8/9 Eggplant, K-21, open border, exteme weather, Cooke fish farm, Peter Ross, corn roortworm

Japanese eggplant [Bonnie Plants]

Japanese eggplant
Eggplants have been cultivated for centuries. There are writings from the 3rd century referencing the cultivation of this wild fruit. Much of the breeding was done to remove the prickles and astringent flavor of wild forms. Today’s Japanese eggplant is silky smooth, sweet and easy to use. (Gardening Know How)

Male southern resident killer whale possibly dead from cancer, says expert
The endangered southern resident killer whale population may have suffered more loss with one of the orcas presumed dead, says an expert. The orca, K-21, was seen in the last week of July and photos showed that it seemed to be wasting away, said Andrew Trites, director of the Marine Mammal Research Unit at the University of British Columbia. Hina Alam reports. (Associated Press)

Residents of isolated U.S. border communities confused as travel restrictions lift
As Canada reopens its border to U.S. travellers, some residents of isolated American border towns say the rules for them are unclear.  As of Monday, fully vaccinated Americans are able to enter Canada and even skip quarantine. But residents of Point Roberts, Wash., Hyder, Alaska, and the Northwest Angle in Minnesota will be allowed to enter Canada regardless of their vaccinated status.  All three communities are cut off from the rest of the U.S. because of the placement of the border. (CBC)

How extreme is this year's extreme weather? Here's a closer look
As the world staggers through another summer of extreme weather, experts are noticing something different: 2021's onslaught is hitting harder and in places that have been spared global warming's wrath in the past. Wealthy countries such as the United States, Canada, Germany and Belgium are joining poorer and more vulnerable nations on a growing list of extreme weather events that scientists say have some connection to human-caused climate change. (Associated Press)

Judge hears lawsuit over fish farms
Whether Cooke Aquaculture’s plan to raise native steelhead at fish farms in Puget Sound is a simple business transition or a complex threat to the marine ecosystem is being debated in King County Superior Court. Judge Johanna Bender heard testimony Thursday over Zoom in a lawsuit environment groups brought against the state Department of Fish & Wildlife for granting a permit to the seafood company to raise steelhead. The environment groups — Wild Fish Conservancy, Center for Biological Diversity, Center for Food Safety and Friends of the Earth — contend Fish & Wildlife did not meet the requirements of SEPA, the State Environmental Policy Act, before issuing a mitigated determination of nonsignificance for Cooke Aquaculture’s proposal to move into the production of steelhead following a state-mandated phase-out of non-native Atlantic salmon. The state Office of the Attorney General and Cooke Aquaculture disagree. Kimberly Cauvel report. (Skagit Valley Herald)

Pollution expert aims to create 'water champions'
Peter Ross, an internationally recognized expert in water pollution, looks out over the sparkling waters of Burrard Inlet and sees something others do not. Invisible chemicals tend to be out of sight and out of mind, says Ross. But they leach into watercourses and into the marine food chain, creating “an invisible crisis.” ....The Raincoast Conservation Foundation, a non-profit agency which combines science and environmental advocacy work, announced this week that Ross will join the foundation to lead a new project focusing on the Salish Sea and the Fraser River watershed. Jane Seyd reports. (North Shore News)

Notorious pest shows up in Skagit County corn field
A Skagit County farm was hit last week with an infestation of a pest uncommon in the Pacific Northwest that has the potential to seriously damage corn crops, according to an entomologist with the Washington State University Skagit County Extension.  Charles Coslor, the extension's entomology coordinator, said western corn rootworm, a species of beetle, was found in corn fields in the Sedro-Woolley area and eradicated with a pesticide applied by helicopter.  Jacqueline Allison reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  256 AM PDT Mon Aug 9 2021   
TODAY  Light wind becoming NW 5 to 15 kt in the afternoon. Wind  waves 2 ft or less. W swell 5 ft at 8 seconds. 
TONIGHT  W wind 10 to 20 kt becoming SW to 10 kt after  midnight. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft subsiding to 1 ft or less. W swell  5 ft at 7 seconds.

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