12/19 Dermophis donaldtrumpi, fish farm PRV, peppermint shrimp, salmon smell, recovery funds, climate cost-recovery, orca rescuers, king tide, ocean warming

Dermophis donaldtrumpi (left) [BBC]

Amphibian that buries head in sand named after Donald Trump
US presidents tend to receive their fair share of honours, but Donald Trump may want to ignore his latest one. A newly discovered amphibian that buries its head in the sand has been named after him, apparently in response to his comments about climate change. The Dermophis donaldtrumpi, which was discovered in Panama, was named by the head of a company that had bid $25,000 (£19,800) at auction for the privilege. The company said it wanted to raise awareness about climate change. (BBC)

Fish farmer destroys 800,000 juvenile Atlantic salmon due to disease; second purge in past year
For the second time, Cooke Aquaculture Pacific has destroyed 800,000 juvenile Atlantic salmon after testing required by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) determined the fish were infected with an exotic strain of Piscine Orthoreovirus (PRV.) The strain is essentially the same strain of virus found at the Iceland hatchery from which Cooke receives Atlantic salmon eggs. Cooke had a similar problem last May. Tests on the most current batch recently came back, said Amy Windrope, Region 4 director for WDFW. Two of Cooke’s last three batches of Atlantic salmon in the past year have tested positive for PRV, Windrope said. The third was clean. The department considers the exotic strain of PRV to be an unacceptable risk to native stocks of Pacific salmon. Lynda Mapes reports. (Seattle Times)

On Fish Farms, Peppermint Shrimp Clean Up Nicely
In the coral reefs of the western Pacific Ocean lives a candy-striped creature with a minty-fresh name. Commonly known as the peppermint cleaner shrimp, this tiny crustacean provides a cleaning service for other fish by nibbling off skin parasites. Now, scientists in Australia are looking to the peppermint shrimp to take on a much bigger job: fighting disease on fish farms. David Vaughan, a biologist at James Cook University in Australia, recently introduced a test cohort of peppermint cleaner shrimp to a tank of farmed grouper and found that the rate of infection by the parasite Neobenedenia girellae was 87 percent lower than in a control group without the shrimp. The trial was the first-ever test of a shrimp’s prowess as a natural form of pest management in aquaculture. Emily Pontecorvo reports. (Hakai Magazine)

Study: Ocean acidification will interfere with crucial sense of smell in juvenile salmon
It’s long been known that shellfish and other marine life are sensitive to ocean acidification caused by increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Some fish lose their sense of smell in acidic waters. There was a hope that salmon would not be affected. A new study shows otherwise.  A research team from the University of Washington and NOAA Fisheries spent two years observing the effects of elevated CO2 in saltwater on juvenile coho salmon. They tested the smolts’ behavior in seawater that had current pH levels compared to levels expected 50 and 100 years into the future, assuming humans continue to emit carbon pollution at current rates. In other words, they simulated worst-case scenario CO2 levels. Bellamy Pailthorp reports. (KNKX)

Peninsula gets more than $1.2 million in salmon recovery funds
Nine salmon recovery projects on the North Olympic Peninsula have received a total of more than $1.2 million in grants, part of $18 million funding package announced by the state Recreation and Conservation Office. Clallam County organizations received $762,420 from the Washington Salmon Recovery Funding Board for shoreline protection, levee removal and habitat restoration. Jefferson County nonprofits won $475,220 in grants for controlling invasive weeds, protecting forest habitat, designing a fish passage and removing creosote piling and a collapsed bridge, officials said. Rob Ollikainen reports. (Peninsula Daily News)

Vancouver now mulling climate cost-recovery from fossil fuel companies
City staff have been holding in camera meetings to review their legal options, Vancouver’s city manager told council Tuesday at their 2019 budget meeting, in response to a councillor’s question. And Vancouver Mayor Kennedy Stewart, who made headlines earlier this year for his arrest, charge and guilty plea for his part in a climate protest, said Tuesday he looks forward to hearing back from staff on the issue. This follows a “climate accountability” campaign which has seen several B.C. municipalities sending letters requesting major international oil and gas companies to help pay for local governments’ costs associated with climate change. The campaign’s organizers, West Coast Environmental Law, say at least eight of B.C.’s local governments have already sent “climate accountability” letters, and that others have voted to do so. Dan Fumano reports. (Vancouver Sun)

Meet the leaders who ended orca captures in Washington state
Orca captures were legal in Washington state for more than a decade until the intervention in 1976 of three key state officials: Gov. Dan Evans, State Attorney General Slade Gorton and Ralph Munro, a staff aide to Evans at the time who would later go on to become Secretary of State. All Republicans, they acted to stop the capture of orcas in Budd Inlet, going all the way to federal court. They extracted a settlement agreement from SeaWorld to never again capture whales in Washington waters. And the orcas caught in Budd Inlet were freed. Their bold actions marked a turning point in Washington history. Lynda Mapes reports. (Seattle Times)

King Tides don’t always follow the tide tables
Chris Dunagan in Watching Our Water Ways writes: ...."This is the season for King Tides, a name given to the highest tides of the year. High tides, mostly generated by the alignment of the sun and the moon, are predicted for Christmas Eve, rising higher to the day after Christmas and then declining. But, as we’ve seen this week, as well as on Thanksgiving Day, predicted high tides can be dramatically boosted by heavy rains, low atmospheric pressure and onshore winds."


As Seas Warm, Galápagos Islands Face a Giant Evolutionary Test
The theory of evolution has its origins in the Galápagos. Now climate change is rapidly heating the ocean here. Darwin’s creatures are threatened. Nicholas Casey and Josh Haner report. (NY Times)


Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  300 AM PST Wed Dec 19 2018   
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM PST THIS MORNING 
GALE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH LATE THURSDAY  NIGHT   
TODAY  SW wind 15 to 25 kt easing to 5 to 15 kt in the afternoon.  Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 17 ft at 14 seconds. Showers likely in  the morning then a chance of showers in the afternoon. 
TONIGHT  SE wind 5 to 15 kt becoming E 20 to 30 kt after midnight.  Wind waves 2 ft or less building to 3 to 5 ft. W swell 16 ft at 16  seconds subsiding to 13 ft at 16 seconds. Rain.


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