Birds + Ocean + Fish Hooks = ?

Birds are an important part of the environmental equation.
On our tours, we spend time looking for birds, explaining what they are doing and why, what time of the year they are here and where they go when they are not here.
As a member of American Bird Conservany, Bill and I strive to protect and encourage bird on our property and elsewhere. Bird watching is some of the most entertaining fun, its free and can be done solo or with friends.
I thought you might enjoy this article.


Fishermen Work to Keep Birds Off the Hook

Black-footed Albatrosses.

(Washington, D.C.) West Coast fishermen are voluntarily taking measures to stop the accidental killing of seabirds which can be snared on the hooks of long-line fishing boats. The Fishing Vessel Owners’ Association (FVOA), which represents longlining captains in the halibut and sablefish fisheries along the West Coast, has instructed its members to use streamer lines when longline fishing in Washington, Oregon, and California waters.

“We greatly appreciate this voluntary action on the part of FVOA, and are eager to see other fishermen’s associations follow suit,” said Jessica Hardesty, American Bird Conservancy’s Seabird Program Director. “Now that we have developed effective and inexpensive bycatch reduction measures, it is important to tailor them to new fisheries where they can save bird lives.”

Seabirds often follow fishing vessels looking for a free meal, and can drown when they try to take the bait attached to longline fishing hooks. This seabird bycatch is a problem in longline fisheries throughout the Pacific, especially by boats (largely outside the U.S. fleet) which do not employ any bycatch reduction techniques. Along the West Coast of the United States, bycatch of the Black-footed Albatross in the sablefish fishery is the primary concern.

Measures to prevent bycatch are already required for the groundfish fleets operating in Alaska, where albatross deaths have been reduced by up to 80% thanks to the use of bird-scaring streamer lines which were researched by Washington Sea Grant (WSG), a sea grant college program that conducts research, education and outreach concerning marine issues.

“We were pleased with the process of reducing bird bycatch in Alaska, and we would support similar measures here along the West Coast,” said Robert Alverson, Executive Director of FVOA, which collaborated with researchers to establish the regulations currently in force in Alaska.

WSG is currently working with the Northwest Science Center of NOAA Fisheries to examine the overlap of the West Coast hook-and-line fleets with seabirds and to develop practical and effective management options to address the issue.

“We have established a productive partnership, where the best science is used to establish regulations that work for both the birds and the fishermen,” said Ed Melvin, a senior scientist at Washington Sea Grant, who has worked closely with the fleets on seabird bycatch for years. “Members of the fishermen’s associations and the seabird conservation community are confident that practical solutions for the west coast will be implemented over the next few years.”

According to the most recent estimates, the breeding population of Black-footed Albatrosses is around 64,500 pairs. Their breeding range was greatly reduced, and populations suffered huge declines at the turn of the 19th Century due to hunting for the feather trade. Unlike the Laysan Albatross, which was similarly affected, the Black-footed Albatross did not rebound once hunting was stopped. Fisheries bycatch, which has decimated albatross populations throughout the world, and degradation of island habitats are undoubtedly hindering recovery.

“The Black-footed Albatross is considered globally endangered, and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service is currently reviewing a petition to list it under the Endangered Species Act.” said Hardesty.

Orca Whales Are Our Only Business. ©

World Oceans Day Film Festival in June

SEA CINEMA TWO-DAY FILM FESTIVAL TO CELEBRATE
WORLD OCEANS DAY AND SAVING PUGET SOUND

The Olympia Film Society and People For Puget Sound today announced the film lineup for the two-day SEA CINEMA festival at the Capitol Theater in Olympia. The films will be screened on June 5 and 6 from 6 PM to 12:30 AM each night.

The festival will screen award-winning independent films about our oceans and will feature performances by local artists Playback Theater and local producer Still Hope Productions.

Titles include: “Attack of the Sea Slugs,” “Musica Surfica,” “Pacific Horizons,” and “Protecting New Orleans, Saving Venice.”

The festival will also screen the winner of a local short film contest judged by local professional filmmakers.
Tickets are $12 a night, $20 for both nights for members of People For Puget Sound, the Olympia Film Society and students. For non-members, tickets are $15 a night, $30 for both nights.

Seating is limited to 750 each night so early advance ticket sales are highly recommended. Tickets may be purchased online at http://www.buyolympia.com/events/?details=401

For a complete program of films to be screened each night, contest information, and sponsor and event details, visit: www.pugetsound.org/events/seacinema

Orca Whales Are Our Only Business. ©

San Juan Island in Snow on February 26, 2009

I know you have heard. It snowed.
Again.
Here are some photos from this AM
Here they are, Izzy and Stella, now grooming in the snow

Looking out towards False Bay, San Juan Island

Bird tracks in the snow.

