 ft. Wave Detail: S 2 ft at 7 seconds and W  9 ft at 15 seconds. A chance of rain in the evening, then rain  after midnight.  
SAT  SE wind 15 to 20 kt, rising to 25 to 30 kt with gusts up  to 45 kt in the afternoon. Seas 6 to 9 ft. Wave Detail: SE 5 ft  at 5 seconds and W 9 ft at 13 seconds. Rain.  
SAT NIGHT  S wind 25 to 30 kt with gusts up to 45 kt. Seas 7 to  10 ft, building to 9 to 13 ft after midnight. Wave Detail: S 5 ft  at 5 seconds and W 13 ft at 14 seconds. Rain.  
SUN  W wind 25 to 30 kt with gusts up to 40 kt, easing to 10 to  15 kt in the afternoon. Seas 10 to 14 ft. Wave Detail: W 14 ft at  15 seconds. Rain, mainly in the morning.

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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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11'5 Woodfibre LNG, Bill C-39, cetacean dust-up.

Dead Link: A reader pointed out that the link to donate to the NewsMatch campaign has not been connected the last few days— and maybe that's why you've been silent? News and Weather and Salish Current are free for all to read without a paywall. It's a nonprofit community service and we ask our readers to help support independent, nonprofit local news by donating to the NewsMatch campaign. Your dollars donated will be matched by national and local funders to meet Salish Current's 2027 operating expenses. Please support nonprofit local news. Thank! Mike Sato.

Liberty Cap [Wikipedia]

Psilocybin mushroom
Psilocybin mushroom is a type of hallucinogenic mushroom and a polyphyletic informal group of fungi that contain the prodrug psilocybin, which is metabolised into the psychedelic compound psilocin following ingestion. The term "psilocybin mushroom" refers to a broad group of fungi found across several genera. Amongst other cultural applications, psilocybin mushrooms are used as recreational drugs. While psilocybin mushrooms were used ritualistically in pre-Columbian Mexico for religious and divinatory purposes, their historical use elsewhere was rare and is often exaggerated. Such practices were suppressed after European colonization. (Wikipedia)

Today's top story in Salish Current:  Islands’ Oil Spill Association’s eyes in the sky

'Massive exaggeration': B.C. economists raise concerns over Woodfibre LNG study
Job, revenue numbers in study questioned as LNG export facility nears completion near Squamish. Alanna Kelly reports. (CBC) 

Federal bill’s sweeping powers jeopardize environment, witnesses tell MPs
The federal government’s proposal for sweeping new powers over major projects could come at the expense of the environment and public accountability, witnesses warned during a committee hearing held in Ottawa. Representatives from environmental and legal organizations discussed their concerns about some of the proposed provisions of Bill C-39, also called the Building Canada Strong Act, during a legislative committee meeting this week. Nathalie Hewa Dewage reports. (National Observer) 

Orcas and humpback whales clash near US-Canada border
The Pacific Whale Watch Association said it witnessed a large group of orcas and a pair of humpback whales clash during a "dramatic, hours-long encounter" in the Salish Sea on Thursday. (KRCR TV) 

Have you read the Salish Current? 
Independent, fact based news for Whatcom, San Juan and Skagit counties. Community supported, free from ads. Read the latest weekly newsletter here.

Here's your tug weather— 

West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  148 PM PST Wed Nov 4 2026    

SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 AM PST THURSDAY    

THU  SE wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: W 6 ft at  13 seconds and W 2 ft at 19 seconds.  

THU NIGHT  SE wind 10 to 15 kt, rising to 20 to 25 kt with  gusts up to 35 kt after midnight. Seas 5 to 8 ft. Wave Detail: SE  4 ft at 4 seconds, W 7 ft at 14 seconds and W 3 ft at 17 seconds.  A chance of rain in the evening, then rain after midnight.

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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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11/4 Harbor porpoise, Longview mill, Deep Bay, monarch butterflies, democracy watch.

 Did you vote? BTW, whatever the results turn out to be, it's only the beginning. The real job is to govern. And the job of nonprofit local news is to provide reporting readers can trust and a forum where they can express their views honestly and safely. Help support nonprofit local news by making a donation to Salish Current's NewsMatch campaign where news is reported without paywall for people, not for profit. Thank you. Mike Sato.

