1309, 2016

Olympic National Park: Fish continue to recolonize Elwha watershed

By Janet Thomas|September 13, 2016|Salish Sea, Salmon|

PORT ANGELES — Adult chinook salmon, sockeye salmon, steelhead and bull trout were spotted in the upper Elwha River last month, the latest evidence of post-dam removal recolonization, fisheries biologists said. Recent monitoring has revealed that the fish have passed upstream through the former Elwha and Glines Canyon dam sites, Olympic National Park officials said. The observation is based on snorkel surveys that spotted fish but did not show the

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0809, 2016

Four-month campaign to name Salish Sea a World Heritage Site begins

By Samuel Welch|September 8, 2016|Salish Sea|

A campaign has kicked off on Canada’s west coast to have the Salish Sea declared a World Heritage Site. “The Salish Sea is a unique inner sea with a long history of providing food and sustenance, habitat and biodiversity for marine species, and a wealth of resources to all those living alongside its shores,” stated Laurie Gourlay, the interim director of the Salish Sea Trust that’s in charge of the

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2806, 2016

NOAA Killer Whale patrols begin in San Juan Islands

By srschram|June 28, 2016|News, Orca, Puget Sound, Salish Sea|

NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement (OLE) will soon begin seasonal summer patrols in Haro Strait around Washington’s San Juan Islands.  Officers will be enforcing special Federal regulations designed to protect endangered Southern Resident killer whales by keeping boat traffic at a safe distance from the whales. This is the sixth year implementing NOAA Fisheries’ regulations that require whale watching vessels and most other vessels to remain at least 200 yards

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1012, 2015

National Marine Fisheries Service Should Require “No Wake” Speeds and Create a Whale Protection Zone

By srschram|December 10, 2015|Orca, Protection Zone, Salish Sea, SRKWs, Whales|

A new study demonstrates that the faster boats speed near endangered Southern Resident killer whales, the louder it is for them – the more noise there is in the water, the harder it is for the Orca to hunt, communicate and rest.  A “No Wake” speed restriction for boats within 400 yards of any whale, combined with Orca Relief’s proposed Whale Protection Zone will go a long way to reducing

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2709, 2015

Quiet(er) Marine Protected Areas Needed for Marine Mammals — Soon

By srschram|September 27, 2015|News, Orca, Protection Zone, Salish Sea|

The endangered Southern Resident Orca need more quiet to aid their recovery, and they are not alone.  A new study shows the urgency to protect endangered Southern Resident Orca and other marine mammals from disruptive noise pollution, by identifying and establishing key protection zones where the whales live, socialize, and hunt.  The study shows how to include noise pollution in protection planning for all marine mammals, focusing primarily on areas

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