7/1 Pacific staghorn sculpin, missing orcas, whale watch, Canadian CG, 'flood infrastructure, Sea Aqua opening, EarthCorps, BC fruit woes

Pacific staghorn sculpin [Bud Logan]

Pacific staghorn sculpin Leptocottus armatus
Pacific stag horn sculpin are found from the Bering Sea to Baja California and are the most abundant of local sculpin, especially in protect bays and estuaries from high tide to moderate depths over muddy or sandy bottoms. When disturbed, it buries itself in sand or mud up to its eyes; if it's further threatened, it expands its spines. It can tolerate low salinities and is sometimes found in lower portions of streams. It feeds on a variety of isopods, small crustaceans and small fishes. It is preyed on by California sea lions and cormorants. (Marine Wildlife of Puget Sound, the San Juans and the Strait of Georgia)    See also: Sculpins of Puget Sound (Seattle Aquarium)

Where are the orcas? Not in the Salish Sea, where there's no food this summer
For the second year in a row, the region's endangered orcas have been missing from their key habitat around the San Juan Islands for months at a time. Some of the endangered orcas popped up just west of San Juan Island Friday night, but they appeared to head west toward the open ocean again. Before that brief visit, none of the endangered southern resident killer whales had been spotted in inland waters since April 10. Researchers say a continued decline of Chinook salmon from Canada's Fraser River, just north of the San Juans, gives orcas less reason to visit their usual haunts this time of year. Paige Browning and John Ryan report. (KUOW)

Whale watching tours return to Victoria
Whale watching tours are returning to Victoria just in time for Canada Day. Tour company Prince of Whales will be taking passengers out on its newest, largest catamaran on Wednesday in search of whales and other marine life. The vessel Salish Sea Eclipse is big enough to have groups of people on board with physical distancing protocols in place. (CTV)

Canadian Coast Guard and First Nation sign MOU to build new base on Vancouver Island
The Canadian Coast Guard and Pacheedaht First Nation have taken the first step toward building a new marine facility in Port Renfrew. On Monday, they signed a memorandum of understanding to begin developing a $22.5 million coast guard base that would provide marine search and rescue and environmental response services. (CBC)

Flood infrastructure: ‘the biggest salmon habitat issue you’ve never heard of’
Along B.C.’s Fraser River, concrete obstructions block 1,500 kilometres of fish habitat and ‘meat grinder’ pump stations kill fish. Critics say it’s time for fish-friendly flood control. Stephanie Wood reports. (The Narwhal)

Seattle Aquarium reopens, with coronavirus restrictions in place. Here’s what it’s like.
Jamie McMurdie and her daughter Nola were among the initial pulse of visitors to pass through the doors Monday morning when the Seattle Aquarium reopened for the first time since March 12. It was a welcome relief after three months cooped up together because of the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. Chris Talbott writes. (Seattle Times)

EarthCorps fights invasive plants at Cumberland Creek
Tucked in a curve of the Skagit River south of Hamilton, the Skagit Land Trust’s Cumberland Creek Conservation Area is teeming with greenery, dotted with animal prints pressed into the mud, and lively with birdsong. On this 211-acre property, though, invaders linger as they do throughout much of the United States. Invasive plants found on the property include prickly blackberry brambles, wheat-like reed canary grass and broad-leafed knotweed. This week a seven-member crew from the nonprofit EarthCorps is helping to fight back against those invasive plants brought from Europe and Asia — sometimes intentionally and sometimes accidentally. Kimberly Cauvel reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

COVID-19 devastating B.C. fruit growers, threatens food security
The B.C. Fruit Growers Association says the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on its industry has been devastating. The association says a survey of its members shows more than 67 per cent of farmers have reduced fruit production because of uncertainties linked to the pandemic. A statement from the association says there is a “real threat” to food security as producers cut crops to survive. The survey shows 81 per cent of farmers are concerned about paying additional costs linked to public health guidelines in response to the pandemic. It also finds 87 per cent of farmers worry they won’t have enough hired labour to bring in their crops. (Canadian Press)


Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  243 AM PDT Wed Jul 1 2020   
TODAY  SE wind 5 to 15 kt becoming W in the afternoon. Wind  waves 2 ft or less. W swell 6 ft at 9 seconds  TONIGHT  W wind 10 to 20 kt becoming 5 to 15 kt after midnight.  Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 7 ft at 10 seconds. A slight chance  of rain after midnight.




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