Harbor porpoise [NOAA]

Harbor porpoise Phocoena phocoena
Two stocks are known to occur in Washington: Northern Oregon-Washington Coast Stock and Washington Inland Waters Stock. Harbor porpoise are mostly found in coastal waters, including bays and estuaries. In Washington, harbor porpoise were a common year-round resident in the Puget Sound in the 1940s. By the 1970s, however, they had disappeared from the Sound, and their numbers were greatly reduced in the Straits of Georgia and Juan de Fuca, and around the San Juan Islands. In the early 2000s, harbor porpoise made a comeback to Puget Sound.  The life span of this species is about 24 years. (WDFW)

Today's top story in Salish Current:  As wolf populations grow, state expects a Western Washington increase

Longview mill to appeal $77,800 fine after worker nearly engulfed in hot pulp
After plunging into a sinkhole of hot pulp, the worker told inspectors at one point he thought, “I’m not going to make it back.” John Ryan reports. (KUOW) 

Nanaimo and Comox land trust’s secure funds for over 100 acres in Deep Bay
The BC Parks Foundation announced on Monday, Nov. 2, the final monetary amount has been raised to purchase 122.5 acres of property west of Deep Bay, north of Qualicum Beach, with donors already raising much of the $4M price tag. Both the Comox Valley Land Trust (CVLT) and the Nanaimo & Area Land Trust (NALT) each committed $50,000 each, with $395,000 outstanding when they called for more donations in September. Jordan Davidson reports. (Nanaimo News Now) 

Monarch butterflies get tiny trackers to help scientists follow their mysterious migration
Rebeca Quiñonez-Piñón and other scientists are attaching tiny tracking devices to hundreds of butterflies to find those critical stopover locations before they disappear. Swarms of dazzling orange-and-black monarchs use environmental cues to travel some 3,000 miles (4,800 kilometers) from as far as southern Canada to spend the winter in forests of oyamel fir trees in central Mexico, a protected biosphere reserve that’s also a World Heritage site. Dorany Pineda reports. (Associated Press) 

Democracy Watch

• ICE repeatedly violated court order on warrantless arrests in Oregon, one agent lied, federal judge finds (OregonLive) 
• Washington immigrant, labor groups accuse feds of voter intimidation (KUOW) 

Have you read the Salish Current? 
Independent, fact based news for Whatcom, San Juan and Skagit counties. Community supported, free from ads. Read the latest weekly newsletter here.

Here's your tug weather— 

West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  137 PM PST Tue Nov 3 2026    
WED  E wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: E 2 ft at  3 seconds, SW 3 ft at 9 seconds and W 3 ft at 12 seconds. Rain in  the afternoon.  
WED NIGHT  S wind 10 to 15 kt, veering to SW after midnight.  Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: SE 3 ft at 4 seconds, SW 4 ft at  10 seconds and W 6 ft at 14 seconds. Rain, mainly in the evening.

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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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11/3 Pile perch, PacLink pipe, bird flu death, shoreline erosion, Canadian oil refineries, BC time, democracy watch.

NewsMatch: Please support independent, nonprofit local news by making a donation to the NewsMatch campaign where your dollars donated will be matched by national and local funders to meet Salish Current's 2027 operating expenses. Thank you for supporting nonprofit local news. Mike Sato.

Pile perch [WDFW]

 
Pile perch Rhacochilus vacca
Pile perch range from Wrangell, southeastern Alaska to Guadalupe Island, off north-central Baja California, Mexico. Adults are found along rocky shores, often around kelp, pilings and underwater structures, in water depths up to 46 m (150 ft). Pile perch can grow up to 44.2 cm (17.4 in) in length and 2 kg (4.4 lbs.) in weight. Maximum age is 10 years old. The Washington state record is a 3.57 lbs pile perch caught by Steve Urban in 1981. (WDFW)

Today's top story in Salish Current:  What happens in Florida doesn’t stay in Florida

First Nations in B.C. challenge Carney's Pacific Link pipeline national interest designation
Several First Nations in B.C. are challenging the federal government in court and seeking to overturn its decision to designate the Pacific Link pipeline project as a project of national interest. The nations say listing the pipeline project in such a way "effectively acts as an approval," and that Canada's duties to consult and accommodate the nations must be met before a project is listed. (CBC) 

Washington state resident dies from bird flu following exposure to infected cattle
A person in Washington state has died from complications of the bird flu, the first such U.S. death in a year. The Yakima County resident, who had previous health conditions, was exposed to avian influenza at a dairy with infected cattle and had been hospitalized. Mike Stobbe reports. (Associated Press) 

