10/14 Pipefish, white orca, salmon virus, hybrid salmon, climate change, Salish Sea book, cruise ship regs, tsunami map, mad owl

Bay pipefish [Monterey Bay Aquarium]

Bay Pipefish Syngnathus leptorhynchus
The Bay Pipefish will often float or anchor themselves to strands of eelgrass while in a vertical position, rendering it almost invisible to predators... The protection and gentle currents of the eelgrass beds is a necessity for the pipefish, as they are poor swimmers who would quickly perish in open or coastal waters. Like their seahorse relatives, male pipefish carry the young in a special pouch until they emerge and swim away. (Oregon Coast Aquarium)

Rare white orca among dozens of whales spotted around Puget Sound
Whale-watchers who have braved the chillier fall weather in search of orca sightings got a real treat over the weekend. Island Adventures Whale Watching tells Q13 that October has been full of orca sightings throughout the region, including Tl'uk, a white orca calf that's known for his unusually light coloration.  He is not albino, but something in his genes makes him look different than his family. His name means "moon" in Coast Salish language. Tl'uk was part of a large group of nearly 40 transient, mammal-eating orcas that came into the Strait of Juan de Fuca between Port Angeles and Victoria on Saturday...There was also a group of about 20 southern resident orcas from the J pod in Puget Sound all weekend in front of Seattle. (KCPQ) See also: Orcas sighted in Puget Sound, including rare 'little white whale'  (KOMO)

New Viruses Found in Farmed and Wild Salmon
Researchers have found three new-to-science viruses in chinook and sockeye salmon in British Columbia. The discovery, led by Gideon Mordecai, a University of British Columbia molecular biologist who studies the ecology of viruses, is part of a larger investigation into whether viruses are contributing to the steep declines in wild British Columbia salmon populations over the past 30 years. The researchers now aim to find out if these infectious agents are being transmitted from farmed to wild fish. Erica Gies reports. (Hakai Magazine)

Hybrid salmon discovered by scientists on Vancouver Island 
Two salmon researchers say a surprising discovery has been made on Vancouver Island. Andres Araujo, a biologist at the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, and Will Duguid, a PhD biology student at the University of Victoria, recently found fish in the Cowichan River, north of Victoria, B.C., that have the genes of both coho and chinook salmon. Tissue samples revealed the fish are second-generation hybrids, meaning they are the spawn of hybrids. (CBC)

These dramatic photos show climate change at work in the Northwest
Climate change is not a scary thing that might happen in the future. It is here. The photos [below] show how striking a role climate change has already played in the Pacific Northwest — helping to push houses into the ocean and forcing eels to "pant" for air. Here are some ways that climate change is already altering the region. Isolde Raftery reports. (KUOW)

New book 'We Are Puget Sound' reminds us what's at risk if we ignore the struggles of the Salish Sea
A book launch event for “We Are Puget Sound: Discovering & Recovering the Salish Sea” is scheduled for 7 p.m. Oct. 23 at Seattle Central Library, in the Microsoft Auditorium. Speaking will be Mindy Roberts of Washington Environmental Council, author David L. Workman, photographer Brian Walsh, Sally Brownfield of the Squaxin Island Tribe and Darcie Larson of the Seattle Aquarium. The event is free and open to the public. The book is written by David L. Workman, Leonard Forsman, Mindy Roberts and Brian J. Cantwell. Photography by Brian Walsh and contributors. Foreword by Martha Kongsgaard. (Seattle Times)

Victoria mayor calls for regulation of cruise ship industry to reduce emissions and waste
Victoria's mayor and two councillors have tabled a motion asking for among other things a limit on cruise ships entering the city until a plan can be found to limit their emissions and waste. Lisa Helps and councillors Marianne Alto and Ben Isitt tabled the motion which will go before council on Oct. 17. It makes a number of recommendations, including having staff look into requiring cruise ships to use shore power while docked; having the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority (GVHA) report to council on the impact of the cruise ship operations on the environment; and not increasing the number of cruise ships coming to Victoria until emissions and waste issues are dealt with. (CBC)

