Boater beware

The local headline news: Boat hits whale near Whidbey Island

The news story above is infuriating. This isn't a case of a recreational boat owner just getting a little too close to the whales - this is a case of complete and utter disregard for safe and intelligent boat handling.

I've talked to various boat owners over the years about what they think of the current regulations governing whale encounters are and, to be frank, I've gotten more shrugged shoulders and laissez-faire comments than an acknowledgement that the regulations should be complied with.

I get it. I really do. I've been a boat out on the water that suddenly finds itself surrounded by surfacing Orcas. I've been a boat that wasn't exactly sure what 200 yards looked like over the water and I've been on whale watching boats that 'accidently' get a little too close. I've also been that boat that didn't slow down as I saw whales and their entourage of sightseers off in the distance.

That was before. Here's the thing: I've learned over the years WHY those regulations are critically important. I've also learned that we humans may have already done enough to ensure that the Southern Resident Killer Whales won't survive at all. Gray whales have been doing better as a whole but it sure doesn't help to have boat running over them while they are trying to feed and rest.

Most recreational boaters care. They want to see whales and catch fish and enjoy the beautiful inland waters of the Salish sea. In order to enjoy all those sights and flavors of this amazing marine environment also means that recreational boaters also need to be leading the efforts of responsible stewardship. These inland waters may look vast. This sea - this fjord (because that is what the puget sound is) may look like no one is going to notice a leaky holding tank or care if you catch one too many crabs - but with over 7 million people living along the Salish sea, that impact of one person ripples out into the ability of many species to survive.

Naturalist and Stewardship Training

Walking Padilla Bay

Last spring I spent my weekends in April and May commuting by ferry over to Friday Harbor to participate in the Whale Museum's Marine Naturalist training course. With a class of over twenty five, we learned all about species and habitats, geology and conservation - and yes, lots of information on whales. By volunteering a certain amount of hours and agreeing to continuing education, I was certified as a Salish Sea Marine Naturalist.

A naturalist with a huge learning curve.

That was okay, I like learning curves and spent as much time as I could being a docent at the Whale museum where I had to look up as many answers as I actually knew. I've learned over the years that in order to really claim knowledge, I have to be working with it, speaking it, talking with others, grappling with how to share it and never come to the conclusion that I'm an expert.

This spring, I signed on for a slightly different volunteer training course - the Salish Sea Stewards
program run by the Coastal Volunteer Partnership out of the Padilla Bay Interpretive Center. Meeting Tuesdays for ten weeks, this class brings in representatives from all sorts of different research and community groups to educate our group on the great big estuary that we call the Salish Sea. Whether its the NW Straits Foundation talking about beach restoration at Bowman Bay or Skagit Fisheries Enhancement Group filling us in on Salmon restoration projects, the information keeps filling in all sorts of corners to a larger picture that the naturalist training last year didn't have a chance to delve into. On the other hand, the hands-on habitat and species education that the naturalist program does so well has helped me see just how imperative it is that people pay attention to what we do in our own backyards.

Forage Fish Egg Survey Training

Both programs have a shared focus - to educate folks who engage with the public regarding this ecosystem - whether that is as a volunteer or as an employee. Both programs go about this learning in different, yet complimentary ways. These two training courses bring in researchers and community stakeholders who share their data and expertise which exposes the students to a large network of ecologically minded organizations. There's been a little overlap between the two programs but that has only reinforced how important the work is that is being done by all of these stellar non-profit organizations on behalf of a healthy, vibrant Salish Sea.

The ecosystem here in Western Washington is a vast canvas painted with the broad and intricate strokes of varied needs and interests. It is a complex system with multiple and layered nested systems. The Naturalist training programs and the Steward training both start adding not only details and data to the overall picture but links and connections as well.

My awareness expands, my connections build as I plug different research and knowledge into my overall understanding of this incredible watershed and sea we live along the shores of.

The learning curve just got bigger.