Orca Whales Are Our Only Business. ©

Orcas Seen Off San Juan Island February 24, 2009

J pod was seen off Turn Point, Stuart Island, just north of San Juan Island yesterday. They went south down the west side of San Juan Island swimming against a flood tide.

It rained here all last night and it still raining. Winter in the Pacific Northwest.

Orca Whales Are Our Only Business. ©

Transient Orca Whales

Today orca whales did come by San Juan Island. It was the T's, not our residents, but still orca whales. They were also seen on the south end of Victoria and in Haro Straight. One report that there must have been 20 of them. And a great big stella sea lion was about too.
A gray whale was seen off Camino Head, Camino Island from the bridge.

Here is a treat:

Dr. David Suzuki 6 April 2009 at 7pm
Mount Baker Theatre in Bellingham
Tickets are $7.50 plus a small processing fee for general admission (no reserved seating). Tickets are still available. Since most of us have been inspired by Dr. Suzuki's hopeful, holistic words on Climate Change, I thought you would want to know about this tremendous opportunity.

For those unable to attend, a copy of his Suzuki Speaks can be purchased at Avanti pictures .

Orca Whales Are Our Only Business. ©

Orca Whales Seen Off San Juan Island

Yes, J pod and the new BABY, were seen off San Juan Island February 19, 2009. Some folks saw them just north of San Juan Island.
We have some fairly nice weather here today about 40 degrees. It has been getting below freezing at night lately.
I am already itching for spring.

Orca Whales Are Our Only Business. ©

Death in the San Juan Valley on San Juan Island

The incident has left the residents stunned.

Orca Whales Are Our Only Business. ©

Male Orca Missing

A 31-year-old killer whale name Faith — a large male who was the most recognizable orca among the "Dyes Inlet whales" — has gone missing, portending the likelihood that another Puget Sound killer whale has died.

Ken Balcomb of the Center for Whale Research says he will hold out hope until spring for L-57, as he is known among researchers. But it's an ominous sign that the two females he generally travels with — L-7 or Canuck, and L-53 or Lulu — have been sighted several times in the U.S. and Canada since October, yet Faith is nowhere to be found.

Usually no whale is counted truly 'missing' until at least spring. It would be unusual for a resident not to return by spring, but it actually has happened in the past.

I am holding out and hoping he will be alright.














Orca Whales Are Our Only Business. ©

Two New Orca Babies in the Resident Pods off San Juan Island!

Yahoooooooooooooooo!
We are thrilled with the news that Ken Balcomb has ID'd two new baby orcas in our Resident Orca Pods.
One orca baby is from the J pod and one orca baby is from the L pod.
That brings the population to 85. Definatly going in the right direction.

More as news trickles out.
Colleen

Why Puget Sound Needs A Year-Round Tug

Dont let this happen to Puget Sound.
Write NOW:

Bill # Tug SB 5344

Committee Members
422 J.A. Cherberg Building - P.O. Box 40466 - Olympia, WA 98504-0466

Senator
Rockefeller, Phil (D) Chair rockefeller.phil@leg.wa.gov JAC 218 (360) 786-7644
Pridemore, Craig (D) Vice Chair pridemore.craig@leg.wa.gov JAC 212 (360) 786-7696
Honeyford, Jim (R) * honeyford.jim@leg.wa.gov INB 107 (360) 786-7684
Delvin, Jerome (R) delvin.jerome@leg.wa.gov INB 201 (360) 786-7614
Fraser, Karen (D) fraser.karen@leg.wa.gov LEG 404 (360) 786-7642
Hatfield, Brian (D) hatfield.brian@leg.wa.gov JAC 239 (360) 786-7636
Holmquist, Janéa (R) holmquist.janea@leg.wa.gov INB 106B (360) 786-7624
Marr, Chris (D) marr.chris@leg.wa.gov LEG 417 (360) 786-7610
Morton, Bob (R) morton.bob@leg.wa.gov INB 115D (360) 786-7612
Ranker, Kevin (D) ranker.kevin@leg.wa.gov LEG 402 (360) 786-7678
Sheldon, Tim (D) sheldon.timothy@leg.wa.gov LEG 412 (360) 786-7668


Committee Staff
Sam Thompson Counsel JAC 420 (360) 786-7413 thompson.sam@leg.wa.gov
Dixie Huff Committee Assistant JAC 422 (360) 786-7462 huff.dixie@leg.wa.gov

The Exxon Valdez oil spill, which took place on March 24th, 1989, was one of the most severe ecological accidents in history, contaminating a total of 11,000 square miles (28,000 square kilometers) of the ocean. The ship dumped more than 10.8 million gallons (about 40 million liters) of oil into the open sea, affecting salmon, sea otters, seals, seabirds, as well as whales and other marine and land animals. Some 20 years later, the true extent of the damages is still being observed, especially in the case of the killer whale, or orca populations in the region, which have never recovered after the disaster.

