9/9 Puget Sound rockfish, WA wildfires, BC wildfires, green crabs, baby orca, BC drought, Vancouver sewage, democracy watch.

Puget Sound rockfish [Race Rocks Ecological Reserve]

Puget Sound rockfish Sebastes emphaeus
The Puget Sound rockfish is one of the smallest rockfish species and has a very slim body. Puget Sound rockfish range from Prince William Sound, Alaska, to Punta Gorda, California. Adults have been found at water depths of 3 to 366 m (10-1,200 ft). They prefer high-relief rocky outcrops or boulder fields with high currents and often form small schools. Puget Sound rockfish can grow up to 18.3 cm (7.2 in) in length. Maximum age is at least 22 years old. (WDFW)

Today's top story in Salish Current:  Despite audit, Fish and Wildlife not budging on spring bear hunt

Washington has had a record-breaking year for wildfires, and it's not over
Washington Public Lands Commissioner Dave Upthegrove and state forester George Geissler reflected on lessons so far from one of the most intense wildfire years on record. Bellamy Pailthorp reports. (KNKX) 

Fast-moving wildfires reshaping B.C.’s forests, new study finds
Seven of the 10 fastest-growing fires were in Canada in 2023, the year of the country’s worst fire season. Nathan Griffiths reports. (Vancouver Sun) 

As invasive crabs gobble up young clams, a commercial fishery and way of life hang in the balance
As invasive crabs gobble up young clams, a commercial fishery and way of life hang in the balance. Sonal Gupta reports. (The Narwhal) 

'They have always been our relatives': Samish tribe names baby orca
The Samish Indian Nation held a naming ceremony Sunday for the region’s latest baby Southern Resident orca whale. About 100 members gathered for the ceremony held during the tribe’s Camp Samish weekend for tribal members. Emma Fletcher-Frazer reports. (Skagit Valley Herald) 

B.C. drought forces volunteers to rescue salmon from drying streams
The Cowichan Lake Salmonid Enhancement Society on Vancouver Island cares for 16 streams connected to Lake Cowichan, and the society does what they call fry salvage — manually rescuing fish from drying rivers and moving them into other waterways. Bridget Stringer-Holden reports. (CBC) 

As Fish Go Blind, Experts Say BC Isn’t Prepared for Droughts
With fish struggling in the Salmon River, flip-flopping on emergency orders suggests a lack of preplanning, experts say. Zoë Yunker reports. (The Tyee) 

A timeline of Metro Vancouver's $3.86B wastewater treatment plant
New North Shore plant 6 years behind schedule with building costs well over original estimate. (CBC) 

Democracy Watch

• Coming in November: A big election for WA’s Supreme Court (Washington State Standard) 
• Trump wants voters to pretend he’s on the ballot. The Republican Party is going along for the ride (AP) 

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Here's your tug weather— 
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  128 PM PDT Tue Sep 8 2026    
WED  E wind around 5 kt, backing to NW in the afternoon. Seas  3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W 3 ft at 7 seconds and W 4 ft at  12 seconds.  
WED NIGHT  W wind 5 to 10 kt, rising to 15 to 20 kt after  midnight. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: W 5 ft at 9 seconds.

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"Salish Sea News & Weather" is compiled as a community service by Mike Sato.  To subscribe? Questions? Email msato(at)salish-current.org. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



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