Community Beach Seining
Skagit MRC and Shannon Point Marine Center are once again co-sponsoring a Community Beach Seine event at Ship Harbor, next to the San Juan Ferry Terminal in Anacortes on Wednesday, June 19 from 2:30-4:30. Students, community members and any interested persons are invited to assist and learn about local marine life. For more information or to volunteer for this event, call Paul Dinnel at 360-299-8468 or e-mail at padinnel at aol.com.
Job Opening: Marine Program Coordinator
A position is now open for a Marine Program Coordinator in San Juan County. This position coordinates the Marine Resources Committee and the Local Integrating Organization in the San Juans. Click here for the full description and how to apply.
What's New
Monster Seminar JAM Spotlights Snohomish MRC
Congratulations to Kathleen Herrmann, lead staff with the Snohomish MRC, for a great presentation on May 9 at the NOAA Northwest Fisheries Science Center Monster Seminar Jam series. With a focus on the highly collaborative and evolving Port Susan Marine Stewardship Area project, Kathleen described the interface between marine science, government, and community members in preserving Puget Sound, and in the context of a model known as collective impact. Click here to watch the presentation.
Giant Pacific Octopus Advisory Group
On May 9 the final meeting of the Washington State Giant Pacific Octopus (GPO) Advisory Group was held at the Seattle Aquarium. Members, including Caroline Gibson from the Northwest Straits Commission, presented a range of knowledge and opinions, much of it premised on personal underwater experience throughout Puget Sound. Although the group did not come to agreement on a specific recommendation, there was clear consensus that it’s of primary importance to make it easy for the dive community to find and observe giant pacific octopuses. We encourage anyone interested in the potential for increased protection of GPO to comment online by the May 31 deadline. Click here for more information and to comment.
Cornet Bay Restoration Planting
More than 60 volunteers turned out for a post-Earth Day planting at Cornet Bay on April 27. The work was part of an Island MRC project that will restore 800 linear feet of shoreline and 1.1 acres of beach at the day use area of Cornet Bay in Deception Pass State Park. The planting was organized by the Skagit Fisheries Enhancement Group, one of the project partners. Volunteering their time were representatives from the Oak Harbor High School, Anacortes High School, Northwest Indian College, and the Skagit Fisheries Enhancement Group.
Welcome Dr. Greg Ayers
San Juan MRC welcomes a new member this month. Dr. Greg Ayers is an engineer, cardiologist and medical device inventory. He is a serial entrepreneur and venture capitalist in biotech industry. He and his wife Patricia live on Orcas Island, San Juan County Washington.
Northwest Straits Commission
The next Northwest Straits Commission meeting will be held by conference call on Friday, June 28. The agenda will be posted the week of the meeting. For information about past meetings click here.
Pigeon Guillemot Research in Island County
The Island County Marine Resources Committee and Whidbey Audubon Society sponsor an ongoing study of breeding Pigeon Guillemots conducted by the Guillemot Research Group. This year, the Whidbey Island Guillemot Research Group launched its ninth summer breeding survey with a training on May 14. Each year over 50 trained citizen scientists monitor the approximately 1,000 pigeon guillemots that breed in 25 colonies around the island.
A unique new partnership has proven profitable for the Whidbey Island Guillemot Research Group. Ott & Murphy, an island boutique winery, has agreed to promote the guillemot summer breeding survey with a special bottling of red wine. Called Mutiny Bay Red, the landmark series includes a guillemot image and a description of the birds and the research project on the label. The winery will donate $1 of each bottle sold to the Guillemot Research Group.
Newsletter
Click here to see the current edition of the Northwest Straits Initiative's monthly newsletter. If you would like to recieve our monthly newsletter click here.
The Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initiative, authorized by Congress, is nationally recognized as an innovative approach to bring sound science and an ecosystem perspective together with citizen energy and entrepreneurship.