Pod of Orcas SeaDoc Society

Human feet have been washing up on beaches in the Pacific Northwest's Salish Sea since at least 2007. But why? Turns out there are scientific explanations for "why feet?" and "why here?"

The answer sheds light on why the ecosystem's name—The Salish Sea—is important, and why place names matter in general.

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GUESTS:

Erika Engelhaupt, author of Gory Details

- https://erikaengelhaupt.com/gory-details-book/

- x.com/GoryErika

David Trimbach, Conservation Social Scientist at the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife

- https://davidtrimbach.com/current/

Join the whole SeaDoc Society team as we reflect on 2023 and look ahead to 2024. Thanks for listening to the show and for supporting our work.

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Thank you!

This is the story of a mysterious fish that washed up on Orcas Island on July 11, 2023. That fish was a six-foot long Pacific bluefin tuna—a species that had never in history been documented in the inland waters of the Salish Sea. Bluefin are a delicacy that can sell for millions of dollars. Why was it here?

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Our guest today is Kevin Campion, founder of Deep Green Wilderness and a board member for the SeaDoc Society.

In this episode we talk about the North Pacific Right Whale. Kevin and his crew have made an excellent new film called Right Over the Edge—all about their search for this elusive and severely endangered species, which used to number in the 10s of thousands and now is down to about 30. 

The SeaDoc Society will be hosting a free screening of the movie on Orcas Island on the evening of Thursday May 18th at the SeaView Theatre. That event marks the in-person return of our popular Ocean Night series. Put it on your calendar and join us!

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RIGHT WHALE RESOURCES


Right Over the Edge film - https://www.rightwhalefilm.com/
Right Whale Website - https://www.northpacificrightwhale.org/
Deep Green Wilderness - https://www.deepgreenwilderness.com/

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SCREENINGS

May 18 at 7pm at the SeaView Theatre on Orcas Island Ocean Night: https://www.facebook.com/events/558844049702732/

May 20 at 7:30pm at the San Juan Island Yacht Club, San Juan Island

This episode is about kelp and seaweed in the Salish Sea, and more specifically whether it is safe for human consumption. Our guest is Jennifer Hahn, who has a unique and adventurous childhood story, and in adulthood kayaked solo through Alaska’s Inside Passage. She’s the author of Pacific Feast: A Cook’s Guide to West Coast Foraging and Cuisine, in which kelp is featured heavily.

When Jenny started teaching classes about kelp throughout the region, she’d often get asked if it was safe to eat. Eventually that brought her into contact with SeaDoc Society Science Director Joe Gaydos. That sets in motion the scientific study you’ll hear about in this episode! In addition to Jenny’s wildlife adventures, we’ll unpack the findings of the study and her close collaboration with Tribes and First Nations from start to finish on the project. 

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READ THE STUDY: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5b071ddea2772cebc1662831/t/6331e0c85242a25e111622b8/1674754603298/hahn-kelp.pdf
PACIFIC FEAST: http://www.pacificfeast.net/

This episode is about social media at the intersection of science, nature, conservation, and nonprofit work. More specifically it’s about Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, and a state agency that has leveraged social media beautifully as a way to get their word out. Our guest is Rachel Terlep, Social Media Manager for the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (Twitter / Instagram / Facebook). Note: We had this conversation about four hours before Twitter entered a state of crazy flux on November 17, 2022. Here are some DNR hits: 


“Live, laugh, lay eggs and die.” (on salmon spawning) 
“Every time you leave dog poop on the trail you’re denying trash cans essential nutrients to fatten up for winter. Heartbreaking.”
“Resect our lands or catch these hands.”
Here's the Snicker's bar post I reference in the episode. 

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Rate, review and share the podcast to spread the word. 


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