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About The Columbia press. (Astoria, Or.) 1949-current | View Entire Issue (March 23, 2018)
March 23, 2018 T he C olumbia P ress 4 Ocean heat: Salmon, sea lions and crab all affected by high temperatures Continued from Page 1 west Fisheries Science Center found that: •Feeding conditions have improved for California sea lions and seabirds that expe- rienced mass die-offs caused by shifts in their prey during the Blob. • Plankton, the foundation of the marine food web, have shifted back slightly toward fat-rich, cool-water species that improve the growth and survival of salmon and other fish. • Recent research surveys have found fewer juvenile salmon, and consequent- ly adult salmon returns will likely remain depressed for a few years until successive generations benefit from im- proving ocean conditions. • Reports of whale entan- glements in fishing gear have remained very high for the fourth straight year, as whales followed prey to near shore areas and ran into fish- ing gear such as pots and traps. • Severe low-oxygen condi- tions in ocean water spanned the Oregon Coast from July to September 2017, causing die-offs of crab and other species. “Overall, we’re seeing some positive signs, as the ocean returns to a cooler and gener- ally more productive state,” said Toby Garfield of the Southwest Fisheries Science Center. “We’re fortunate that we have the data from previ- ous years to help us under- stand what the trends are, and how that matters to West Coast fishermen and com- munities.” NOAA Fisheries’ scientists compile the annual ecosys- tem status report from ocean surveys and other monitor- ing efforts along the West Coast. The tracking revealed “a climate system still in tran- sition in 2017,” as surface ocean conditions return to near normal. Deeper water remained un- usually warm, especially in the north. Warm-water species, such as leaner plankton often as- sociated with subtropical waters, have lingered in the more-northern zones. One of the largest and most extensive low-oxygen zones ever recorded off the West Coast prevailed off the Or- egon Coast last summer, probably driven by low-oxy- gen water upwelled from the deep ocean, the report said. While the cooling condi- tions off the West Coast be- gan to support more cold-wa- ter plankton rich in the fatty acids that salmon need to grow, salmon may need more time to show the benefits, the report said. Juvenile salmon sampled off the Northwest Coast in 2017 were especially small and scarce, suggesting that poor feeding conditions off the Columbia River Estuary may be lingering. Juvenile salmon that enter the ocean this year amid the gradually improving condi- tions will not return from the ocean to spawn in the Colum- bia and other rivers for an- other two years or more, so fishermen should not expect adult salmon numbers to im- prove much until then. “These changes occur grad- ually, and the effects appear only with time,” said Chris Harvey, a fisheries biologist at the Northwest Fisheries Science Center and coauthor of the report. “The advantage of doing this monitoring and watching these indicators is that we can get a sense of what is likely to happen in the ecosystem and how that is likely to affect communities and economies that are closely tied to these waters.” Tiny: Homeowner requests small home for mom Continued from Page 1 Developer Marlin Larsen has been attempting to open a resort adjacent to the Ham- mond Marina made up of yurts, tiny homes and a boat converted into living space. But Larsen’s resort units would be for temporary rent- al to tourists, not permanent residents. The city will place several conditions on the property owner. McElmurry’s tiny home must have a separate wa- ter meter, each year she’ll be required to submit affir- mation that she still lives at the site and its wheel must be removed as a typical mo- bile home. When Linda McElmurry stops living at the site, the accessory dwelling must be removed, the sewer and water lines capped and the meter removed. Should the property be sold, the unit must be removed. The Planning Commission- er meeting was the last for Commu- nity Development Director Skip Url- ing, who retired March 16 after seven years with the city. “I appreciate the passion of each of you,” he told city leaders at a com- mission meet- ing earlier in the Above: A tiny home like this will go in a yard next week. “I wish you to a family home as a “mother-in-law” residence. good luck in your Below: Skip Urling, foreground, gives his final report last week as the city’s community devel- efforts.” After 37 years opment director. Beside him is Kevin Cronin, who will replace him temporarily. Planning Com- in planning, Url- missioner Ken Yuill is on the left. ing plans to take a summer job as head chef at a fishing camp in western Alas- ka. “It will be a fun diversion from what my normal life has been to this date.” Urling will be replaced on a temporary basis by Kev- in Cronin, Astoria’s former community development di- rector who now works as a private planning consultant. Cindy Yingst/The Columbia Press
