Salish Sea Currents magazine

Salish Sea Currents is an online magazine founded in 2014 focusing on the science of ecosystem recovery. Browse individual stories below or visit the Salish Sea Currents magazine homepage to see them organized by topical series.

We regularly compile stories into printed yearbooks intended as special reports for Puget Sound policymakers. These are also available for viewing as PDFs:

 

 

Related Articles

English sole camouflaged against sandy seafloor, both eyes visible on its upward-facing side

Case studies provide new details on impacts of low oxygen on Puget Sound species

A new report from the Puget Sound Institute and the University of Washington School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences examines a species-level approach to oxygen risks in Puget Sound. Case studies of Dungeness crabs, English sole, and Chinook salmon provide new details on when and where individual species may be most vulnerable. Funding for this article is provided in part by King County.
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An adult and a juvenile killer whale swimming next to each other

Annual census could show an increase of two killer whales among southern residents

The news of two new southern resident orca calves this year marks the 50th anniversary of whale counts from the Center for Whale Research.
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A killer whale swimming in nearshore water with yellow digital acoustic recording tag visible near its dorsal fin and rocky coastline with homes behind.

Orcas by night: A rare look at the nighttime activities of endangered killer whales

Killer whales are active both day and night, but most scientific research focuses on their daytime activities. A recent study looked at a small group of endangered southern residents to find out how often they hunt after the sun goes down. Ocean noise tends to decrease at night, potentially making it easier for the whales to catch salmon, but could they take advantage?
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Closeup of a weather-cracked tire tread against a green background.

Tire companies race to replace deadly tire chemical

A chemical found in tires is leading to the deaths of untold numbers of coho salmon in Puget Sound every year. Chemical companies are searching for an alternative but say the unique chemistry and function of 6PPD are major challenges. This article is part one of a three-part series.
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A single salmon swimming underwater with brown kelp against a blue background.

State and federal governments address 6PPD problem

Formal legal processes are underway in Washington and California to seek alternatives to the highly toxic chemical in tires. We continue with part two of our three-part series on efforts to find a replacement for 6PPD.
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Tire manufacturing facility with l tire positioned on industrial equipment and multiple tires stacked throughout

Players in the race for 6PPD alternatives

With a worldwide market valuation somewhere around $1 billion a year for the single chemical 6PPD, tire companies and their chemical suppliers are working overtime to find a safe and effective replacement for the tire additive. The financial stakes are enormous, since virtually every tire on the market today contains 6PPD.

“The environmental concerns surrounding 6PPD have spurred significant R&D investment in next-generation antiozonants,” states Intelmarket Research, a market-analysis company based in India. “Several manufacturers are developing modified PPD formulations with reduced environmental impact while maintaining performance characteristics. Early adopters of such technologies may gain first-mover advantages in positioning

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