6/28 Quadra Is., BC fish farms, Dungeness crabs, eulachon grease, Brinnon resort, enviro injustice

Rebecca Spit [Quadra Island Tourism]

Quadra Island
Quadra Island is an island off the eastern coast of Vancouver Island and part of the Discovery Islands located within the Strathcona Regional District.... In area Quadra island comprises about 310 square kilometres (120 square miles). The population of island and surrounding mainland inlets, as of the 2006 federal census... was 2,472... In 1903 it was named after the Spanish navigator Juan Francisco de la Bodega y Quadra, who explored and settled the Vancouver Island area in the late 18th century.... The island has many beaches, trails, lakes, and parks. Main Lake Provincial Park is located on the northern part of the island, and Rebecca Spit Marine Provincial Park is on the eastern shore, near Heriot Bay. (Wikipedia)

B.C., First Nations formalize talks on concerns over future of fish farms
Some coastal First Nations in British Columbia will have a greater say about the future of fish farms on their territory, following a new agreement with the provincial government. The province says in a news release that it has a letter of understanding with three central coast First Nations that will formalize ongoing talks about salmon aquaculture in the Broughton Archipelago off Vancouver Island. The ‘Namgis, Kwikwasut’inuxw Haxwa’mis and Mamalilikulla First Nations and province will speak with various parties involved, including the fish farm industry, and come up with actions and recommendations over the next 90 days. The news follows an announcement by the province last week that the salmon farmers will have four years to show their open-net operations don’t harm wild salmon and to get approval from area First Nations to locate the operations in their territories. Indigenous Relations Minister Scott Fraser says the government has been speaking with First Nations since January to resolve their concerns about fish farms, and the agreement recognizes the need to work respectfully with Indigenous Peoples to protect wild salmon. (Canadian Press)


Swinomish tribe takes new look at Dungeness crab
Before winding up on a dinner plate alongside melted butter, Dungeness crabs pulled from the depths of Puget Sound or Washington’s coastal areas spend several months smaller than a thumb tack. Not much is known about how, after emerging from eggs, the tiny crabs settle on area beaches and go on to become the meaty crabs prized in Washington and beyond.... A long-term goal is to collect enough data to draw connections between the number of months-old Dungeness crabs seen in certain areas and the number of adult crabs caught during commercial harvests. Kimberly Cauvel reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)


Central Coast First Nation preserves eulachon grease tradition as the fish returns to Bella Coola River
The Nuxalk Nation in Bella Coola is seeing signs that its eulachon run is returning after 20 years. The fish traditionally harvested in the Bella Coola River had disappeared without any clear reason why, and the Nuxalk College is preparing for its recovery with an annual eulachon camp, where elders pass their knowledge on how to make grease from the small, silvery fish.... Eulachon grease is made by putting the fish in what's called a stink box, where the blood drains into cedar boughs laid on the bottom. The eulachon ferment for several days until their eyes turn red before they're moved to another box for cooking at a precise temperature that releases the grease.  This year is the second year the college has co-ordinated the eulachon project, producing grease to distribute to Nuxalk members. Audrey McKinnon reports. (CBC)


Petition filed against resort plans in Brinnon
The Brinnon Group has filed a land use petition in Kitsap County Superior Court hoping to invalidate the developer agreement and supporting ordinance for the Pleasant Harbor Marina and Golf Resort, a master planned resort. The Pleasant Harbor Resort is planned to be on 252 acres on the Black Point Peninsula, 2 miles south of Brinnon. It is designed to have 890 residential units and a nine-hole golf course, as well as a recreation center and a conference center. The petitioners, a nonprofit group with a mailing address in Granite Falls, Wash., believe that the developer, Statesman Group of Calgary, Alberta, will adversely affect the area, it said in the petition filed Monday. Jeannie McMacken reports. (Peninsula Daily News)


‘South Park and Georgetown have shouldered the burden of environmental injustice for decades’
A plume of black smoke stretched across South Seattle on Tuesday night as a fire burned on a barge of scrapped cars on the Duwamish River. It was a dramatic sight, but pollution isn’t new to this part of the city, and now Seattle officials want to boost two of the neighborhoods that line the river, Georgetown and South Park. Officials cite this statistic as a reason for a revamp: Life expectancy in South Park is 74. That's 13 years less than in wealthy, mostly white neighborhoods like Laurelhurst or Magnolia. The reasons for the discrepancy aren't entirely clear, but city officials want to tackle two of the key suspects: pollution and poverty. John Ryan reports. (KUOW)



Now, your tug weather--

West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  230 AM PDT Thu Jun 28 2018   

TODAY  W wind 5 to 15 kt becoming 10 to 20 kt in the afternoon.  Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 4 ft at 10 seconds. A chance of  showers. 

TONIGHT  W wind 5 to 15 kt in the evening becoming light. Wind  waves 2 ft or less. W swell 5 ft at 10 seconds. Showers likely in  the evening then a chance of showers after midnight.


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