10/4 Lumpsucker, avian flu, WA trash, BC ferry fares, Mt Nch'ḵay̓

Pacific Spiny Lumpsucker [NOAA NMFS]

Pacific Spiny Lumpsucker Eumicrotremus orbis
Divers describe Pacific spiny lumpfish as bizarre, cute, comical, entertaining, and as a ping pong ball with fins. All are appropriate descriptions of these tiny almost spherical fish whose pelvic fin is a modified suction disk with which a spiny lumpsucker attaches itself to rocks or other substrate such as kelp. Their family name, Cyclopteridae, is derived from the Greek words “kyklos” which means circle, and “pteryx” which means wing or fin, in reference to the circle-shaped pectoral fins most of the fish in this family have. (Aquarium of the Pacific)

Avian flu comes to the Salish Sea
A new strain of avian flu has been sweeping the globe since 2020, leaving thousands of dead seabirds in its wake. This past summer, it arrived at a colony of Caspian terns at Rat Island in the Salish Sea, with catastrophic results. Eric Wagner reports. (Salish Sea Currents Magazine)

Washington state is trashy, and there's a study to prove it
Cigarette butts, construction and demolition debris, and food wrappers. That's what Washingtonians are littering the most across the state. And it's piling up. The first study  of its kind in nearly 20 years says we've got a lot of litter collecting along Washington's roadways and in public areas. (KUOW)

B.C. Ferries’ annual fare hikes capped at 3.2 per cent
The cap sets the maximum annual increase for passenger and vehicle fares and reservation fees, and would be in effect for four years starting April 1. Carla Wilson reports. (Times Colonist)

Squamish Nation asks for Mount Garibaldi to be officially renamed Nch'ḵay̓
The Squamish Nation is asking for Mount Garibaldi be officially recognized by its historic Sḵwx̱wú7mesh sníchim name "Nch'ḵay̓" (in-ch-KAY), which has been used for thousands of years. Nch'ḵay̓ means "dirty place" or "grimy one" and stems from volcanic debris in the Cheekye River that tends to make it look muddy, according to the Squamish Nation. Karin Larsen reports. (CBC)

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Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  258 AM PDT Wed Oct 4 2023   TODAY  Light wind becoming W to 10 kt in the afternoon. Wind  waves 1 ft or less. W swell 5 ft at 11 seconds. 
TONIGHT  W wind to 10 kt in the evening becoming light. Wind  waves 1 ft or less. W swell 4 ft at 10 seconds.

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