3/5 Dogfish, forest fires, military weapons, salmon farming, George Heyman, methanol-fueled tugs, enviro justice leadrs, dogwinkle

Dogfish

Pacific Spiny Dogfish shark Squalus suckleyi
Dogfish are small, bottom-dwelling sharks that live along the northern Pacific and Atlantic coasts. They are able to travel long distances, and their habitat can range from dark depths of 3,000 feet to shallower waters receiving ample sunlight. Dogfish can live for over 40 years, and in the Pacific they have even been known to live as long as 70 years. (Seattle Aquarium)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Sikh community’s worship and gatherings are open to all

Long-term forecast predicts increased forest fire activity in Oregon and Washington’s dampest areas
Hotter and more intense fires are likely coming to the Pacific Northwest’s cooler and wetter forests. That’s from new research led by an Oregon State University scientist. Brian Bull reports. (OPB)

Can Marine Mammals and Munitions Coexist?
As the humpback whale population rebounds in an area of the Salish Sea used for military weapons training, scientists raise concerns. andrea bennett reports. (The Tyee)

Does Land-Based Salmon Farming Make Sense for the Northwest?
On April 13, Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz – the former long-shot candidate for governor, the current shorter-shot candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives – announced that her department had signed a letter of Intent with Nova-Scotia-based Sustainable Blue to explore sites for land-based salmon aquaculture on land managed by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Dan Chasen writes. (Post Alley)

B.C. Environment Minister George Heyman won't seek re-election
Heyman will endorse former Vancouver councillor Andrea Reimer to seek NDP nomination. (Canadian Press)

Sanmar embarks on construction of world’s first methanol-fueled escort tugs
Based on the RAsalvor 4400-DFM design from Canadian naval architects Robert Allan Ltd, initial phase of building world’s first pair of methanol-powered escort tugs has begun. The new tugs will service Canada’s Trans Mountain Expansion Project (TMEP), escorting tankers from the harbour limits of the Port of Vancouver to the open Pacific Ocean through the commercial shipping lanes of the Salish Sea. (Safety4Sea)

WA group offers $100K prize for PNW environmental justice leaders
Environmental justice group Washington Conservation Action is accepting applications for the annual $100,000 Bullitt Prize through June 1, 2024. The award is meant to support new environmental justice leaders (under age 35) from across the Pacific Northwest. The eligibility criteria have expanded from academic leaders and now include individual and group professional and grassroots pioneers. (Cascade PBS)

Frilled Dogwinkle
Reader John Conley writes: "Thank you for mentioning the Frilled Dogwinkle!  These are wonderful, abundant, under-appreciated creatures.  Archeological digs recently (at Ozette, among other places) have revealed the fact that this little mollusc was an important food source for indigenous peoples in our area.  Two other interesting facts about this mollusc are that the females (primarily) congregate in late Winter in large numbers to lay their eggs in common “maternal nurseries”.  The eggs, commonly referred to as “sea oats”, due to their appearance, are laid around the base of the rocks that the snails are congregating upon.  The second interesting fact is that each egg capsule contains 12-15 eggs, and roughly half of them are infertile. When the fertile eggs hatch, the larva (veligers) eat the infertile ones.  Mom (and Dad) are long gone, but they have left the kids their first meal."

A Nucella “nursery”

“Sea Oats”: Nucella egg capsules

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Here's your tug weather—
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  324 AM PST Tue Mar 5 2024    
TODAY  E wind to 10 kt. Wind waves 1 ft. W swell 3 ft at  8 seconds.  
TONIGHT  NW wind to 10 kt. Wind waves 1 to 2 ft. W swell 3 ft  at 10 seconds.

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"Salish Sea News & Weather" is compiled as a community service by Mike Sato. It is included as a daily feature in the Salish Current newsletter. Click here to subscribe. Questions? Email mikesato772 (@) gmail.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



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