5/22 Short-tailed albatross, ALA Cherry Point appeal, Chinook DNA, Vancouver emissions, sexual violence in tree-planting, burning sludge, deep-sea mining, BC mineral claims, US refrigerant rule, ghost shrimps, harbor porpoise, democracy watch, week in review.

Short-tailed albatross

   
Short-tailed albatross Phoebastria albatrus
The short-tailed albatross or Steller's albatross is a large rare seabird from the North Pacific. Although related to the other North Pacific albatrosses, it also exhibits behavioural and morphological links to the albatrosses of the Southern Ocean. It is listed as endangered. (Wikipedia) 

Today's top story in Salish Current:  A mural for eelgrass

ALA Energy appeals decision to halt Ferndale Terminal expansion 
ALA Energy has filed a petition against Whatcom County in Skagit County Superior Court in response to a ruling by the Whatcom County Hearing Examiner halting the Ferndale Terminal’s expansion until it meets additional criteria. ALA Energy filed a land-use petition seeking to overturn the hearing examiner’s decision. The lawsuit alleges that the examiner did not follow proper procedure and made a conclusion based on false information. Hannah Edelman reports. (Bellingham Herald) 

DNA ‘fingerprints’ show salmon reach Olympic Peninsula’s uppermost streams
Whether chinook have always used remote headwaters or are moving higher due to climate change isn’t clear. Nick Engelfried reports. (Columbia Insight) 

Vancouver passes mayor's motion to pause emissions tracking, ban on natural gas heating in new homes
Vancouver city council voted on Thursday to pass Mayor Ken Sim's motion that pauses climate-friendly bylaws that tracked the city's emissions, with the motion also seeking to again allow new homes to use natural gas for space and water heating. But the motion received significant opposition from dozens of people arguing that buildings account for a majority of Vancouver's emissions and the city should not roll back green initiatives. Akshay Kulkarni reports. (CBC) 

Out of the shadows: confronting sexual violence in tree-planting
Drop a group of young people into a remote forest and some will find fun and freedom. Others will face sexism, assault and a culture that prizes having a tough exterior, no matter what. Matt Simmons reports (The Narwhal) 

Response to plan for sewage-treatment end product encouraging: CRD
The chair of the Capital Regional District board says he’s encouraged by the positive reception to a recent engagement process designed to inform the public about the use of a thermal treatment plant to deal with biosolids left from sewage treatment. Andrew A. Duffy reports. (Times Colonist) 

Companies join a deep-sea mining rush after Trump executive order, as regulators fast-track permits
Since President Donald Trump signed an executive order to create a deep-sea mining industry, businesses have raised millions from investors, and stock prices have soared. Helen Wieffering reports. (Associated Press) 

Supreme Court of Canada to hear appeal in British Columbia mineral claims case
B.C. Attorney General Niki Sharma says the government might still bring forward legislation to amend key parts of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act. (Canadian Press) 

Trump eases refrigerant rule in a bid to address surging grocery costs
The Trump administration is loosening a federal rule that requires grocery stores and air-conditioning companies to reduce greenhouse gases used in cooling equipment. Matthew Daly reports. (Associated Press) 

UW professor strives to combat ghost shrimp using vibration, compaction
University of Washington scientist Jennifer Ruesink recently released her research findings for a new method of reducing ghost shrimp numbers in the Willapa Bay that combines vibration and pressure. Shari Phiel reports. (The Columbian) 

Tell us some good news about the resurgence of marine mammals in the Salish Sea?
The resurgence of harbor porpoises is an example of the power of humans working together to protect a species. According to WWU’s Cindy Elliser, a marine mammologist and associate director of the Salish Sea Institute, harbor porpoises are the second-smallest cetacean (the group of whales, dolphins and porpoises) in the world, and today they are the most common cetacean in the Salish Sea. Mary Gallagher writes. (WWU News) 

Democracy Watch

• House rejects Smithsonian women’s museum bill after GOP bans ‘biological men’ from exhibits (AP) 

Salish Sea News Week In Review, 5/22/26: Aloha Sherlock Holmes, fuel and farms, gray whale mortality, Nooksack flooding, DNR camping, PFSA limits, atrazine OK'd, BC whale protection, cruise ship LNG.

Have you read the Salish Current? 
Independent, fact based news for Whatcom, San Juan and Skagit counties. Community supported, free from ads. Read the latest weekly newsletter here.

Here's your weekend tug weather— 
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  251 AM PDT Fri May 22 2026    
TODAY  W wind 5 to 10 kt, rising to 10 to 15 kt late. Seas 3 to  5 ft. Wave Detail: W 5 ft at 10 seconds.  
TONIGHT  W wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: W 6 ft  at 9 seconds.  
SAT  W wind around 5 kt, rising to 15 to 20 kt in the  afternoon. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: W 6 ft at 9 seconds.  
SAT NIGHT  W wind 15 to 20 kt, easing to 10 to 15 kt after  midnight. Seas 5 to 8 ft. Wave Detail: W 8 ft at 9 seconds and W  3 ft at 15 seconds.  
SUN  W wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: W 5 ft at  8 seconds and W 5 ft at 14 seconds.

---


"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 msato(at)salish-current.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



savesalishsea@bluesky.social

Salish Sea News: Communicate, Educate, Advocate



Salish Sea Communications: Truth Well Told