The Prince William Sound region of Alaska, where the spill took place, used to house some 22 orcas in 1989, but now marine biologists say that their number has drastically decreased to just 7. In other words, they dropped by more than 60 percent over the last 20 years, despite authorities' best efforts to clean the area as thoroughly as possible. The truth is that the remoteness of the location – it's only accessible by boat or helicopter – has made it impossible for cleaning teams to work effectively.

“These are the unexpected things. In killer whales, not recovering for this long length of time is something that we certainly didn’t foresee or predict,” National Marine Fisheries Service’s Auke Bay Laboratory senior scientist Jeep Rice, who is involved in the monitoring efforts, says. According to the expert, more than 16,000 gallons of oil float in the region even today, and in 1989 an estimated 7 whales died on account of the spill.

Other than the accident, there are also other factors that have led to the decline in the number of whales, including the fact that their main prey, the seals, were decimated by pesticides in the water, which were most likely brought from Asia by currents, as well as the fact that the chemicals might have affected the orcas' reproductive abilities. Together, these factors formed a potent mix, which now threatens to wipe out the killer whale group completely.

However, Exxon currently denies this situation, stating that the mammals in the region are recovering or have already recovered. Naturally, this is not true, as evidenced by the recent study and counting of orcas. It's true that some species are recovering, namely smaller ones that have been able to better adapt to the changes, but killer whales are highly endangered by the remaining oil, and something has to be done quickly, if they are to survive.

Orcas can't find fish in California

February 13, 2009 Mercury News California's thirst is helping drive an endangered population of West Coast killer whales toward extinction, federal biologists have concluded. The southern resident killer whale population, which numbers 83, spends much of its time in Puget Sound but since 2000 many of them have been spotted off the California coast as far south as Monterey Bay. In a draft scientific report, biologists conclude the damage that water operations are doing to California's salmon populations is enough to threaten the orcas' existence since they depend on salmon for food. Federal officials confirmed to MediaNews on Friday the conclusions of the report, which has not been released. "It does point to the interconnected nature (of problems in the Delta)," said Maria Rea, the Sacramento area office supervisor for the National Marine Fisheries Service. The findings, contained in a draft report by the agency's scientists, could elevate public support for environmental protection in the Delta, where the conflict between environmental advocates and water users has centered on Delta smelt, a nondescript fish that grows a couple of inches long and smells like cucumbers. "People have a hard time looking at the Delta smelt for its own sake," said Zeke Grader, executive director of the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Associations. "If it's Shamu, that's a different thing." Biologists last month reported tentatively that pumping water out of the Delta threatens to drive spring-run chinook salmon and winter-run chinook salmon extinct. The orca study found the loss of those fish could leave whales at times with patches of ocean that lack food, Rea said. In addition, the reliance on hatchery-raised salmon in other salmon runs makes that food source vulnerable to disruption, she said. Hatchery fish lose the natural genetic diversity that is helpful in recovering from attacks of disease or changes in environmental conditions. As a result, the regulatory hammer of the Endangered Species Act could be used much more aggressively to fix problems plaguing the state's most valuable salmon run, according to Grader. The Sacramento River fall-run chinook salmon, the backbone of the commercial salmon fishery, collapsed last year. Although the run is not endangered, its collapse led to the unprecedented closure of the fishing season. Grader said regulators could use the tough law to protect fall-run salmon, not because it merits the law's protection by itself but because it provides food for the endangered orcas. Orcas are the most widely distributed whale in the world and live in all kinds of ocean habitat. Some populations roam the oceans but resident populations, like the southern resident whales in Puget Sound, tend to stay closer to home. The southern resident orcas' diet is almost entirely salmon and about 80 percent is chinook salmon, said Ken Balcomb, executive director of the Center for Whale Research in Friday Harbor, Washington. The 83 Puget Sound orcas eat about 500,000 salmon a year, he said. In winter, the whales move out into the ocean and swim up and down the coast in search of food, a search that in the last seven years has brought two of the three pods as far south as Monterey. Balcomb said that in recent years California's salmon has been an important food source for the whales for six to eight weeks a year. This year, however, the orcas swam about halfway down the coast of Oregon before giving up the hunt, Balcomb said. "They got down there and said California is not worth it this year and turned around," Balcomb said. Facts about southern resident killer whales Population: 83 today. Lowest population was 78 in 1984. Historic population may have been a couple hundred. About 120 during the 1950s. Range: From late spring to early autumn mostly in the inland waterways of Washington state and British Columbia, including Puget Sound. During winter, they head north along the coast of British Columbia and in the last seven years as far south as Monterey. Food: Almost entirely salmon. 80 percent chinook salmon. 83 orcas consume about 500,000, 20-pound fish a year. Link to California: Since about 2000, the orcas have traveled farther south in search of food. California salmon have become an important food source for six to eight weeks in winter. Source: Center for Whale Research; Center for Biological Diversity

