The Skagit Marine Resources Committee recently celebrated their  20th annual Fidalgo Bay Day event on Saturday, August 24, 2024 from 11am-3pm at Fidalgo Bay Resort in Anacortes.

Over 300 people attended this year's event and braved the cold wet weather to learn about the marine environment and what they can do to help protect it. Many indicated they learned something new and planned to share the information with others.

Event Highlights: Beach seining demonstration, touch tanks, microscopes with fish eggs, a real whale skull, educational games, 31 educational Discovery Passport stations and prizes, kid friendly craft tables and face painting, complimentary chowders and seafood, and traditional no-host Coast Salish salmon BBQ.

Many thanks to the 30+ volunteers and 40 organizations and businesses for contributing to Fidalgo Bay Day's success! This event would not happen without all of you!

A special 'Thank You' goes to the Samish Indian Nation for their generous In-Kind contributions and for graciously hosting the event at their beautiful Fidalgo Bay Resort; Rosie Cayou for the warm Samish welcome and traditional Coast Salish no-host salmon BBQ; Jude Apple (Padilla Bay NERR) for kicking off the event as the MC; The Salish Sea School for lending their popcorn machine and hosting the face painting and fish prints table; the Friends of Skagit Beaches for sponsoring the Discovery Passport Stations and prizes; Jason Morgan (NWSF) for lending the drink cooler dispensers and for leading the beach seining activity; Cynthia Nielsen, Adrift and Bob's Chowder Bar for the tasty complimentary chowders; Taylor shellfish and Paul Dinnel and his team of volunteers for the complimentary shellfish samples; Secret Cove and Anthony's at Cap Sante Marina for the gift certificates for the raffle for volunteers; and the Fidalgo Bay Day Event Planning Team- Kat Hayes, Darla Gay Smith, Thea Roe, Erin Merklein, and Anna Thomas.

If you would like to help plan or volunteer for future Fidalgo Bay Day events, contact Tracy Alker: tracya@co.skagit.wa.us