Friends of the San Juans

Friends of the San Juans is excited to welcome and introduce Magali Cota as our new Legal Director and Staff Attorney. Magali is an environmental law attorney who has worked closely with communities to protect their natural spaces, informing them of their rights within an evolving legal system and holding corporations and government agencies accountable.    ... read more

Friends’ Past, Present, and Future  As we welcome a new chapter at Friends of the San Juans, we extend our deepest gratitude to Ken Carrasco for his leadership and dedication as Board President. His passion and commitment have strengthened our work protecting the San Juan Islands and the Salish Sea. Now, we’re thrilled to introduce ... read more

We’re honoring Bruce Rylander for his years of dedicated service as Treasurer of Friends’ Board. His leadership helped strengthen our organization and our work to protect the San Juans. At Friends of the San Juans, protecting this place requires not only passion and advocacy but also strong leadership behind the scenes. Bruce Rylander played a ... read more

Friends was formed to help San Juan County adopt its first-ever Comprehensive Land Use Plan, and this year, we are again working to include all voices in the planning process. So far, through eight listening sessions, we’ve engaged 112 people—partnering with Family Resource Centers to reach low-income families, Latinx community members, and seniors. One more ... read more

HB 1652 and SB 5519 won’t be moving forward this session, but the fight isn’t over. These bills would reduce environmental impacts associated with the operation of certain ocean-going vessels by requiring the use of low-sulfur fuels.  There’s still work to be done, and we’re not giving up! Friends staff will continue to provide leadership in support ... read more

Did you know the future of our islands is being decided right now? The Comprehensive Plans for San Juan County and the Town of Friday Harbor are being updated—and your voice can shape what comes next! Ready to get involved? Together, we can ensure that the San Juan Islands remain where nature thrives, communities flourish, ... read more

We were thrilled to host a successful Green Boating event at the historic Kirkland Cannery on January 23rd! It was an honor to have former Governor Jay Inslee and his wife Trudi join us for an inspiring afternoon focused on protecting our underwater ecosystems. We are grateful to our host, Carl Bradley and friends, plus ... read more

Southern Resident killer whales are teetering on the brink of extinction. As of July 1, 2024, the Southern Resident killer whale population was recorded at 73 individuals. These iconic whales depend on the waters of the Salish Sea to forage, rest, and raise their young. However, vessel noise and close approaches disrupt these vital activities, ... read more

Commercial finfish net pens banned from Washington State aquatic lands This January marked a monumental victory for Southern Resident killer whales and wild salmon: the Washington State Board of Natural Resources voted to permanently ban commercial finfish net-pen aquaculture on state-owned aquatic lands! Hear directly from our Science Director, Tina Whitman, as she shares the ... read more