Luna the young orca whale, in a new film

Movie glows with Luna's spirit

Filmmakers hold out hope for other whales

Eric Volmers, Calgary Herald

Published: Thursday, February 12, 2009

Preview

Director Suzanne Chisholm will appear for a Q&A after both screenings of Saving Luna Friday evening at the Globe Theatre

Those who doubt the mystifying powers that a young orca named Luna could have on people need only look at the strange trajectory his story took under the watchful eye of veteran journalists Suzanne Chisholm and Michael Parfit.

The British Columbia reporters-filmmakers behind the film Saving Luna first went to cover the plight of the curiously friendly whale in B. C's Nootka Sound for a magazine article,

only to find they had too much material to fit into that format. The article became a longer article, which was eventually parlayed into a book deal. Then the CBC offered funding to turn it into a hour-long documentary, before Chisholm and Parfit finally decided to turn the heartwarming and heart-wrenching story of Luna into a feature-length film.

But perhaps most telling was their decision to abandon objectivity during filming and become activists for the whale, which had become the focus of heated battles between the government, First Nations, local citizens and fishermen.

"That was a hard one to get to," admits Chisholm. "We're journalists. Mike has written for over 30 years and never gotten involved in a story. But we saw that the policy the government had on Luna wasn't working, based on a hell of a lot of evidence from being out in the field."

"It came from the unique situation of seeing what was happening with the government and the people, and realizing that the people couldn't keep away from Luna and, more importantly, couldn't keep Luna away from people," says Chisholm.

The moment comes after the half-way mark of the 90-minute film, when Parfit decides to ignore demands from Department of Fisheries and Oceans officials to avoid Luna and begins to interact with the whale.

This, of course, doesn't come out of the blue.

Luna's ordeal had been dutifully covered by the media for three years, showing his estrangement from his pod and subsequent childlike desperation to initiate contact with humans as a surrogate family. The DFO told people to ignore him. The First Nations revered him, believing Luna to be a reincarnated chief. Townspeople and schoolchildren fell in love with him and bad-tempered fishermen were soon wishing him dead. But when an attempt to capture and relocate Luna failed, it became clear to Chisholm and Parfit that no one had a coherent plan in place to save him.

"He would have been better off with his family, that's not in dispute, if he was taken really, really early on," says Chisholm. "But that didn't happen. After the failed attempt to capture him, it became clear there wasn't the will or money to move him. So we thought he needed to be given the controlled interaction that he needs. It wasn't the same as living with other whales, humans aren't the same. But it could have been a foster pod."

Saving Luna brings with it greater issues about how humans interact with nature and how we could better share this world with other creatures. But for all the green issues the film brings into focus, the universal appeal of Saving Luna undeniably springs from the endearing character of the young Orca.

The film has become a crowd-favourite throughout the world, despite its soul-crushingly sad ending. It has won dozens of awards at festivals and found a particularly receptive audience in children.

"I'm convinced it's Luna," saysChisholm. "I'd love to say it's the filmmakers, but really it's the amazing creature and character. The Luna story has all the plot twists of a Hollywood film."

Chisholm and Parfit are no strangers to making films or writing stories about our relationship to nature. They have produced and directed more than 20 projects for the National Geographic Channel, tackling everything from melting ice in Greenland, to the Inuit of Nunavut, to puffins, to the rising sea levels in the Netherlands.

While Saving Luna's story may be unique, the underlying theme is not, Chisholm says. "I think we share the planet with other creatures and we have to get along, that's not optional," she says. "When Luna became slightly inconvenient there was this idea by some that he should be killed or sent off to an aquarium. We like to hold out hope that there's more options for these guys. But it's not really a message film. People can leave the film with different ideas of what the message is. We were just telling a story."

Orcas February 6 near San Juan Island

Ken Balcomb of the Center for Whale Research reported
thatall three Southern Resident Killer Whale pods were seen:
J, K and L pods around 2:30 PM off of Victoria.

