Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutNorthwest Straits Northwest SCI Straits U partners in marine conservation �y ;TYCi 7r NJ LC December 1, 2015 Dear Friend, What a pleasure it is to write this from my desk at the Northwest Straits Foundation. Though new to the position as Director, I'm now on the eve of 10 years with the Northwest Straits Initiative. You may know that I first got my feet wet volunteering with the Marine Resources Committee in Jefferson County; more recently I managed programs for the Northwest Straits Commission, our partner organization. It's exciting to paddle forward into an entirely new endeavor! Puget Sound boasts spectacular scenery, world-class sailing, diving, fishing and seafood. It also holds a marine stewardship ethic intrinsic to our communities and spanning 12,000 years. This is the southern portion of the Salish Sea, and I love it here. This year, the region experienced drought of epic proportions. We shut down sprinklers and stopped mowing lawns. You likely heard frequent newscasts about melting glaciers and dry rainforests, record-high water temperatures and shellfish closures. Algae blooms turned harbors brilliant shades of green, and fishermen cut seasons short due to unseasonable ocean conditions. Change can be a powerful motivator. The Northwest Straits Foundation is helping empower people to do something about pressing marine resources issues in their communities. We do this by leveraging financial and other support for citizen science, educational outreach, and restoration projects. You may have already enjoyed fabulous local oysters from a previously closed shellfish bed, or walked a beach recently restored to its natural beauty. We support the work of seven Marine Resources Committees in northern Puget Sound, volunteers with a wide range of interests, local knowledge, and cultural and political perspectives. They are preventing(and preparing for) oil spills in our ports and waterways, monitoring adorable seabirds known as Pigeon Guillemots as they nest and feed their chicks, and working with us to remove outdated bulkheads and other armoring along the shoreline. Together we are improving access for beachgoers while also restoring habitat for spawning surf smelt, shorebirds and other wildlife. Our efforts have garnered national and international attention. Your donation will ensure that this work continues. This August, we celebrated an exceptional milestone—permanent removal of 5,668 derelict fishing nets from Puget Sound. What a proud day for our entire crew, and a great gathering! The Derelict Fishing Gear Removal Program is a perfect example of a local project that went viral. Members of the Marine Resources Committee in Clallam County saw a need and agreed 1155 North State Street, Suite 402, Bellirigliam, WA 98225 360.733.1725 1 wwwowstraitsfourrtlatiorr.org .Yf Northwest Straits partners in marine conservation upon a solution. Fifteen years later, thanks to terrific partners and exceptional coordination, we have permanently removed thousands of derelict fishing nets and pots, restoring 812 acres of seafloor habitat and preventing the future entanglement of hundreds of thousands of fish, crabs, diving birds and marine mammals. Our work to prevent the accidental loss of gear continues. This week, we completed removal of old concrete riprap at Bowman Bay, in beautiful Deception Pass State Park. Skagit Marine Resources Committee volunteers and a whopping 150 elementary school children turned out to plant native trees, shrubs and other ground cover. Talk about a satisfying day on the beach! These are but a handful of the many projects underway, and we are already preparing for more great work with citizen scientists of all ages in 2016 and beyond. Every day, the Northwest Straits Foundation is investing in the future of Puget Sound by involving people in our communities. Volunteers are the heart of the Northwest Straits Initiative. Your support is needed! Please consider making a gift this holiday season, thereby ensuring our continued work to protect and restore Puget Sound, and to engage and inspire people. Thank you, Caroline Gibson Executive Director 1155 North Stag Street, Suite 402, Bellingham,WA 98225 1 360.733.1725 1 www.iiwstraltsfoundation.org