Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initiative

Forage Fish as an indicator of Puget Sound recovery

Northwest Straits Commission Marine Program Manager Caroline Gibson joined scientists and conservation advocates in a briefing on herring, smelt, and other forage fish to the Washington state legislature's House Environment Committee this week. One key message -- protect nearshore habitats in which these fish spawn. As Martha Kongsgaard, chair of the Puget Sound Partnership's Leadership Council noted, this was an historic moment in Puget Sound recovery efforts, the first time that the issue of forage fish protection has garnered attention at the Capitol for over an hour. Watch the briefing here. View powerpoint presentations here.

Photo: Dr. Tessa Francis (left) and Caroline Gibson (right).

Marine Debris Cleanup in Skagit County

The first marine debris projects were completed in Skagit County during the first week of March. Paul Argities worked with a specialized Washington Conservation Corps all-Veterans crew to remove debris from a closed marsh lagoon adjacent to Cooks Cove on Guemes Island. The crew removed 41.5 pounds of debris, mostly various forms of small plastic fragments, from in and around the lagoon area. In addition to the cleanup on Guemes Island, the crew removed an additional 5,240 pounds of debris from Similk Beach near Anacortes.