latest news

Legislation to safeguard critically endangered Southern Resident killer whales is headed to the Governor’s desk! Senate Bill 5371 requires recreational boaters to stay 1,000 yards away from Southern Residents beginning in 2025.  Lovel Pratt, Marine Protection and Policy Director at Friends shares, “While the 1,000-yard distance requirement won’t be mandatory until 2025, Friends encourages recreational ... read more

  Free Film Premier Event with two viewing options on Orcas and San Juan Islands! Right Over the Edge: The Search for the North Pacific Right Whale, followed by an in-person Q&A with filmmaker Kevin Campion.  Thursday, May 18, 7:00 pm SeaView Theatre 234 A St, Eastsound, Orcas Island In partnership with The SeaDoc Society Saturday, May 20, ... read more

Calling all community scientists, volunteers, shoreline landowners, and beachgoers!    The European green crab is a hardy and voracious predator native to Western Europe and Northwestern Africa. This species has invaded intertidal zones around the globe and, according to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, it is considered one of the world’s worst invasive species.  ... read more

Reflections on Irmgard Conley, by Janet Alderton I met my dear friend, Irmgard Conley, when I joined the Friends of the San Juans board of directors in 2006. Irmgard’s commitment to “Keep the San Juans Green!” inspired me to use my background in scientific research to help inform our County’s decision-makers during updates to our ... read more

Reflections on Irmgard Conley, by Krystyna U. Wolniakowski Our boats met each other first. Crashing into ‘CARA’, a 35-foot teak 1964 Cheoy Lee Lion sloop, on a stormy day in April 1980, was a crisis that turned into an opportunity for a lifelong friendship with Irmgard Conley.   When I was a young marine biology graduate ... read more

The Board of Directors of Friends of the San Juans is delighted to announce the appointment ofEva Schulte as Executive Director. Eva brings her passion for the Salish Sea and extensiveexecutive leadership experience across the social sector to Friends. She begins the first week ofApril. Ken Carrasco, President of the Board of Friends of the ... read more

Erin Licata, Fidalgo Island — Erin is a tribal community member of the Samish Indian Nation and serves as the Madrona Institute’s Co-Director of the Coast Salish Youth Stewardship Corps. Erin also brings a background in science research to the board. Jan Knudson, Blaine — Jan decided she wanted to join the Friends board after touring ... read more

Friends’ litigation to protect the Salish Sea has been in the news. Read more via the following articles: The Northern Light: Corps’ BP Cherry Point limit no limit at all, environmental groups say  The Journal of the San Juan Islands: US Army Corps undermines Magnuson’s Legacy of protecting the Salish Sea from oil The Orcasonian: Army Corps of ... read more

This month, Friends’ Community Science and Education Director, Jess Newley, hopped in a van with six students from the Friday Harbor Eco Club and Katie Fleming, San Juan County’s Solid Waste Coordinator. This enthusiastic crew then went to Olympia for a full day of action, fun, and information in the State’s capital!   Representative Alex Ramel, ... read more

The creatures that call these islands home need your help! If you enjoyed a stroll on the beach after the last set of king tides, you might have noticed an influx of debris and trash. During extreme high tide events, plastic waste and styrofoam float to the surface and are carried up further onto the ... read more