Researcher Ken Balcomb was out on the water doing research.

Green Happenings Around Seattle

The Sustainable Saturday Series at 21 Acres
Visit 21 Acres Farm to learn and participate in a variety of activities showcasing and demonstrating sustainable agriculture and environmental stewardship. This is the first in the free series of Sustainable Saturdays, to be held the first Saturday of every month through November. Participate in a farm task, walk the trails, chat with a Community Gardener or just meander through the wildlife corridor.
Sat, Feb 7, Demonstrations and volunteer work projects are planned between 10am-12pm, official Farm Tour is at 11am.
21 Acres Farm, 13701 NE 171st St, Woodinville

Solar Hot Water 101
This workshop, presented by Seattle City Light and Northwest Sustainable Energy for Economic Development, will include an overview of system theory and design, as well as a discussion of component selection and sizing. The workshop will walk you though the basics of site assessment, understanding a system's potential in our climate, finding a solar contractor, comparing bids and understanding incentives, installation, and maintenance and operation of your system. FREE, RSVP Required.
Sat, Feb 7, 10am-1pm
REI Flagship Store, 222 Yale Ave N

Snoqualmie Falls Hydroelectric Plant Tour
Washington State produces almost three fourths of its electricity from hydropower, the largest proportion in the country. Hydroelectric plants produce no emissions while operating, representing a step toward sustainability in our energy consumption. Learn about this form of renewable energy and see first-hand how it's generated at the Snoqualmie Falls hydroelectric plant. Snacks will be provided. Please dress for the weather. Cost: $15.
Sat, Feb 7, 10am-1pm
Meet at the EOS Alliance offices for carpool, 650 S Orcas St

Make Your Own Biodiesel
In this hands-on workshop learn how biodiesel is made from waste vegetable oil and discuss sustainability issues from the production of biofuels. Other topics to be covered include chemistry of the reaction, quality control, vehicle compatibility, cold weather issues, methanol recovery, disposal of wastes, and how a biodiesel co-op can be an example of a decentralized fueling system. Participants will make and keep small batches of biodiesel from waste fryer oil.
Sat, Feb 7, 12pm
EOS Alliance, 650 S Orcas St, Suite 220

Seeking Sustainable Solutions:
Linking Our Health, Our Environment, Our Economy, Our Communities
The sixth annual seminar series will explore how changes to our environment affect our health, economy and community. The series opens with a seminar that highlights a major dilemma as our nation seeks to reduce its reliance on oil: the burden placed on our limited water supplies through the development of many renewable energy sources. In the second part of this seminar, these issues will be brought home to Washington State, as they discuss environmental legislative priorities and what our state is doing now to meet the changing needs of our region. Buy your tickets at Brown Paper Tickets.
Wed, Feb 11, Reception: 5:30pm-6:30pm; Seminar: 6:30pm-8pm;
Post-seminar networking: 8pm-8:30pm
Downstairs at Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave, Seattle

Sustainable Kirkland - Monthly Meeting
Please join your neighbors and fellow green community members for a friendly dinner, discussion, and planning. This month's meet will be in the Juanita neighborhood. The topic for the February meeting is "So... What Is "Sustainable", anyway?". You can get more information about the group and upcoming meetings by visiting Sustainable Kirkland's website.
Thu, Feb 12, 6:30-8:30pm

Yes, We Must! An Environmental Film and Discussion Series
" Everything's Cool" is the third film of this series; it will be introduced briefly and set in context of the issues it explores, and will be followed - after a short break - by a moderated community discussion. Refreshments will be provided; please bring your own beverage mug and your own chair cushion. There is no admission charge; donations are always appreciated.
Fri, Feb 13, Doors open 6:45pm, program 7pm
EHCC Fellowship Hall, 105 Winslow Way W, Bainbridge Island

Environmental Lobby Day
Join the state's leading conservation groups and hundreds of citizen lobbyists as they engage their elected legislators with their powers of persuasion to push for the passage of the Environmental Priorities Coalition's legislative package. Cost is $15 and includes an advocacy toolkit and lunch.
Thu, Feb 19, 8:45am-5:30pm
United Churches, 110 11th Ave E, Olympia

Camp Long Environmental Movie: Broken Limbs
Apples, agriculture, and the new American farmer-Wenatchee, Washington, the "Apple Capital of the World". This pastoral valley in the heart of the Northwest prospered for nearly a century as home to the famed Washington apple. But the good times have vanished. Apple orchardists by the thousands are going out of business and thousands more await the dreaded letter from the bank, announcing the end of their livelihoods and a uniquely American way of life.
Thu, Feb 19, 7-9pm
Camp Long, 5200 35th Ave S, Seattle

