Waterfront Wednesday News

May 21, 2025

Sign on to Save

U.S. Capitol building. Photo: Architect of the Capitol

The current changes to federal policies, funding, government workforce, and regulation are causing deep concerns in the maritime industry. Recently, sign-on letters have been circulated to help save funding for projects, agencies and programs that benefit  our maritime workforce sector and the maritime ecosystem. Now is the time to engage and help support organizations and agencies that do the work of keeping our maritime economy and ecology thriving. Below are linked a few sign-on letters that the Whatcom Working Waterfront Coalition recommends supporting. The title links take you to the sign-on forms where you can add your name.

1. WA Sea Grant - WA Sea Grant provides vital services to vessel crews and operations, and recreational boaters. Providing high-quality marine research and outreach, conducted in collaboration with partners and local communities to address coastal hazards, support local fisheries, provide maritime crew training, and further scientific research that supports informed decision-making around ecological health and human well-being. Funding for the WA Sea Grant program is currently uncertain for 2025, and is not in the 2026 budget. We encourage you to sign your name to support WA Sea Grant continued funding.
2. Support American Seafood through NOAA - The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association provides critical forecasting and data services to all maritime sectors. These services keep crews safe at sea, provide vital information for fisheries and commercial shipping, and allows informed policy-making decisions. NOAA is currently facing budget cuts that have cancelled key fishery surveys and threatened the accuracy of weather and storm forecasting.
3. NOAA Funding (General) - This is another letter to advocate support for the work NOAA does regarding all its programs.

NW Explorations Flotilla celebrates 20th Mother Goose Flotilla

The Mother Goose Flotilla departed Bellingham at 9 a.m. on Monday, May 19th, marking the 20th year of the migration north for the Northwest Explorations' recreational boating fleet.

The trip north stops in several places in British Columbia along the way, with sights and scenes that evoke the true spirit of Robert Service's 'big, broad, land way up yonder.' The Flotilla is famous for offering supported voyages up the Inside Passage and into Southeast Alaska. September's return Southbound leg has a few open slots. Also, it's important to book your guided vacation early for next year if you'd like to see the Inside Passage the way it was meant to be seen.

Learn more about the flotillas and charters via the link below.

Salmon Run Forecasts for 2025

Reefnet fishermen haul in salmon. Photo: Deb Granger

Washington Chum, Pink, and Sockeye salmon forecasts for 2025 have been released. You are able to view the forecasts for each specie by location via the chart linked below.  Pink salmon runs are forecasted to be very large this year, prompting worry over processing capacity as well as where to sell this volume expected. Some who study the fisheries also worry about the ecological impacts of that many pink salmon which may compete for river-runs with more sensitive species of salmon. Research plays an important role in fisheries management and ecological sustainability. The information to be learned from this run is another reason why funding for organizations like WA Sea Grant and NOAA's federal agency research are vital. 

You can see the forecasts by downloading the .pdf of the chart below from WA Dept. of Fish & Wildlife:

Weather and ocean forecasting plays a critical role in waterfront and maritime economies. Photo: Dan Tucker

Ocean Strategies recently published an op-ed from Hannah Heimbach, an Alaskan Fisherwoman, detailing the life-saving services that NOAA provides which are currently at risk of being defunded. 

Read the op-ed via the link below:

The Whatcom sub-downtown sector, showing the Harcourt construction sites, circa 2023. Photo: Port of Bellingham

At the May 6th Port Commissioner's open meeting, the commission voted unanimously to terminate the agreement with foreign developer Harcourt after years of legal actions and litigation. The termination agreement opens the sub-downtown sector to visioning and re-development again. Harcourt will retain the land they currently own that includes Granary and the three condominium buildings already in construction.

Prior to the vote, the Port heard public comments from several community members voicing support for the decision and calling on the Port to engage community and stakeholder groups in the visioning. 

You may read about the decision via the link below:

The Spring edition of the Coalition's print newsletter, On the Waterfront, is available for distribution. Check out the latest stories from around our waterfronts by picking up your copy at locations around Squalicum Harbor, Blaine, and Downtown Bellingham, or via the link below. This edition features tariff impact articles, news of the newly-leased and soon-to-open Barlean's Seafood Market occupying the former CityMac building, a member highlight, and more!