By Julia Shumway | Editor
Where did all the old female rockfish go? The black, yellowtail and canary varieties of the fish, which live off the West Coast from California to Alaska, can live up to 60 or 70 years, scientists and fishing crews have found few female fish older than 30 for decades. A team or researchers is headed out on an ocean trawler this weekend to hunt for the fish and test a few theories. Are they just better at avoiding fishing locations than their male or younger female counterparts? Are fishing crews killing more female than male rockfish before they have a chance to grow old? Has the North Pacific Gyre, one of the Earth’s five large rotating ocean currents, become a sort of sex-segregated retirement community for female rockfish after they’ve had a few rounds of babies? Or are they just dying earlier from natural causes that disproportionately affect female rockfish?
Also in today's edition:
Rep. Cyrus Javadi floats ending state park fees for residents
Governors seek firefighting help
Columnist Randy Stapilus on a Washington primary to watch
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By Alex Baumhardt
A black rockfish. Though females can live up to 60 years, few older than 30 years are found off the Oregon Coast today. (Photo courtesy of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife)
Off the coasts of California, Oregon, Washington, Canada and Alaska, three species of female rockfish have largely disappeared in the last 40 years.
By Mia Maldonado
The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department manages 250 properties across the state, including Fort Stevens State Park near Astoria. The park is Oregon’s largest public campground. The 4,300-acre property has beach access, a freshwater lake, trails and the Peter Iredale shipwreck. (Oregon Parks and Recreation Department)
An Oregon lawmaker wants to make visiting state parks cheaper for residents.
Rep. Cyrus Javadi, D-Tillamook, last week floated the idea of introducing a bill to make parking at Oregon State Parks free for state residents.
By Alex Brown | Stateline
The Ptarmigan Fire burning in Washington’s Pasayten Wilderness, as seen in this aerial photo taken by smokejumpers July 20, has crossed the Canadian border and burned at least 18,000 acres so far. State leaders in Oregon and Washington have called for reinforcements and expect a grueling August. (Photo courtesy of U.S. Forest Service)
With dozens of large fires burning across the Pacific Northwest, and nearly 2 million acres burned already, state leaders are calling for firefighting reinforcements and bracing for a grueling August.
By Randy Stapilus
Oregonians have a front-row seat to watch, though not vote in, an obscure congressional race that could say much about the reshaping of partisan politics in this state and beyond.
FROM OUR D.C. BUREAU
US Senate panel advances Trump Labor Department nominee | Shauneen Miranda
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