That seaweed wrapped around the anchor is not only annoying BUT is actually contributing to the destruction of an important habitat for marine life.

The Green Boater catches up with Friends of The San Juans who help us understand the importance of Eel Grass for the health of our oceans.  Tina Whitman and Jess Newly explain how boaters can help relieve the stress on our marine ecosystem.  Turns out that seaweed so annoying to boaters is actual vital to the health and survival of Orca, for one!  How?  Well Orcas eat salmon, salmon eat herring, who need shallow-water eelgrass and kelp to lay their eggs in.  Kill the eelgrass and we kill the food chain that Orcas depend upon.

This episode helps boaters understand the role eelgrass plays in our marine food chain and how boaters can adjust their behavior to help protect eelgrass and the precious food chain for our whales.  Some practical anchoring tips:

- use mooring buoys

- anchor out

- stay at marina

- reduce anchor drag

#friendsofthesanjuans

#eelgrass

#anchoring 

=> Watch video episode of the podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVVAdm5H_mY&t=101s

About Friends of the San Juans 

Friends is a non profit organization based on San Juan Island in Washington State founded in 1979 to support San Juan County’s efforts to manage growth and protect natural environments. Since then, Friends’ activities have expanded to include marine research and habitat restoration; shoreline stewardship and conservation; land use and environmental compliance; and endangered species protection.

Contact

Web Site: www.sanjuans.org

Email: [email protected]

Phone:  (360) 378-2391