Eat and Dance for a Farm!
Kim and Dan Hulse formed Tahoma Farms , LLC in December of 2008 with the goal of purchasing 45-acres of the Orting Valley Farms and start production of organic vegetables and small fruits for the 2009 growing season. This event hopes to raise $20,000 to help finance the purchase of this farmland in Pierce County, potentially a key part of a new PCC Farmland Trust farm. The event will feature local food and drink, speakers, and a bluegrass band. Representatives of the Farmland Trust will be there also. Tickets are $75 (not tax deductible).
Sat, Feb 21, 6pm
Bellarmine Preparatory School, 2300 S Washington St, Tacoma

Water 1st-Beer 2nd Fundraiser
Water 1st is a local organization with a mission to serve families in the poorest communities in the world as they implement community-managed projects that integrate water supply, sanitation, and health education. Attend their fundraiser and enjoy food, beverages, live music, dancing, silent auction, and a short Water 1st film and presentation, plus a Hawaii Vacation raffle. Tickets: $30/person
Fri, Feb 27, 7pm
The Armory at South Lake Union Park, 860 Terry Ave N, Seattle

Yes, We Must! An Environmental Film and Discussion Series
Liquid Assets is the fourth film in this series. With water quality and quantity in doubt, is our water infrastructure up to the task? Yes, We Must! will examine moral issues and practical solutions related to urgent environmental challenges. The film will be introduced briefly and set in context of the issues it explores, and will be followed - after a short break - by a moderated community discussion. Refreshments will be provided; please bring your own beverage mug and your own chair cushion. There is no admission charge; donations are always appreciated.
Fri, Feb 27, Doors open 6:45pm, program 7pm
EHCC Fellowship Hall, 105 Winslow Way W, Bainbridge Island

Rescue Tug for Orca Whale Enviornment-Date Change

There has been a change in the day the Rescue Tug bill will be heard in the Senate. The bill is now up on Wednesday afternoon. We received bad information from the bill’s sponsor unfortunately. Here is the information. Please let those you have contacted know about the change and if you are planning to testify confirm with Rein about your availability:


Environment, Water & Energy

Wednesday Senate Hearing Rm 4
February 11, 2009 J.A. Cherberg Building
3:30 p.m. Olympia, WA

Public Hearing:

1. SB 5560 - Regarding state agency climate leadership. (Ranker/Jan Odano)
2. SB 5854 - Reducing climate pollution in the built environment. (Kilmer/Jan Odano)
3. SB 5578 - Regarding water resource management. (Schoesler/Karen Epps)
4. SB 5344 - Providing an emergency response system for the Strait of Juan de Fuca. (Ranker/Sam Thompson)
5. SB 5412 - Controlling saltwater algae. (Eide/Jan Odano)


Possible executive session on bills heard in committee. Other business

Protect Puget Sound Orca Whales-TUG now

A Permanent, Year-Round Rescue Tug at Neah Bay:
Our Best Protection Against A Major Oil Spill in Washington Waters

The Problem:

Puget Sound and the Northwest Straits are among the busiest shipping lanes in the world. Fifteen billion gallons of oil move across the waters of Puget Sound in ships every year. Our four huge refineries receive tanker-loads of Alaskan oil hundreds of times every year. And cargo ships of all kinds -- accounting for thousands of trips in Puget Sound each carry enough fuel to devastate Puget Sound should a spill occur. In fact, the National Marine Fisheries Service, in listing the resident orca whale as “threatened” with extinction, identified a catastrophic oil spill as the number one threat to the species.

Even in the best-case scenario, efforts to cleanup a spill result in recovery of no more than 20% or so of the oil spilled. The key is to prevent spills from happening.

The Rescue Tug: A Proven Strategy to Prevent Spills:

For the past 15 years or so, a large number of state advisory committees and panels of experts have recommended that a rescue tug be stationed at the mouth of the Strait of Juan de Fuca in order to prevent spills in Washington waters (see Neah Bay Rescue Tug: Report to the Washington Legislature, Department of Ecology, Dec. 2000). It wasn’t until 1999, however, that Congressman Norm Dicks was able to secure funding for a rescue tug at Neah Bay. In subsequent years, the state legislature was able to provide partial funding for the tug so that it could be stationed during the winter months. Unfortunately, state funding for the tug will expire in July 2008 and the state legislature was unable to secure a new source of funding for the tug during the 2007 legislative session.

