We've all experienced the magic of the wonderful bay porpoises gracing our local waterways on our many open sails. I've heard several stories on the increase in their numbers in recent years.
You can read the full scoop in Bay Nature Magazine article Safe Harbor written by William Keener of the GG Cetacean Society. Their research vessel is a few slips down from us at Clipper 4.
More than a wildlife spectacle, the presence of these shy animals could be telling us something positive about the health of the Bay ecosystem. Big mammals, especially carnivores, are in decline everywhere. Unless humans intervene, as with the wolves reintroduced to Yellowstone, they rarely make a comeback. Yet it's happened here--the porpoises have "reintroduced" themselves to San Francisco Bay...
... the best place to watch for porpoises ... is from the Golden Gate Bridge.... time your visit to coincide with the currents running at maximum flood ... There are two good zones--one near the north tower, and one near the south tower (see map for areas where porpoises concentrate).
Date: Sunday, October 30 Time: 11:00-16:00 Location: 3150 Paradise Drive, Tiburon, CA 94920
Discovery Day is the one day of the year when the public can visit and spend the day behind the scenes, meet scientists and learn about their research in San Francisco Bay and beyond.
There will be displays covering impacts of climate change and other human intervention on life in SF Bay, the SF Bay food web, estuaries, measuring currents in SF Bay, microscopic algae, underwater sounds, wetland habitats, and biodiversity. Listen to engaging talks on topics such as the history of the RTC site, plankton research in the Amazon River outflow, and the mysterious sounds of the SF Bay fish.
And, you may even learn why the bay porpoises you see while sailing virtually disappeared for 65 years until just recently!
SEA partnered with RTC for a successful youth program called SEA explorers this August. Scientist Joseph Spaulding will be at the Cohen Lab - be sure to say hi!
We look forward to more opportunities to accomplish our mission supporting stewardship and conservation.
Coastal Cleanup, it's 27th year, is scheduled for September 17 at Horseshoe Cove, and SEA is making final preparations to participate, as we did last year.
Date: September 17, Saturday Time: 09:00 - 12:00 Location: Horseshoe Cove at Fort Baker Category:Members
California Coastal Commission has scheduled many great events in both the Marin and San Francisco Counties.
As active users of the wonderful Bay and beyond, it's in our interest to help insure we all do our job to keep our environment clean and healthy. You can help!
*CELEBRATE COASTWEEKS!*
Each fall, people across the country participate in COASTWEEKS, a celebration of our coastal and water resources. In 2011 the California celebration takes place from September 17 to October 9, kicked off by the 27th Anniversary of California Coastal Cleanup Day! The California Coastal Commission has compiled a calendar of over 200 coastal and water-related events taking place in 31 counties. Please visit the calendar at www.coastforyou.org and find just the right activity for you, your friends, and your family to celebrate our coast and inland waterways!
SEA is proud to announce the SEA Explorers program in partnership with Romberg Tiburon Center. This Citizen Science Sailing Program connects youths with their marine environment by engaging them with hands on skills and marine observations.
A program teaching youths ages 9-14 how to sail on the Bay, while introducing them to marine sciences with an emphasis on plankton's vital role in our oceans. Four days of full immersion sailing and a full day of samples collection and microscope observations with an on the water field trip to Angel Island and other data collection points in the bay.
The curriculum includes lessons and hands-on activities focused on:
Zoo- and phyto-plankton
Sea water density
Solar stills
Currents, Charting
Each day culminates in journaling local conditions and samples observations.
Date: May Time: 18:30 Location:Sausalito Cost: $5 Donation Requested
What can plankton in Antarctica tell us about our ocean's health and climate change? And, how do scientists manage to conduct research in the extreme climate? Bay Area Sailor and Marine Biologist, Anne-Carlijn Alderkamp recently returned from her third Antarctic expedition, and she will share the exciting research her team has been conducting.
The weatherman was incredibly wrong all week -- we had sunny skies and close to 70 degrees for our keelboat sail. While the wind died down to 5 knots (from a prediction of 25 knots!), John Paul, Pawel and I ventured out with plans to meet Kenichi and Catherine who were also out sailing.
We never made it as we had a big surprise! While cruising on the East side of Angel Island, we had a visitor…a 40 foot whale who was 20 feet from our boat! Little did we know, male whales will come into the Bay. We watched as it swam away, coming up to the surface every few minutes. It was a National Geographic moment in our backyard!
After another hour, we sailed back to Sausalito, completely jazzed with our outing.
Moral of the story: When you least expect it, it will happen. Oh yes, and keelboats sails are amazing!
NOAA’s Gulf of the Farallones Marine Sanctuary Asks Bay Area Boaters to Watch Out for Whales
NOAA’s Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary advises San Francisco Bay Area boaters to watch out for and steer clear of whales. Multiple whale species migrate into the area in large numbers during the spring and summer. Boaters should use caution year-round, but springtime presents a higher chance of coming into close contact with whales.
If you see or accidentally spill oil into the marine environment, immediately, call the National Oil Spill Hotline at (800) OILS911 (424-8802). Also, notify your marina manager or dockmaster. They may have an emergency oil spill response kit on hand.
No one is perfect and accidental spills are bound to happen. For this reason, always keep oil-only absorbents handy to wipe up spills. Remember, saturated oil-absorbents are hazardous wastes and must be disposed of at the marina, the fuel dock, or at a hazardous waste disposal facility. These days, there are hundreds of oil absorbent exchange sites in California. Check if there is a location near you and drop off your spent absorbents in exchange for a new one.
If gasoline is spilled during fueling, notify the fuel attendant and immediately step away from the area. Never apply soaps to disperse the sheen. Soap may appear to clean up the mess, but this is far from the truth. Soaps merely break up the oil into smaller droplets and sink below the surface, making it more difficult, if not impossible, to remove. It's also illegal and violators are subject to heavy fines and penalties. If possible and safe, stop the source of the spill and extinguish all ignition sources.
Fascinating short video about Life on the Farallones and the research that goes on out there from KQED Quest. Although many of us have sailed, raced, or motored out there, we cannot make land on the island! Videos such as these provide a rare glimpse into this habitat sanctuary.
The Farallon Islands off the coast of San Francisco are a vital home to many birds and marine mammals. While the forbidding and inhospitable nature of the Farallones may be ideal for wildlife, it also makes this a difficult place for scientists to live and work. QUEST ventures out to these jagged rocks to get a glimpse of daily life on the islands and what it’s like there for the researchers from PRBO Conservation Science.
News 
We've all experienced the magic of the wonderful bay porpoises gracing our local waterways on our many 
Date: May
Prediction: Rain. Prediction: Cloudy low 60s.
If you see or accidentally spill oil into the marine environment, immediately, call the National Oil Spill Hotline at (800) OILS911 (424-8802). Also, notify your marina manager or dockmaster. They may have an emergency oil spill response kit on hand.