Maps show low chance of reaching high ground along coast in event of tsunami
Washington has released tsunami safety maps for Port Townsend, Ilwaco, Long Beach, Seaview and Westport. The maps indicate how much time you have to get to safety before a tsunami hits following a magnitude 9 earthquake along the Cascadia subduction zone. Some of the maps indicate there is almost no chance of reaching safety in the necessary time. For example, in Westport you would have only 15 minutes to get out. All of the walking routes would take longer than that. And, officials say, with roads and bridges out after a quake walking may be your only option. Paula Wissel reports. (KNKX)

County receives award for creative conversations about poop
Skagit County has spent years trying to keep fecal pollution getting out of local waterways including the Samish River. The county’s Clean Water Program took its efforts online in March 2018, unveiling a website detailing the problems and how community members can help. That website, poopsmart.org, has won a national award. The City-County Communications & Marketing Association, also referred to as 3CMA, recently recognized Skagit County’s Poop Smart campaign with a Diamond Award, an honor given in government communications. Kimberly Cauvel reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

Bikers warned to stay off Whistler trail due to an aggressive owl
Attacks by an ornery owl have prompted the municipality of Whistler to warn the public to steer clear of a local bike trail. The B.C. Conservation Officer Service received a report on Monday about an aggressive bird that was swooping down on people along the Don’t Look Back biking trail located above the Function Junction neighbourhood. At least one trail runner was left with minor injuries after being attacked by a barred owl. Scott Brown reports. (Vancouver Sun)

Invasive zebra mussels found on boat bound for Seattle
Montana officials say a boat infested with an invasive species of mussels passed two watercraft checkpoints before they were discovered. The Missoulian reported that Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks officials say the zebra mussels were found on a boat bound for Seattle. Officials say zebra and quagga mussels can clog water intake pipes, disrupt the fishing tourism industry and cost industries, businesses and communities billions of dollars. Officials say the aquatic invasive species on the vessel that originated in Lake Michigan could have spread in the Columbia River basin without the discovery. (Associated Press)

EPA Proposes New Regulations For Lead In Drinking Water
The Environmental Protection Agency has announced a new proposal that would change how communities test for lead in drinking water. It’s the first major update to the Lead and Copper Rule in nearly 30 years, but it does not go as far as many health advocates had hoped. The regulations are aimed at stopping people’s water from being contaminated through lead pipes that connect public water supplies to homes. The EPA’s website points out that ingesting lead “can be harmful to human health even at low exposure levels.” The proposal that was announced Thursday would require water systems to keep a public inventory of where those lead service lines are and help homeowners replace them if their water is found to be contaminated with lead. Paolo Zialcita reports. (NPR)

Urban deer get birth control to curb overpopulation
On the southern tip of Vancouver Island sits the small community of Oak Bay.  For years it's been stalked by roving urban deer.  But now science is stepping in a bid to stop the population from procreating. Researchers, along with the Urban Wildlife Stewardship Society, scientists and veterinarians, are giving birth control to dozens of wild deer. Lead researcher Jason Fisher says it's a first-of-its-kind study in Canada and, if successful, could help shape the future of animal management across the country. Georgie Smyth reports.(CBC)



Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  246 AM PDT Mon Oct 14 2019   
TODAY  SE wind to 10 kt becoming 5 to 15 kt in the afternoon.  Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 4 ft at 9 seconds. 
TONIGHT  E wind to 10 kt becoming SE 5 to 15 kt after midnight.  Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 3 ft at 13 seconds.



--
"Salish Sea News & Weather" is compiled as a community service by Mike Sato. To subscribe, send your name and email to msato (@) salishseacom.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Salish Sea News: Communicate, Educate, Advocate

Follow on Twitter. 

Salish Sea Communications: Truth Well Told