Different Type of Post
Today’s post is different. This post is not about a days experience on the water. Instead, it is a few notes about our involvement to help protect our islands and our marine life in the event of an oil spill. We also do all we can to prevent an oil spill. By doing so preventing Oil-Spill Affected Marine Life.
Conservation Efforts
I have taken part in conservation projects for several years now. Part of what we charge for tours goes to NGO’s who are making a difference. To name just a couple we help Skagit Fisheries Enhancement Group, that focuses on restoring salmon habitat and introducing more salmon to our waters. The Center For Whale Research, where Ken Balcomb has been studying the Killer Whales in the Salish Sea for over 43 years. He is the senior scientist of the region and has been telling government for decades our whales need help. He has been speaking to deaf ears. Only after it became politically beneficial to our politicians this past year are they doing anything to benefit the whales.
Most whale watchers here are deeply committed to our whales and conservation issues. Collectively we have donated millions of dollars to NGO’s that make a difference.
I became part of a campaign to remove Cooke Aquaculture and their disease-ridden Atlantic Salmon net pens out of Washingtons waters. That is happening with a phase-out. As their various leases run out the state is forbidden by law to renew Cookes leases. By 2020 they should be entirely out of our waters. Look below to see a comparison between a healthy wild salmon compared to a diseased distorted Atlantic Salmon. Take a good look and determine if you want to put this in your mouth. When you buy farmed salmon at a store, the red coloring is from food coloring. Wild salmon gets its color from the krill it eats. The image is not my photo, credit to Seattle Times article August 24th, 2017.
Islands Oil Spill Association
Last fall, I finally accepted a board position with the Islands Oil Spill Association. I had been putting that invite off for several months. Part of the reason is that I was serving on the executive board of the Pacific Whale Watch Association. Once my term was ending, and I let them know I did not want to renew, I was then free of time to take on efforts with IOSA.
As soon as I became part of the board, I learned we were in dire straits as an organization. A lack of finances to continue as a PRC, Primary Response Contractor. The hard decision was made to let WDOE, Washington Dept. of Ecology know that we were unable to maintain PRC status.
Since then, we have received much help from a group of people called our Action Team. This team was brought together by Brendan Cowan with San Juan County Dept. of Emergency Management. We still have much work to do to reach our goal of being PRC solid by this fall. However, we are well on our way to being an even more qualified and better-equipped Oil Spill Responder than ever before.
Oil-Spill Affected Marine Life
I have taken on the responsibility of “Equipment Branch Director” with deputies to help me on Lopez, Orcas, and San Juan Island. It has been a pretty big task getting a handle on what we have in the way of equipment. I put a pdf document together so we can have a visual of our equipment and not just looking at a database. One of our trailers has rescue equipment and pens for oil-spill affected marine life.
Some of our trailers are beyond their useful life. I placed an order for two new 20′ cargo trailers. See the last pic. I should be going to the mainland to pick them up this week. These two trailers come to us with money from a WDOE grant. Another grant application has been submitted and is in the process now. From that grant, I am hopeful another two trailers can be purchased later this year.
Gear Up Workshop
Yesterday, I was at the Whale Museums Gear Up workshop. This year’s focus was on rescuing and protecting wildlife in the event of an oil spill. I try to learn from a couple of classes a year, and this subject happened to be one I am very familiar.
My Previous Life
I guess not everyone would know that I am a retired towboat captain having many years transporting petroleum at sea from port to port on the west coast of Oregon, California, Washington, British Columbia, and Alaska, and even Mexico. On the east coast, I ran tug from Jacksonville Florida to San Juan, Puerto Rico. I still maintain my Master of Oceans, 1600 ton license to run my six-pack whale and wildlife tours.
Back to yesterday, we heard from the following in picture order top down. Sorry, the pics are not great, it was a dark room.
Jenny with the Whale Museum. Ken Carassco our IOSA president. Brian with the Washington Department of Ecology. Donald with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. Lovel with Friends of the San Juans.
Seeking Volunteers
IOSA has public information meetings coming up in the days ahead to recruit volunteers. We want to train and prepare volunteers to help in the event of an oil spill. We will be on Orcas Island at the Orcas School Cafeteria on April 16th from 5:30-6:30. On Lopez Island Community Center in Lopez Village April 17th from 5:30-6:30. San Juan Island Grange on April 18th from 5:30-6:30 pm.
We welcome others who also would like to prevent oil-spill affected marine life. If you are in San Juan County please consider volunteering with IOSA
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