Orca Pub Talk

Salmon spawning.\Photo by Cathy Tronquet.

In recognition of Orca Action Month, Laurie Weitkamp of NOAA Fisheries will speak on “The mysteries of salmon in marine environments: what we do (and don't) know” on Thursday, June 19, at the Lucky Labrador Brew Pub (915 S.E. Hawthorne) in Portland—a chance for those in the Metro area to plug into the orca celebration.  Doors at 6 p.m., talk starts at 6:30, for this free, all-ages event.  It is sponsored by Whale and Dolphin Conservation and Defenders of Wildlife to honor both Orca Action Month and the International Year of the Salmon.

Southern Resident orcas depend on salmon for their survival, so learning about salmon is learning about the orca’s habitat needs. Salmon leave the streams of their birth to grow into adults in the open ocean—scientists are studying where they go, what do they need to survive, and how changes in ocean conditions might impact salmon coming back to Pacific Northwest rivers. Researchers with the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) recently embarked on an international expedition to try and answer these questions. Dr. Laurie Weitkamp with NOAA Fisheries will share some details about what the team learned, what new questions came up, and how it all connects to Southern Resident orcas.