10/9 Beaver, Canada plastic ban, WA shellfish, Oly oyster, orca safety zone violators

Beaver, Lizard Lake [Alan Fritzberg]

 
Beaver Castor canadensis
Beavers are the largest living rodents in North America, with adults averaging 40 pounds in weight and measuring more than 3 feet in length, including the tail. These semi-aquatic mammals have webbed hind feet, large incisor teeth, and a broad, flat tail. The tail of a large beaver may be 15 inches long and 6 inches wide. It is covered with leathery scales and sparse, coarse hairs. Once among the most widely distributed mammals in North America, beavers were eliminated from much of their range in the late 1800s because of unregulated trapping. With a decline in the demand for beaver pelts, and with proper management, they became reestablished in much of their former range and are now common in many areas. (WDFW)

Canada to ban plastic grocery bags and straws in 2021
Plastic bags and straws could be illegal in Canada come next year. Federal environment minister Jonathan Wilkinson announced the list of single-use plastic items the Liberals plan to ban in order to achieve zero plastic waste by 2030. Items to be banned are: plastic bags; straws; stir sticks; six-pack rings; cutlery; polystyrene takeout containers. Kevin Ritchie reports. (Georgia Straight)

What the pandemic has done to WA’s flagship shellfish industry
The pandemic tanked the shellfish industry, but growers are “tentatively optimistic” that things are looking up. Hannah Weinberger reports. (Crosscut)

Liberty Bay restoration project aims to rebuild filter-feeding native oyster populations
Oyster shells were spewed from a barge in Liberty Bay early this week, with the goal of rebuilding a diminishing native oyster population in the Puget Sound area. The Puget Sound Restoration Fund released 1,500 cubic yards of oyster shell into a 15-acre area, which will create structure and habitat for other sea creatures and serve as the shells that native Olympia oyster larvae will latch onto. A decade ago, the Puget Sound Restoration Fund set a goal to spread oyster shell over 100 acres in 10 years. Betsy Peabody, executive director of Puget Sound Restoration Fund, said when the goal was set there were only about 150 acres of Olympia oysters, as opposed to 10,000 to 20,000 acres historically. This project helped the organization cross the 100-acre mark. Jessie Darland reports. (Kitsap Sun)

Dozens of boaters being investigated for violating killer whale safe zones
Transport Canada is pursuing 89 investigations of boaters for alleged violations of safe-distance requirements and sanctuary zones intended to protect southern resident killer whales. More than 140 warning letters have already been issued to recreational boaters for such violations this year after the agency beefed up surveillance and enforcement, said Michelle Sanders, director of the agency’s Clean Water Policy Division. Three interim sanctuary zones have been established near Swiftsure Bank, and Pender and Saturna Islands that prohibit all fishing and boating in key summer foraging and transit areas for the southern residents. Randy Shore reports. (Vancouver Sun)

Now, your weekend tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  328 AM PDT Fri Oct 9 2020   
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH  SATURDAY EVENING   
TODAY  SE wind 5 to 15 kt rising to 20 to 30 kt in the  afternoon. Wind waves 2 ft or less building to 3 to 5 ft in the  afternoon. W swell 3 ft at 14 seconds building to 5 ft at  17 seconds in the afternoon. A chance of showers in the morning  then rain in the afternoon. 
TONIGHT  SW wind 20 to 30 kt becoming S 10 to 20 kt after  midnight. Wind waves 3 to 5 ft subsiding to 1 to 3 ft after  midnight. W swell 7 ft at 7 seconds. Rain. 
SAT  W wind 10 to 20 kt rising to 15 to 25 kt in the afternoon.  Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. W swell 7 ft at 13 seconds. Rain in the  morning then a chance of showers and a slight chance of tstms in  the afternoon. 
SAT NIGHT  W wind 10 to 20 kt becoming SW 5 to 15 kt after  midnight. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 10 ft at 12 seconds. 
SUN  S wind 5 to 15 kt becoming to 10 kt in the afternoon. Wind  waves 2 ft or less. W swell 9 ft at 12 seconds.

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