Fidalgo Bay Day 2025

Skagit MRC and partners hosted Fidalgo Bay Day in September, at the Fidalgo Bay Resort in Anacortes. Salish Sea Stewards volunteer Jenn Dumas coordinated the event. Organizers estimated about 400 attendees, 46 volunteers, 11 businesses, 33 outreach booths, 28 passport stations, 167 passports distributed, and 106 passports were completed.

The event opened with a welcome from MRC member and City of Anacortes Council Member Carolyn Moulton and Coast Salish elder Rosie Cayou James.

Highlights included a beach seining demonstration, Shannon Point Marine Center touch tank, educational booths and passport stations, seafood samples, kids’ crafts, and Corra the Heavy Metal Selkie from Whidbey Island  and an advocate for mental health and ocean cleanup.

Community celebrates marine wonders at Fidalgo Bay Day | Skagit Valley Herald Sept 15, 2025

Endangered pinto abalone

Clallam MRC, in partnership with Puget Sound Restoration Fund (PSRF), is conducting a comprehensive survey initiative to assess the status of endangered pinto abalone and guide future restoration efforts. Divers trained in a specific protocol began the first surveys in late 2024.

This September, divers explored the Port Angeles subregion, where some abalone were found and one site was identified as a potential location for future outplanting, with back up dives planned in October in case of poor weather.

Learn more about Pinto Abalone.

Island MRC restoration events

Island MRC hosted its last planned Cornet Bay & Hoypus Point Stewardship Day of the year on Wednesday, August 27.

Volunteers removed dead thistle at the Cornet sites, making room for new growth and future fall maintenance.

The MRC monitors both sites throughout the summer and will check in on fall needs leading into winter.

The MRC is pleased with the strong volunteer turnout, which helped with mulching, weeding, and general site maintenance!

Learn more about Cornet Bay and Hoypus Point restoration.