State and federal agencies learned Wednesday that the Sai-shou-maru – the 20-foot boat that washed ashore near Long Beach on March 22, 2013, with several non-native fish inside – came from Japan after it was swept out to sea by the tsunami on March 11, 2011.

The state Military Department’s Emergency Management Division (EMD) and National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration (NOAA) received confirmation from the Consulate-General of Japan in Seattle.

The consulate told EMD and NOAA officials the original owner does not wish to have the Sai-shou-maru returned.

Washington State Parks now has possession of the boat and is working with the Columbia River Maritime Museum in Astoria to place the Sai-shou-maru on permanent loan there.

Besides the five striped beakfish found in the open well of the boat when it washed ashore, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife estimates 30 to 50 species of plants and animals were also on the Sai-shou-maru – including potential invasive species.

State officials quickly removed the Sai-shou-maru from the beach and collected samples of potential invasive species including the fish, algae, anemones, crabs, marine worms and shellfish.

These specimens are of great scientific value as scientists attempt to understand how they could have survived such a long journey and whether they pose a threat to Washington and the West Coast.

Since marine debris from the 2011 Japan tsunami can harbor non-native and potentially invasive plant and animal species, it is important the public report tsunami debris suspected items. This is easily accomplished by:

• Calling the Washington marine debris reporting hotline at 1-855-WACOAST (1-855-922-6278); and
• Emailing NOAA at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it – please include the time, date, location and, if possible, photographs of suspected tsunami debris items.

People also are encouraged to help keep beaches clean and minimize any potential invasive species threat by removing small, nonhazardous debris from beaches and properly disposing of the items.

For more information:

Washington Marine Debris Web portal.

A submerged compartment in the back of the boat provided a refuge for five striped beakfish. Image credit: Allen Pleus (WDFW)

Prevention measures to protect life and property are in effect April 15 through October 15 on 12.9 million acres of DNR-protected lands

Regardless of the wet, rainy spring, wildfire season officially begins April 15, as specified by state law.

The Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) wants to remind people that the risk of wildfires can change rapidly during the spring when warmer, dryer weather occurs with increasing frequency. Wildfires can damage natural resources, destroy homes, and threaten the safety of the public and the firefighters who protect forests and communities.

As of April 8, seventeen forest fires have already been reported this year on lands protected by DNR. During last year, a total of 794 fires burned approximately 68,347 acres. In 2012, 94 percent of the wildfires that burned on DNR-protected lands were contained to less than 10 acres in size. Overall, 79 percent of the wildfires on DNR-protected lands in 2012 were human-caused.

Visitors to Kalaloch Lodge on the Olympic Peninsula’s Pacific Ocean shore will learn about gray whales, sea otters and endangered orcas that frequent the area, thanks to a partnership between The Whale Trail, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary, and Olympic National Park.
The first Whale Trail sign to be installed on the Washington outer coast will be dedicated at Kalaloch Lodge on April 11 from 11:00 am to 12:30 pm. The ceremony will feature a keynote address by Jefferson County Commissioner Phil Johnson, and representatives from Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary, Olympic National Park and The Whale Trail. The event is free and open to the public.
The program will also feature Hoh tribal storyteller Viola Riebe, Director of Cultural Resources. Viola was featured in the film Run to High Ground!, a Native American story about tsunamis and earthquakes, and co-author of the chapter on the Hoh Tribe in the book, Native Peoples of the Olympic Peninsula: Who We Are.