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Message from the Director
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 The Northwest Straits Commission has faced and overcome many challenges in its 21-year history. Through those challenges, a resilient and team-oriented organization has emerged.
We are now leaning upon the collaborative base so many of you helped create as we face a new challenge in the COVID-19 pandemic. Marine Resources Committees and the Northwest Straits Commission pivoted quickly to continue our work using remote technology to help contain spread of the virus. Discussions have also ensued as to how we can engage communities in new ways in order to maintain a safe environment for all.
It is encouraging to see volunteers and staff face these uncertain times head-on, a testament to the dedication we all have to protecting and restoring Puget Sound. As we continue to adapt to emerging information in the coming weeks and months ahead, your health and the health of our communities should remain at the forefront of our minds. With good health, we will find creative ways to progress and we will come out of these difficult times stronger than ever.
Lucas Hart
Director, Northwest Straits Commission
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San Juan Marine Managers' Workshop
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Participants at the 2020 Marine Managers' Workshop. Photo: Dana Oster
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In one of our last in-person events for the time being, the San Juan MRC hosted a two day Marine Managers' workshop to gather information and engage partners in their Marine Stewardship Area plan update. The energy in the room was a demonstration of the community support and important role this workshop plays in gathering collective knowledge of current and past MRC members, local research and non-profit organizations, and tribal, state and federal agencies.
As a first step in the Marine Stewardship Area plan update, representatives of organizations actively engaged in research, monitoring, and resource management in San Juan County waters gave presentations and led discussions on current trends, knowledge gaps, and threats to the local environment. Helen Berry from the Washington Department of Natural Resources remarked, "I was impressed by how the MRC pulled together data from so many different sources to drive the process." But the work doesn't stop here! The San Juan MRC, along with research fellow, Abigail Ames, will summarize the information shared at the workshop, update benchmarks, and outline measurement goals to track the progress of marine resource conservation.
Check out the existing Marine Stewardship Area plan here and be on the lookout for the 2020-2021 update!
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Local students selected for Clallam MRC internships
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European Green crab traps in Clallam County. Photo: Clallam MRC
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Last week Clallam MRC interviewed four very qualified candidates for an internship to address invasive European green crab in Neah Bay, and this week they announced that Angelina Woods was selected. Angelina is a Running Start student at the South Puget Sound Community College in Olympia, and her goal is to pursue a degree and career within the STEM field. Angelina will be working closely with Adrianne Akmajian, marine ecologist at Makah Tribe. They expect to catch a lot of crab and they will be testing other traps in addition to the more traditional Fukui and minnow traps. Since 2017 the trapping effort has caught 2,516 green crabs.
Clallam MRC also hired local students Tyler Diltz and Malleck Braun as their 2020 video interns. Both Tyler and Malleck are students in the video production program at Port Angeles High School. Students from this program have worked with several community organizations to produce high quality informational videos. In June 2019, a team of students including Malleck was been nominated for multiple Student-Emmy Awards by the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Tyler has invested in his own camera and editing software for his computer and plans to make it his career. We look forward to seeing the work of the Clallam MRC shared through their video productions!
Learn more about Clallam MRC's internship program, and watch for upcoming internship opportunities on their website at www.clallamcountymrc.org.
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The 2020 Salish Sea Stewards. Photo: Sasha Horst
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This month the Skagit MRC’s new class of Salish Sea Stewards kicked off, an active group of more than 24 volunteers who signed on for the 40-hour program of free citizen science training. With the program now administered by the expert staff of Padilla Bay Reserve, the first class was held on March 10 before in-person classes were postponed to reduce the risk of spreading the COVID-19 virus.
The team is now exploring the world of web-based learning and are gearing up to continue this year's training. Salish Sea Stewards classes will start back up next week in a web-based format, with the same interesting content, live presenters, and opportunities for interaction and questions. Field-based learning and time on the beach will have to wait until later in the spring or summer, but the new class will get those experiences eventually and be ready to get to work on the many local field projects of the Skagit MRC and other local partners. Many thanks to all who are participating for your adaptability!
Click here to learn more about the Salish Sea Stewards program.
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Northwest Straits Foundation Update
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Sustaining Seafood and Communities of the Salish Sea
The Northwest Straits Foundation is proud to present "Salish SeaFresh - From Tide to Table", a video series exploring the relationships among habitat restoration, sustainable seafood and local businesses.
In our premier episode, we visit with Tele Aadsen, of Nerka Sea-Frozen Salmon, and Jake Hacker, of Aslan Brewing Co., as they share their passion for marine conservation and a vibrant seafood industry in Bellingham, WA.
We hope you enjoy their story. Stay tuned for upcoming episodes as we have fun visiting with fishers and restaurants throughout the Salish Sea. Please like and share the video with your friends, and on social media!
Stay well,
Don & Kenny
If you're sharing the video series on social media, please use the hashtags #SalishSeaFresh, #TidetoTable, and #NWStraitsfnd.
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