Submitted by The Whale Museum

UDATE: In light of everything going on with Covid-19, TWM is canceling its Gear Up Workshop originally scheduled for April 4 and has also canceled its Spring Marine Naturalist Training Program (which would have started April 18). TWM is still going forward with its Summer Marine Naturalist Training Program as planned which will start July 16.

The Whale Museum is holding an exciting “Gear Up” workshop for marine naturalists on Saturday, April 4. This event will be held at the San Juan Island Grange Hall and doors open at 9:30 a.m.

The “Gear Up” workshop will focus on current issues affecting the Southern resident orcas with an emphasis on salmon, as salmon is a critical food source for this endangered population of whales.

Invited presenters include staff from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife on the status of salmon in the Salish Sea; Laurie Peterson, WDFW, on the allotment process of salmon for fisheries and Southern residents; Patrick Crain, with the National Parks Service, on fish surveys conducted on the Elwha River and post-dam removal fisheries studies and findings; and Julie Watson, WDFW, on killer whale policy updates.

In addition to other potential subjects, topics will include an overview of the pinniped management workshop process as well as a discussion of creating a centralized “bulletin board” of Salish Sea salmon habitat restoration projects involving public-citizen volunteers. A no-host reception at Mike’s Café & Wine Bar will follow.

The registration is $35 for non-members; $25 for Whale Museum or Salish Sea Association of Marine Naturalists members. Lunch can be pre-ordered for an additional $10. Registration can be done online at https://whalemuseum.org/products/gearup2020. For more information, call 360- 378-4710 ext. 30.