7/24 Rosario Strait, DFO reform, Trump's gold mine, whale watch, Heiltsuk herring, fishing lodge

Rosario Strait

Rosario Strait
Literally "Rosary Strait," the water boundary between San Juan and Skagit counties is one of the relocated Spanish names. Eliza had originally named the waterway Boca de Hidalgo and had called the present Gulf of Georgia, Gran Canal de Nuestra Señora del Rosario la Marinera. In 1841, Wilkes named it Ringgold Channel in honor of his expedition's Lt. Cadwalder Ringgold. In 1847, British Capt. Henry Kellett clarified the charts in his pro-British anti-American fashion by confirming Vancouver's Gulf of Georgia at its present location and replacing both Eliza's Bay of Fidalgo and Wilkes's Ringgold Channel with the shortened version of the former gulf title. (Washington State Place Names)

Conservationists, anglers say it's time to reform DFO
Conservation and angling groups on the West Coast are calling for radical reform of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, saying it appears unable to protect wild fish while managing commercial fisheries and ocean-based aquaculture. The B.C. Wildlife Federation, in a letter to Fisheries Minister Bernadette Jordan,says the federal department should be “independently reviewed and rebuilt” with a mandate to restore and recover failing salmon populations. Randy Shore reports. (Vancouver Sun)

Trump administration says massive Alaska gold mine won’t cause major environmental harm, reversing Obama
Trump officials will conclude Friday that a proposed gold and copper mine in Alaska — which would be North America’s largest — would not pose serious environmental risks, a sharp reversal from a finding by the Obama administration that it would permanently harm the region’s prized sockeye salmon. The official about-face regarding the bitterly contested project epitomizes the whiplash that has come to define environmental policy under President Trump, who has methodically dismantled many of his predecessor’s actions on climate change, conservation and pollution. Juliet Eilperin and Brady Dennis report. (Washington Post) See also: Pebble Mine’s Environmental Review Foreshadows Future “Streamlined” Process Forged by Trump Administration  Ashley Braun reports. (Hakai Magazine)

Whale watching outfits warned on border bending
Whale-watching companies on both sides of the border are being extra vigilant with their GPS co-ordinates in the Salish Sea after a U.S. vessel was fined and a Canadian boat was told to turn back by American authorities in the past week. The Canadian border with the U.S. is closed to all non-essential crossings, including on the water. he Pacific Whale Watch Association said Thursday there is now “clarity” and a consensus when it comes to where whale watchers can operate. Darron Kloster reports. (Victoria Times-Colonist)

Heiltsuk’s decision to close fishery on B.C. coast amid COVID-19 earns international attention
Nation’s willingness to shut down lucrative spawn-on-kelp fishery stands in ‘stark contrast’ to other government decisions to push ahead with extractive industries during pandemic, according to letter published in Science. Stephanie Wood reports. (The Narwhal)

'Our community is not ready': Heiltsuk Nation relieved fishing lodge not opening
A fishing resort on B.C's central coast has announced it won't be hosting guests for the 2020 sport fishing season. The announcement is a relief for the Heiltsuk Nation, which asked area tourism operators to stay closed for the season due to COVID-19 concerns. Shearwater Resort, which is located near Bella Bella, released a statement saying it is reversing an earlier decision to open. Nicole Our reports. (CBC)



Now, your weekend tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  255 AM PDT Fri Jul 24 2020   
TODAY  W wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 2 ft or less. SW swell  3 ft at 13 seconds. 
TONIGHT  W wind 5 to 15 kt becoming to 10 kt after midnight.  Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 4 ft at 10 seconds. 
SAT  Light wind becoming NW 5 to 15 kt in the afternoon. Wind  waves less than 1 ft becoming 2 ft or less in the afternoon. W  swell 4 ft at 7 seconds. 
SAT NIGHT  W wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell  4 ft at 8 seconds. 
SUN  Light wind becoming NE to 10 kt in the afternoon. Wind  waves 1 ft or less. W swell 3 ft at 8 seconds.




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