10/13 Pumpkin, border opening, SRKW decline, islander ferry woes, Tilbury Is LNG, gas lawn tool ban, orca fight, fish sink

Pumpkin

 
Pumpkin
Pumpkins, like other squash, originated in northeastern Mexico and southern United States. The oldest evidence were pumpkin fragments dated between 7,000 and 5,500 BC found in Mexico. Pumpkin fruits are a type of botanical berry known as a pepo. Pumpkins are widely grown for commercial use and as food, aesthetics, and recreational purposes. Pumpkin pie, for instance, is a traditional part of Thanksgiving meals in Canada and the United States, and pumpkins are frequently carved as jack-o'-lanterns for decoration around Halloween. In 2019, China accounted for 37% of the world's production of pumpkins. (Wikipedia)

U.S. to reopen land border to fully vaccinated Canadians next month
Fully vaccinated Canadians will be allowed to enter the United States at land and ferry border crossings starting in early November. Senior U.S. officials announced Tuesday night a plan to begin reopening the land borders with Canada and Mexico, which have been closed for non-essential travel since the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. An exact date for the reopening has not yet been determined, according to senior administration officials who briefed reporters earlier about the plan during a conference call. Alexander Panetta, Katie Simpson and Nick Boisvert report. (CBC)

Study raises new questions about why southern resident killer whales are in decline
A team from the University of British Columbia says the assumption that southern resident killer whales are in decline due to lack of chinook salmon in Canadian waters does not hold up under scrutiny. Instead, their new study suggests declining chinook stocks are only part of the problem facing the critically endangered orcas, and that researchers need to look beyond the Salish Sea for answers. Andrew Trites, co-author and director of UBC's Marine Mammal Research Unit, called the findings published earlier this month in the Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences unexpected. Karin Larsen reports. (CBC)

‘Where’s the ferry?’ islanders ask as crew shortages stymie scheduled sailings
Part of the state highway system but not taken for granted these days: Recent substantial crew shortages have resulted in cancellations of more than 50 Washington State Ferries sailings in a week in the San Juan Islands. State officials are looking for long-term solutions to serve commuters and other residents and visitors. Heather Spaulding reports. (Salish Current)

FortisBC Wants to Expand an LNG Plant on Vancouver’s Doorstep. Opponents Say No
Tilbury Island is a low-lying stretch of land a few kilometres from the mouth of the Fraser River, tucked in the industrial heart of the city of Delta. Tilbury Island is at the centre of a debate that’s leading environmental groups to picket the provincial legislature, and cities to vote in opposition. The island is home to FortisBC’s Tilbury Island LNG facility, which the utility company is seeking to expand by adding additional LNG storage and a jetty where it could load tankers bound for international markets. Michelle Gamage reports. (The Tyee)

California set to become first state to ban gasoline-powered lawn equipment
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill that would phase out the sale of new gas-powered lawn equipment in the state by 2024. Tik Root reports. (Washington Post)

Rare clash between two distinct kinds of orcas in the Salish Sea — and the endangered fish-eaters won 
Whale watching in the Salish Sea is almost always a thrill. But a recent clash between two species of orcas presented a rare spectacle. Two distinct species of orcas feed and socialize in the waters of Puget Sound: fish-eating endangered southern resident killer whales and transient, or Bigg’s, killer whales, which feed on marine mammals and are more common. They seldom mix. In a recent encounter between these distinct ecotypes, it was the southern residents that appeared to break up a group of transients and drive them away. Bellamy Pailthorp reports. (NNKX)

Letting Carbon Sink with the Fishes
Fish fall to the seafloor when they die, sequestering carbon in the deep. Our penchant for catching big fish is breaking the cycle. Amorina Kingdon, Kelly Fretwell and Meigan Henry report. (Hakai Magazine)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  226 AM PDT Wed Oct 13 2021   
TODAY  W wind to 10 kt. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 7 ft  at 11 seconds. A chance of rain in the afternoon. 
TONIGHT  SE wind to 10 kt becoming E 10 to 20 kt after  midnight. Wind waves 1 ft or less building to 1 to 3 ft after  midnight. W swell 7 ft at 12 seconds. A chance of rain in the  evening then rain after midnight.

--
"Salish Sea News & Weather" is compiled as a community service by Mike Sato. To subscribe, send your name and email to mikesato772 (@) gmail.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Salish Sea News: Communicate, Educate, Advocate

Follow on Twitter. 

Salish Sea Communications: Truth Well Told