San Juan MRC youth representative Lola Walker attended the Seattle Boat Show and helped pass out whale warning flags and spread the message to give whales space at the Be Whale Wise booth. The Marine Stewardship Area (MSA) of San Juan County is vital habitat for the endangered Southern Resident Killer whales. Providing education and outreach to the broad boating community regarding species and special habitats remains a goal of the MSA.

“We are so lucky to have Lola take the time to spread this message and support ongoing efforts to educate the public and provide resources that protect important species,” said Sam Whitridge, San Juan MRC Marine Program Coordinator.

Learn more about Southern Resident Killer Whales | San Juan MRC

Whatcom MRC’s Dana Daniels and kelp monitoring volunteer, Eleanor Hines, presented on MRC bull kelp monitoring efforts to the Whatcom Association of Kayak Enthusiasts (WAKE) organization at the Community Boating Center on Tuesday, February 17. The project team is starting to identify potential dates for the surveys in 2026.

Dana said, "It was great getting to dive into the kelp monitoring project with a group of experienced paddlers as they are out on the water so frequently and are often paddling to areas that are more remote or challenging to reach. The connection with this group may allow the MRC and affiliated organizations to fill some aquatic vegetation data gaps as this group showed keen interest in helping to provide this information while out on the water."

Learn more about Kelp kayak monitoring | Whatcom MRC