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A recent study by the Northwest Straits Initiative has shown that kill rates for derelict fishing gear are much higher than was understood. Animals caught in the nets decompose in as little as ten days. One of the monitored nets is now estimated to have killed some 2,300 fish and 1,200 marine birds in the 15 years it's been in the water.

SeaDoc Society Regional Director Joe Gaydos is quoted in the article. Gaydos is also a member of the Northwest Straits Commission.

Read the full story in the San Juan Journal online, or download the full report of the study, "Rates of Marine Species Mortality Caused by Derelict Fishing Nets in Puget Sound, Washington"

Most citizens and school children in Whatcom County can tell you that Orca whales are endangered. Ask them about marine bird declines and you are likely to get a blank stare. While well over 100 bird species depend on our marine waters for habitat and food, recent work has shown that almost 20 percent of these species have declined significantly enough to warrant listing as threatened or endangered or are candidates for listing in Washington or British Columbia. “At first I couldn’t understand why people were not up in arms,” says Joe Gaydos, Regional Director of the SeaDoc Society and co-author of the recent study. “Then I realized that when you talked with people who have lived on the water for years, they recognized the loss of birds, but in general we were not doing enough to educate the public about these dramatic marine bird declines.” Marine birds feed high on the food web and are good indicators of the health of our marine ecosystem.

On Tuesday, April 22nd, Joe Gaydos, Regional Director of the SeaDoc Society, spoke about declines in sea birds and sea ducks, two groups of marine birds found in Whatcom County. About 60 people attended this presentation, which was hosted by the North Cascades Audubon Chapter.

The SeaDoc Society is a science-based marine conservation program that funds and conducts marine conservation science. For more information see www.seadocsociety.org

To read a manuscript detailing marine birds in decline and other regional species of concern see, Species of Concern within the Georgia Basin Puget Sound Marine Ecosystem: changes from 2002 to 2006.

Hunting May be Responsible for Scoter Declines

The Salish Sea is home to some of North America’s most amazing bird life including one of the world’s largest wintering populations of scoters.

Unfortunately in Puget Sound scoters have declined by over 50% in the last 25 years representing the largest loss of marine bird biomass in Puget Sound. Scientists are trying to learn why scoters are declining precipitously and there is concern that among other problems, hunting could be impacting scoter populations.

A SeaDoc Society-funded study evaluating the impact of hunting on scoter populations found that wintering scoters have high site fidelity and that in four counties (Island, Mason, Skagit and Thurston) scoter harvest levels exceed what is believed to be sustainable. This means that hunting could definitely be impacting the long-term health of these birds in these counties.

These findings were presented to the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission last fall and the state is now evaluating what the hunting impact is on the state level and if harvest regulations need to be changed.

Private donations from citizens like you enable the SeaDoc Society to gather and share the information needed to protect and restore the marine fish and wildlife and Salish Sea ecosystem.

Find the PDF version here.

On April 8, Peter Olesiuk of the Canadian Department of Fisheries and Oceans will give a talk titled, "Flippers for Feet: Pinnipeds of the Northwest."

The talk is free and open to the public. It takes place a Camp Orkila's Marine/Salmon Center or Orcas Island at 7:00pm.

On March 26, 2008, Joe Gaydos spoke at the South Sound Symposium. His closing comments summarize the research shared at the meeting, and highlight some of the unique stressors on the South Sound ecosystem.

Download the PDF file.