June 4 - 10, 2015
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Track athletes strong at state meet, page 6
Crab fishing seasons open for Puget Sound The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) on May 27 announced summer crab-fishing seasons for Puget Sound, starting June 1 with an early opening in Marine Area 13 south of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. Most other areas of the sound will open for recreational crab fishing July 2, although two areas around the San Juan Islands open later in summer to protect molting crab. Seasons for the upcoming fishery are posted on WDFW’s crab fishing website at wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/shellfish/crab/. The website includes details on fishing regulations, as well as an educational video on crabbing. Like last year, crabbers will have an extra month to catch their quota in Marine Area 13, said Rich Childers, shellfish policy lead for WDFW. Recent test fisheries indicate that crab in southern Puget Sound are in hard-shell condition, allowing for an early start to the fishing season in that area, Childers said. “Sport crabbers in that area have fallen short of reaching their catch quota in recent years, so we can afford to give them more time to fish during the upcoming season,” Childers said. “Over the next couple of weeks we will continue to conduct test fisheries in Puget Sound, where we could open a few other areas to sport crabbing earlier than currently scheduled.” Crabbers should check the department’s website for any announcements, Childers said. The daily limit for crab fishers throughout Puget Sound is five Dungeness crab, males only, in hard-shell condition with a minimum carapace width of 6¼ inches. Fishers may catch six red rock crab of either sex per day, provided those crab measure at least 5 inches across. Below is the current Puget Sound summer crab-fishing schedule for Marine Area 7: Marine Area 7 South (San Juan Islands/ Bellingham) – Open July 16 through September 28. Crabbing is allowed Thursdays through Mondays each week; closed (See Crabs, page 3)
Health and Wellness special section, page 8
Graduation special section, pages 9-12
Breaking ground on the Blaine Pavilion
s Blaine and Birch Bay leaders came together to break ground for the pavilion project at the Blaine Boys & Girls Club. When completed, the new facility will add much-needed space for year-round outdoor activities.
Photo by Steve Guntli
Blaine Water Fest educates about water quality By Steve Guntli Gwen Hoops and Kate Kimber climb down the steep gully beneath the Cain Creek bridge, sporting thick waders and hauling heavy scientific equipment in large black cases. The two women, both in their early 20s, are gathering water samples from the brackish water left at low tide, testing it fecal coliform bacteria and other hazards. This stop is the first of nine Hoops and Kimber will make along Cain Creek throughout the day.
“We’ve found that a lot of people in this area don’t even know Cain Creek exists,” Kimber said. “It’s a little creek, but it’s important.” Hoops and Kimber are interns with Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association (NSEA). The two are passionate about maintaining water quality in Blaine. To raise awareness, they are helping organize the first Blaine Water Fest, an event the two hope will become a yearly tradition. Blaine Water Fest will take place on Sunday, June 7 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Blaine Harbor Boating Center. The free event will
Local fisherman announces bid for port commission By Steve Guntli Blaine fisherman Bobby Briscoe announced his candidacy for the Port of Bellingham commission on June 1. Briscoe hopes to represent district 3, which includes all areas west of the Guide Meridian, including Ferndale, Blaine and Birch Bay. Another Blaine resident, Jim Jorgenson, has held the seat since 2004. Jorgenson announced earlier this year that he would retire
PRSRT STD U. S. Postage PAID Permit NO. 87 Blaine, WA 98230
when his current term expires in December. Briscoe is a fourth-generation fisherman who was born and raised in south Bellingham. He has operated commercial fishing vessels in Washington, Oregon, California and Alaska for 41 years, fishing mostly for salmon and crab. He was president of the Puget Sound Crab Fishermen Association for two years. He and his wife, Carol, now live in Blaine. “I’d like to see the port move forward,
and I think I’m the guy to do it,” he said. “I was asked by several members of the fishing community to run, so I threw my hat in the ring.” Briscoe said his maritime experience would work to his favor on the commission. “The Port of Bellingham has great potential to be a working port for seagoing trade,” Briscoe said. “I have worked out of many of (See Port, page 2)
feature information booths, kids activities, tours of Drayton Harbor Oyster Company’s oyster beds, raffle prizes and plenty of food donated by local businesses. Drayton Harbor Oyster Company will donate fresh-shucked oysters, and Lummi Island Wild will provide smoked salmon. NSEA is co-sponsoring the event, along with the city of Blaine, the Birch Bay Water and Sewer District and the Washington State Department of Ecology (DOE). Blaine Water Fest is one facet of the (See Water Fest, page 3)
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Letters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Police . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Coming Up . . . . . . . . . . 17 Tides . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17