The rescue tug functions in much the same way a fire engine does. It is stands ready to assist vessels that lose power or are otherwise disabled and risk running aground. Groundings are a major cause of spills around the world. While inside Puget Sound a number of commercial tugs are available to assist a disabled vessel, for the 80 mile stretch of the Strait from Port Angeles to Neah Bay and across the entire outer coast, such tugs are a rarity.

Since 1999, the rescue tug has been responsible for 41 rescues or assists of oil tankers, cargo vessels, and other vessels in the region. Similar success stories surround tugs stationed in Alaska, Japan, France, Great Britain, and across the globe.

Permanent, Year Round Rescue Tug Needed: Support HB 1409 / SB 5344

For the past ten years, we have relied on periodic funding for the rescue tug. Efforts to achieve federal legislation on this topic have faltered. State taxpayers should no longer be asked to pay for the tug---it’s time to require oil companies and other shippers to maintain the rescue tug at Neah Bay. This proposal will reduce the burden on the state budget by an estimated $3.6 million dollars per year.

HB 1409 / HB 5344 will require that oil tankers and other large vessels (over 300 gross tons) entering the Strait of Juan De Fuca contract with a tug provider to site the vessel year round at Neah Bay. The bill sets forth minimum requirements for the capability of the tug and requires that the tug perform occasional training drills. This measure has the added benefit of helping to meet shipping industry oil spill requirements at both the state and federal level. It is also cheap insurance against a major spill, which could cost the state tens of millions of dollars.

Contact: Bruce Wishart, People for Puget Sound, bwishart@pugetsound.org
(360) 754-9177

Navy and Sonar - again

2/4/2009 3:11:00 PM

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Photo: Howard Garrett Ruffles, the oldest known male orca in the world, swims past Fort Casey Lighthouse in October 2008. The U.S. Navy recently released its plans to increase operations in its Northwest Training Range Complex and the news has many people wondering what the impact will be to marine wildlife and the environment. Justin Burnett / The Whidbey Examiner Clinton resident John Hurd speaks at a public hearing in Oak Harbor concerning the U.S. Navy’s plans to expand activities at the Northwest Training Range Complex. Public comment Mail comments about the plan by Feb. 11 to Naval Facilities Engineering Command Northwest, Attn: Kimberly Kler, 1101 Tautog Circle, Silverdale WA 98315-1101, or submit comments online at www.nwtrangecomplexeis.com. Navy training expansion draws criticism By Justin Burnett Examiner Staff Writer Whidbey Examiner As many as 150 orcas are known to inhabit the waters of Puget Sound and the coast of Washington at various times of the year. Among them is Ruffles. He belongs to a small family group called J-pod. At 57, he is the oldest known male orca in the world, according to Howard Garrett, president of Orca Network, a Whidbey Island based nonprofit group dedicated to raising awareness about whales in the Northwest. Ruffles's exact age has been confirmed through photographic evidence. The characteristic ruffled back edge of his dorsal fin not only makes him easy to identify but also earned him his name. He is usually spotted traveling on the outskirts of the pod. It may be that he is a loner or it may be that his position serves some special function within the group. It's one of the many mysteries about orcas that scientists have yet to discover, Garrett said. The U.S. Navy recently released its plan to expand its training operations in Puget Sound and off the coasts of Washington and Oregon. With everything from missile and sonar testing to dumping depleted uranium included in the proposal, some environmentalists are concerned that Ruffles and J-pod may have given up the last of their secrets. Strategic defense The Navy's plan is to expand operations in its Northwest Training Range Complex, an area encompassing about 122,400 nautical miles of air, surface and subsurface space, which has been in operation since World War II. The main purpose is to prepare for the wars of tomorrow, said Cmdr. Matt Miller, the executive officer at the Whidbey Island Naval Air Station, at a public hearing on the plan last week in Oak Harbor. "Realistic training insures U.S. Navy personnel maintain the highest level of readiness in capability and is the single greatest asset the military has in preparing and protecting American service men and women to defend the nation," he said. The Navy has spent the past year preparing an environmental impact statement, or EIS, which is a requirement of the National Environment Policy Act. According to the document, which contains more than 1,000 pages, current training exercises in the complex include everything from anti-air, anti-surface, and anti-submarine warfare to explosive ordnance disposal. Besides a no-action option, the EIS outlines two main alternatives. The first calls for an increase in current training activities as well as testing new equipment such as new aircraft, guided missile submarines and unmanned aerial systems. Alternative 2, the Navy's preferred option, includes all the changes outlined in alternative one but proposes increasing current training levels even more and enhancing the range by using new air and sea surface targets, and developing an underwater training minefield. According to the EIS, Alternative 2 would allow the Navy to increase the number of missiles it fires by 470 percent, from 10 per year to 57 per year. The number of bombs dropped per year would increase 33 percent, from 108 to 144, and the number of shells fired would increase 106 percent, from 25,856 to 53,343. That includes 20 mm cannon shells made from depleted uranium. Alternative 2 also would roughly double the number of sorties flown per year, from 2,499 to 4,998. While most of these exercises would take place in coastal waters, some explosives testing is currently allowed within Puget Sound. Under Alternative 2, such activities would continue to be allowed. Impact debated Despite the Navy's proposals, the EIS concludes there will be no significant effect on marine life from any of the offered alternatives. The claim has drawn significant skepticism from a number of local residents. Of the 30 people who attended the public hearing in Oak Harbor, not a single person voiced support for the Navy's plans. Instead, one attendee after another said the study's conclusions are hard to swallow - literally. "How much depleted uranium do you want to eat in your fish?" asked Zimmer Morris, a South Whidbey teacher. While the study acknowledges that some species listed under the Endangered Species Act - certain salmonid species, leatherback turtles, migratory mammals and birds - could be affected, it would not be enough to have lasting effects. The EIS is also proposing mitigation measures to help reduce potential impacts. With marine mammals, such as whales, the plan is to use passive sonar and keep at least three "well-trained" lookouts on duty 24 hours a day. When the animals are present, and they come within 200 yards, certain training exercises would be halted until the animals move out of the area. But several people at the hearing expressed their doubt about the effectiveness of the mitigation measures. The Orca Network's Garrett, for example, said he has been involved in observing and researching whales since 1981 and is aware of the difficulties of listening for "faint acoustic signals" that would indicate the presence of orcas. "Recognition is highly problematic - even for experienced personnel," Garrett said. Another common concern among speakers was a feeling of being blindsided by the Navy's plans. Although the EIS has been in the works for more than a year, Clinton resident Jerry Hurd said he didn't learn about the proposal until January, shortly after the public comment period started Dec. 29. The comment period closes Feb. 11. He also complained that he found it difficult to submit comments on the plan. The document was available at the Oak Harbor library, but not at any of the other Island libraries. And he said the Navy's Web site, where the plan could be viewed online, wasn't working for several days during the comment period. "I think it would be appropriate there be an extension" of the public comment period, he said. People from environmental organizations such as Whidbey Environmental Action Network, Whidbey Audubon Society and People for Puget Sound reported they also hadn't learned about the plan until January. "We just found out about this," said Mike Sato, spokesman for People for Puget Sound. Garrett said he also is hoping for an extension to the public comment period. Washington residents need more time to comment on the proposal, and a delay could improve the chance that the Navy's plan will be noticed by Obama administration officials in Washington D.C., he said. "The more time we can buy, the better," he said.