She lived along the sea for decades. Then much of this WA beach washed away 
In the past year, some 230 feet of the shoreline, from the water to the land’s edge, has washed away here along a stretch of the Strait of Juan de Fuca west of Port Angeles. Isabella Breda reports. (Seattle Times) 

Politicians have floated building more oil refineries in Canada. Here’s what you need to know 
Some politicians have been keen to decrease Canada’s reliance on U.S. refineries. But experts say that’s no silver bullet. Anne Caroline Desplanques reports. (The Narwhal) 

Some hiccups for ferries after B.C. ditches time change
Many other parts of the world rolled back to standard time on Sunday morning. Toronto is now two hours ahead of Victoria, instead of three. Hannah Link reports. (Times Colonist) 

Democracy Watch

• Supreme Court rejects Trump administration push to set aside thousands of California ballots (AP) 

Have you read the Salish Current? 
Independent, fact based news for Whatcom, San Juan and Skagit counties. Community supported, free from ads. Read the latest weekly newsletter here.

Here's your tug weather— 

West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  600 PM PST Mon Nov 2 2026    
TUE  SE wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: SW 3 ft  at 10 seconds and W 5 ft at 14 seconds.  
TUE NIGHT  E wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: SW  3 ft at 10 seconds and W 5 ft at 13 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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11/2 Pumpkin, Roberts Bank Terminal 2, oil tanker risk, Docktober, BC time, Kitsap electricity, American science, Bigfoot, democracy watch.

A seasonal request: Salish Sea News and Weather is free for all to read and freely available to readers of  Salish Current as a community service. In November and December, we ask our readers to help support independent, nonprofit local news by making a donation to the NewsMatch campaign where your dollars donated will be matched by national and local funders to meet Salish Current's 2027 operating expenses. Thank you for supporting nonprofit local news. Mike Sato.

 

Pumpkin

Pumpkin
A pumpkin is a cultivated winter squash in the genus Cucurbita.  The term is most commonly applied to round, orange-colored squash varieties but It may be used in reference to multiple species of Cucurbita. C. pepo pumpkins are among the oldest known domesticated plants, with evidence of their cultivation dating to between 7000 BCE and 5500 BCE in Mesoamerica. Wild species of Cucurbita and the earliest domesticated species are native to North America (parts of present-day northeastern Mexico and the southern United States). (Wikipedia)

Today's top story in Salish Current:  WWU grad student goes off the beaten path to classify Whatcom County’s legacy forests

Federal government lists Roberts Bank Terminal 2 expansion in Delta, B.C., as 'project of national interest'
The project, which is a proposed three-berth container terminal at Roberts Bank, will be led by the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority and is expected to add 2.4 million containers of annual capacity at Port of Vancouver. (CBC)

Oil Supertankers Are Too Risky for the Salish Sea, Experts Say
Washington state’s spill prevention program manager says sharp turns and other hazards increase the chance of an accident. Sarah Cox reports. (The Tyee) 

Ecology pulls tens of millions from waterfront cleanup
Over the summer, the state Department of Ecology pulled $87 million in current and future grant funds from the Port of Everett’s ongoing cleanup of a former timber site at the waterfront. This comes as the port prepares to go to trial with Weyerhaeuser in November after the timber company pulled out of its cost-sharing agreement for the project eight years ago. Without their matching funds, port CEO Lisa Lefeber said Ecology pulled funding necessary for the cleanup’s next steps. Jenna Millikan reports. (Everett Herald) 

Move over, Halloween. It’s Docktober on Puget Sound
Nature lovers often hit the beach at low tide to catch glimpses of underwater life in fleeting tidepools at the margins of Puget Sound. Some nature nerds like to hang off the edge of a dock instead. John Ryan reports. (KUOW) 

B.C. won't be changing its clocks on Nov. 1. Here's what you need to know
Technology companies are advising British Columbians to keep software updated, check their appointments. Akshay Kulkarni reports. (CBC) 

Kitsap to vote on energy measure, as PSE pours millions into campaign against it
Kitsap County voters will weigh in on whether to explore leaving Puget Sound Energy this November. The measure is called Proposition 1. David Kroman and Hans Anderson report. (KUOW) 

How Trump Is Dismantling America’s Scientific Research Machine
The system that has driven life-altering discoveries and helped make the United States a superpower is now under intense strain. Christopher Flavelle, Irena Hwang, Adam Sella, Alan Blinder, Sheryl Gay Stolberg, Benjamin Mueller and Michael C. Bender report. (NY Times) 

What Bigfoot can teach us about predicting the impacts of climate change 
Believe it or not, researchers are using Sasquatch data to better understand how well their methods for studying scientifically recognized species are working. Leah Borts-Kuperman reports. (The Narwhal) 

Democracy Watch

• Judge dismisses lawsuit seeking to block certification of Alaska Senate race if GOP incumbent loses (AP) 
• Over 40% of names on DOJ list of alleged noncitizens are not on Calif. voter rolls, analysis finds (AP) 
• Trump loses appeals over California ballots, Homeland Security operations (Washington State Standard) 

Have you read the Salish Current? 
Independent, fact based news for Whatcom, San Juan and Skagit counties. Community supported, free from ads. Read the latest weekly newsletter here.

