species protection

Almost seven years ago, Friends of the San Juans began working with Washington State Parks on a salmon recovery project on Sucia Island. After a lot of research, surveys, designs, engineering, and permitting, the on-the-ground work to restore habitat is finally happening this month! Located along a major migratory pathway for juvenile salmon, Sucia is ... read more

Attention island residents located near herring spawning grounds!  Pacific herring – also known as forage fish – play a key role in marine food webs as food for out-migrating juvenile salmon, seabirds, and even marine mammals. Herring rely on sensitive eelgrass meadows found along our tidelands to spawn and incubate their eggs. Herring spawning populations ... read more

Did you hear that J35/Tahlequah had a new baby? Welcome, J57! Besides the joy of J57’s birth, there are also two more expectant mothers, one each in K and L pods. Please join us as we cautiously celebrate this hopeful news for the Southern Resident orcas. Tahlequah made headlines in 2018 when she swam for ... read more

Here are two important comment opportunities for the Southern Resident orcas and native salmon species… 1) Protect Southern Resident Orcas Via the Commercial Whale Watch Licensing Program:  In 2019 the Washington Legislature directed the WA Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) to develop rules for a new commercial whale-watching licensing program. You have an opportunity to engage in ... read more

The 2020 boating season is officially upon us, and as we saw with Mother’s Day weekend, our anchorages will begin to fill with private boats. Our amazing group of islands, where boaters find wonder and relaxation, are also where fish and wildlife find food and shelter. One of the most critical and sensitive marine habitats ... read more

Last week, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) published its final rule in the Federal Register to list the Island Marble Butterfly as an endangered species. For our islands this is a big decision as this beautiful white and green butterfly is found only in the San Juans. This decision comes nearly two decades after a coalition of conservation groups, including ... read more

During these uncertain times, the staff of Friends of the San Juans are looking for ways to lift your spirits. And we thought that sharing some good news might bring you a smile! Good News! New Forage Fish Spawning Beaches Found! This winter, Friends of the San Juans staff and our team of trained citizen ... read more

Winter is here and the Italian Arum invaders are coming. We need your help to get rid of this invasive plant on Lopez Island!  Starting as early as December, Arum sent up single leaves. Take a look at the first two photos to see what you should be looking for. You may find just one, which indicates that it is a ... read more

What do you see? This image contains a hidden a future. The fine grains of sand on this beach can sustain thousands of forage fish eggs – these eggs will become the small fish that sustain the Chinook salmon, that sustain the endangered Southern Resident orcas. It’s your donation that will ensure that the future ... read more

The Southern Resident Killer Whales (SRKW) need your voice and support! Their designated critical habitat is being revised and expanded to include the marine waters from the U.S. international border with Canada at the mouth of the Strait of Juan de Fuca, south to Point Sur, California. Friends supports the proposed revision of the Critical Habitat Designation ... read more