Orca Whales and Menopause?

I am getting a "warm flash" just reading this.

Whale of a hot flash
4:07 PM, February 2, 2009 L.A Times

It's a question that stumps evolutionary biologists and women of a certain age:
What's the deal with menopause?

OK, so maybe the evolutionary biologist puts the question a little differently: If the goal of any organism is to pass on his or her genes, why do females go on living beyond their reproductive years?

Researchers in Washington and British Columbia sought an answer in killer whales, the black-and-white beauties that cruise their inland and near-shore waterways. Among little-known killer-whale factoids: They are extremely long-lived. And not only do female killer whales go through menopause, they have the longest post-menopause lifespan of any mammal, including humans.

Male killer whales rarely live to be 50, although they can father calves up to their last spout. Females enter their reproductive years around age 10 and lose fertility rapidly after age 40, but live to be 55 and older. One of the female killer whales in the study was known to be more than 90 years old.

One possible explanation for menopause is the grandmother hypothesis: Females who are past their own reproductive stage can help their daughters or other kin raise their offspring, allowing the daughters to produce even more babies because grandma is around to babysit.

But in the study published in the journal Frontiers in Zoology, the scientists saw no effect of grandma whales on either the fecundity of their daughters or the survival of their grand-calves.

They did find some support for another explanation: the attentive-mother hypothesis. Like humans, killer-whale calves remain dependent on their mothers well beyond weaning. Living, on average, 10 years beyond menopause allows a mother to see her final offspring through to maturity (assuming that the "mature" young adult whale doesn't try to move back into the pod basement).

The researchers also found that the calves of the oldest mothers had a 10% greater chance of survival than the offspring of younger mothers -- a comforting thought for any older mammal undertaking motherhood and menopause back-to-back.

-- Mary Engel

Photo credit: AP