Here's your tug weather— 
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  154 PM PST Sun Nov 1 2026    
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 1 AM PST MONDAY THROUGH  LATE MONDAY NIGHT    

MON  SE wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: SE 3 ft  at 5 seconds and W 5 ft at 16 seconds.  
MON NIGHT  E wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: SE  3 ft at 5 seconds and W 5 ft at 15 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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10/30 Vermillion rockfish, North Coast tanker ban, WA bird flu, BC Old Growth, nudis, democracy watch, week in review.

 

Vermillion rockfish [Wikipedia]

Vermilion rockfish Sebastes miniatus
Vermilion rockfish range from Zaikof Bay, Montague Island, Prince William Sound, Alaska, to San Benito Islands, Baja California. Adults are found at water depths from 6 to 436 m (20-1,440 ft) and are most common between 50 and 150 m (165-495 ft). Sub-adult and adult vermillion rockfish aggregate on high relief rocky bottoms. Vermilion rockfish can grow up to 76 cm (30 in) in length, and 6.8 kg (15 lbs) in weight. Maximum age is at least 60 years old. (WDFW)

Today's top story in Salish Current:  Our Cascades: Forged by fire and ice

B.C. North Coast tanker ban to remain in place after Liberals vote down Tory bill
Federal and provincial Conservatives had supported bill as talks of a pipeline from Alberta to B.C. gain steam. Nick Murray reports. (Canadian Press) 

Bird flu spreads to Washington dairy farms
The Washington State Department of Agriculture confirmed the first detections in two Yakima County dairy herds in early October. In the span of three weeks, 27 dairy farms tested positive for bird flu. Aspen Ford reports. (Washington State Standard) 

What Will Happen to BC’s Old Growth Under the Conservatives?
They’ve pledged to protect the most endangered and rarest ecosystems. But they also promised ‘more fibre on trucks.’ Sarah Cox reports. (The Tyee) 

This Oregon marine biologist knows nudis — tiny, carnivorous sea slugs — and you can too 
Marine biologist Nancy Treneman wants to introduce you to the wild and wonderful world of the sea slugs known as nudibranchs. Ian McCluskey reports. (OPB) 

Democracy Watch

• Justice Department issues new subpoenas over Alaska spoiler candidate controversy, AP source says (AP) 
• Justice Department subpoenas California officials in escalation of its scrutiny of local elections (AP) 

Salish Sea News Week in Review 10/30/26: Lemur Day!, BC Conservatives win, youth climate suit, WA river fishery closure, Roadless Rule, ropeless crab traps, bear dens, yelloweye rockfish, lost glacier cover, BC tanker ban, WA bird flu. 

Have you read the Salish Current? 
Independent, fact based news for Whatcom, San Juan and Skagit counties. Community supported, free from ads. Read the latest weekly newsletter here.

Here's your weekend tug weather— 

West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  158 AM PDT Fri Oct 30 2026    
TODAY  SE wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: E 3 ft  at 4 seconds and W 2 ft at 11 seconds. A slight chance of showers  late this morning. A chance of showers this afternoon.  
TONIGHT  E wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: E  3 ft at 4 seconds and W 2 ft at 11 seconds. SAT  E wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: E 3 ft at  4 seconds and W 2 ft at 12 seconds.  
SAT NIGHT  E wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas around 3 ft in the evening,  then around 2 ft or less. Wave Detail: E 2 ft at 3 seconds and W  2 ft at 12 seconds.  
SUN  E wind around 5 kt. Seas around 2 ft or less, then around  3 ft in the afternoon. Wave Detail: W 3 ft at 15 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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10/29 Red-breasted merganser, bear dens, yelloweye rockfish, big jelly, Whatcom comp plan, shrunken glaciers, Jimenez out, humpback killed,Tumlber RidgeLines, Robinson in, democracy watch.

