Earlier this summer, the waters of our precious and delicate Salish Sea were polluted by a massive release of a non-native, invasive species of fish - The Atlantic Salmon. Due to poor upkeep of the structural intergrity of a farmed fish pen, there was a collapse and some 300,000+ of these highly medicated salmon escaped into the local waters. The impact of this release is still being monitored.
In response to this "salmon spill" many locals grouped together to help clean up the waters. Local anglers casted their lures into the water and caught buckets full of these fish. Commercial fishermen and women geared their work boats up and went out to gillnet hundreds of Atlantic salmon per set. Others felt a call to raise awareness of the issue by organizing fundraisers.
It was at one of these pop up fundraisers (an island "wild salmon" cookout - no Atlantic salmon was served) that I was introduced to a local not-for-profit organization called Pacific Mammal Research (PacMam). They are the first organization that is tracking the local Harbor Porpoise, a predatory marine mammal that feeds on wild fish. The theory is that if there is a problem in the food chain, these mammals will be some of the first affected. The hope is that it will signal the warning bell before the problem spreads further up the chain.
If you are interested in learning more about this not-for-profit organization I would encourage you to follow the link to their website.