4/29 Western azalea, melting glaciers, derelict boats, Puget Sound recovery, shrinking salmon, green crab, sewage spill, BC Ferries, on-land fish farm

Western Azalea [Native Plants PNW]

 

Western Azalea Rhododendron occidentale
Western Azalea is native to the coasts of central and southern Oregon and California, in the Umpqua Valley, and the Siskiyou and Sierra Mountain ranges. There have been some anecdotal accounts in the Puget Sound region. (Native Plants PNW)

Satellites show world’s glaciers melting faster than ever
A new study of the world’s 220,000 mountain glaciers finds that they are melting faster now than in the early 2000s Glaciers are melting faster, losing 31% more snow and ice per year than they did 15 years earlier, according to three-dimensional satellite measurements of all the world’s mountain glaciers. Scientists blame human-caused climate change. Seth Borenstein reports. (Associated Press)

B.C. government puts $9.5M toward removing more than 100 derelict boats
Environment Minister George Heyman says the province is spending $9.5 million to address the "massive'' problem of marine debris along the coast.  Four projects will share the funding to clean up 1,200 kilometres of coastline and more than 100 derelict vessels. The cleanup projects are being done by the Small Ship Tour Operators Association, the Wilderness Tourism Association, Coastal Restoration Society, Ocean Legacy Foundation and the Songhees Development Corp., with each receiving between $1.5 million and $3.5 million.  (Canadian Press)

Rep. Derek Kilmer expresses optimism about future funding for Puget Sound recovery
Federal support for Puget Sound recovery is on the rise, and there is growing hope that the Sound’s ecological problems will receive increased consideration and funding, according to U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer, D-Gig Harbor. “With a (Democratic) majority in the House and the new Senate majority, and the White House, I think that we are going to see some progress,” Kilmer said, speaking Friday at the annual “Puget Sound Days on the Hill.” In support of his optimism, Kilmer pointed out that his PUGET SOS bill, which would create a new office for Puget Sound within the Environmental Protection Agency, has already moved out of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, where it passed with strong bipartisan support, a vote of 54-3. Christopher Dunagan reports. (Puget Sound Institute)

Salmon have shrunk so much that Whole Foods redid its guidelines
At OBI Seafoods, a sprawling operation with outposts throughout Alaska, there’s all sorts of extra machinery for workers to master. At Whole Foods Market, there are new guidelines for purchasing salmon from wholesalers. And at Ivar’s, a fixture on Seattle’s waterfront for eight decades, the chef is sending back skimpy salmon delivered to his kitchen. Kim Chapman reports. (Bloomberg)

European Green Crab trapping season starts in Drayton Harbor
Washington scientists are using information learned last year as they gear up for trapping the European Green Crab in Drayton Harbor this year. A team of researchers from Washington Sea Grant, Northwest Straits Commission and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) started setting traps the week ending April 16. Grace McCarthy reports. (The Northern Light)

1,655 gallons of sewage spills into Puget Sound after century-old mainline collapses at Alki Beach
Crews are repairing a century-old mainline that collapsed and caused about 1,655 gallons of raw sewage to spill into the Puget Sound. Seattle Public Utilities responded to the overflow at Alki Beach around noon on Tuesday and was able to stop the spill at about 6:00 that night. Franque Thompson reports. (KCPQ)

Changes to Sunshine Coast route will go ahead despite criticism, says BC Ferries
A trial to test major changes to BC Ferries' route from the Lower Mainland to the Sunshine Coast will go ahead, despite a petition gathering thousands of online signatures that criticizes the proposed changes, according the company's CEO. The details of the trial were announced last week, and quickly led to the creation of a petition, which among other things, suggests the plan "will cause Sunshine Coast residents unnecessary stress, undue hardship and will negatively affect thousands of Sunshine Coast residents' lives." Rafferty Baker reports. (CBC)

The salmon you buy in the future may be farmed on land
In a series of indoor tanks 40 miles south west of Miami, Florida, five million fish are swimming in circles a very long way from home. The fish in question are Atlantic salmon, which are far more typically found in the cold waters of Norway's fjords or Scotland's lochs. As the species is not native to Florida, and would be unable to cope with the state's tropical heat, the water tanks are kept well chilled, and housed in a vast, air-conditioned and heavily insulated warehouse-like building. The facility, called the Bluehouse, opened its first phase last year, and intends to be the world's largest land-based fish farm. Dan Gibson reports. (BBC)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  218 AM PDT Thu Apr 29 2021   
TODAY  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 11 seconds. 
TONIGHT  NW wind 5 to 15 kt becoming E after midnight. Wind  waves 2 ft or less. W swell 4 ft at 11 seconds. Rain after  midnight.

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