latest news

Do you love the islands and Salish Sea and want to connect with like-minded people? Are you interested in serving on our Board or a committee? There are many ways to get involved, and we would love your support! Bonus: volunteer 4 hours or more per year, and you’ll receive an automatic membership with Friends. ... read more

As we dive into the new year, I see daily how important our members’ support is to achieve our mission. I wanted to take a moment to thank you and share what your year-end donations have already jumpstarted in this first month of 2024:    Also, I am happy to report that we met our ... read more

We are delighted to welcome a new staff member and 2 new board members to our team!  Isabel Alexander, Executive Administrator — Isabel provides administrative support to the Executive Director and the Board. Isabel will also be integral in communications with our donors, members, and volunteers. Prior to joining Friends, Isabel was the Program Director ... read more

The Washington State Legislative Session begins Monday, January 8th, and will run for 60 days, until March 7, 2024.   Stay informed. Make a difference. Don’t miss our legislative updates on policy issues impacting the San Juans and the Salish Sea! Click the button below to sign up, and select Regional Action Alerts from the list ... read more

Update: 2024 is off to a good start! Huge thanks to the incredible response from community members who sent comments on this issue. Whatcom County will likely be issuing a revised MDNS and hopefully it will address the project's potential vessel traffic impacts. You can view Whatcom County's memo here. Make sure you are signed ... read more

This year, Friends of the San Juans welcomed a new Council of Scientific Advisors, contributing their incredible expertise to our science-driven approach. We’re so thankful for their time and guidance. We want to especially thank former board member, Michael Riordan, for his help in recruiting this fantastic group of advisors. Drew Harvell (she/her)  Drew earned ... read more

Friends of the San Juans took action against Whatcom County’s permit decision for a Phillips 66 Ferndale Refinery project, involving a new pipe bridge and relocating underground pipelines to above-ground. Phillips 66’s application lacked clarity about the purpose of these pipes, including their potential role in crude oil or refined product transfers at the refinery’s ... read more

Calling all nature enthusiasts, community scientists, volunteers, and beachgoers!  Help combat the growing concern and spread of a destructive menace to the islands and Salish Sea: the European green crab. Labeled one of the world’s worst invasive species by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, this crab is staging an assault on our marine ... read more

Enjoy complimentary refreshments and delight in the good company of fellow stewards of the islands with our staff and board. Meet our new Executive Director, Eva Schulte, and learn about ongoing research, education, restoration, and advocacy efforts to protect the San Juan Islands and the Salish Sea. Try swimming with salmon and eelgrass without getting wet with ... read more

This June, Friends of the San Juans began a new multi-year research project that is examining the health of eelgrass across the county. Eelgrass, a flowering plant that grows in shallow marine waters, supports marine food webs, including Dungeness crabs, spawning habitat for Pacific herring, and is a critical place for out-migrating juvenile salmon to ... read more