 

Red-breasted Merganser 

Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator
The Red-breasted Merganser is a shaggy-headed diving duck also known as the "sawbill"; named for its thin bill with tiny serrations on it that it uses to keep hold of slippery fish. It breeds in the boreal forest on freshwater and saltwater wetlands. Red-breasted Mergansers need to eat 15 to 20 fish per day, which researchers suggest means they need to dive underwater 250–300 times per day or forage for 4–5 hours to meet their energy needs.  (All About Birds)

Today's top story in Salish Current:  Agroforestry practices spread in NW Washington 

On Haida Gwaii, logging took the trees that bears called home. Now, the Haida Nation is building them new dens 
The Haida Nation is crafting artificial dens from stumps to shelter coastal black bears for the upcoming winter, while hoping the effort doesn’t become an excuse for clear-cutting to continue unchecked. onal Gupta reports. (The Narwhal) 

Oregon yelloweye rockfish fishery to reopen after 25-year closure 
According to Oregon Public Broadcasting, yelloweye rockfish was declared overfished in 2002, leading to the closure of commercial fishing for the species. A recent assessment found the population has since rebuilt enough to allow limited commercial harvest beginning in 2027. (National Fisherman) 

Heaviest jellyfish on Earth filmed on night dive in Pacific Ocean
Back in 2024, an underwater videographer shared enchanting footage of a lion’s mane jellyfish captured during a night dive in the Salish Sea – a marginal sea of the Pacific Ocean between British Columbia in Canada and Washington State in the United States. The creature was so gigantic that it took him over a minute to find it after first spotting its trailing tentacles. Melissa Hobson reports. (Discover Wildlife) 

Environmental groups take Whatcom County to court over comp plan
Two local environmental nonprofits, RE Sources and Whatcom Environmental Council, have joined Futurewise, a planning nonprofit, to appeal Whatcom County’s comprehensive plan to a state hearings board, saying it falls short of state requirements around climate change.  Julia Tillman reports. (CDN) 

More than a third of western states’ glacial cover has been lost since 1950s as planet warms
Six western states, including Oregon, have lost more than one-third of their glacial cover since 1950 and more than 300 glaciers in those states have disappeared entirely as the earth has rapidly warmed, a first-of-its-kind inventory and analysis confirms. Their latest study, recently published in the journal of the National Academy of Sciences, looks at size and volume data from 1,331 Western glaciers, not all federally recognized. It compares that data to historical USGS glacial mapping data recorded between 1950 and 1980. Alex Baumhardt reports. (Washington State Standard) 

Nicolas Jimenez out as B.C. Ferries CEO, review launched
CEO Nicolas Jimenez is no longer the CEO of B.C. Ferries, with the company saying its board initiated a "leadership transition" and "revitalization review." Karin Larsen reports. (CBC) 

Humpback whale found dead was struck by B.C. Ferries vessel: DFO
Ferry passengers felt a collision with a whale on Oct. 18 while travelling on the Queen of Surrey between Langdale Terminal on the Sunshine Coast and Horseshoe Bay in West Vancouver. Alanna Kelly reports. (CBC) 

Every Paper in One BC Region Closed. Reporters Refused to Give Up
When Tumbler Ridge’s only newspaper closed a decade ago, Trent Ernst started his own publication, Tumbler RidgeLines. He’s among a small community of local news reporters who remain in northeast BC. Amanda Follett Hosgood reports. (The Tyee) 

Sean Robinson takes helm as editor of Washington State Standard
Born in Washington, Robinson started his career in suburban weekly newspapers before moving to the Tacoma News Tribune, where he spent 20 years as an award-winning investigative reporter before shifting to an editing role. (Washington State Standard) 

Democracy Watch

• WA’s election chief says federal noncitizen voting list includes citizens (Washington State Standard) 
• National Guard and DOJ expected around Washington's 2026 midterm election (KUOW) 
• Peltola's campaign involved in effort to recruit second Dan Sullivan for Alaska Senate race (AP) 

Have you read the Salish Current? 
Independent, fact based news for Whatcom, San Juan and Skagit counties. Community supported, free from ads. Read the latest weekly newsletter here.

Here's your tug weather— 

West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  142 PM PDT Wed Oct 28 2026    

THU  SE wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: E 2 ft  at 3 seconds and W 4 ft at 10 seconds. Rain. THU NIGHT  E wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: E  3 ft at 4 seconds and W 3 ft at 11 seconds. A chance of rain.

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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.



savesalishsea@bluesky.social

Salish Sea News: Communicate, Educate, Advocate



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