The Friends of Cortes Island (also known as FOCI) Streamkeepers are increasing the salmon spawning potential of James Creek, on Cortes Island.
Continue reading Increasing the salmon spawning potential of James CreekTag Archives: Cortes Island Aquaculture
Study suggests a complete closure of fishing for some species
Fishing communities, like the one that once existed on Cortes Island, are becoming memories. The Cortes museum lists 28 independent fishing boats based at one of island’s docks during the 1970s. Twenty years ago, 5 were still returning to Mansons Landing. By 2016 this number had shrunk to 2 boats and neither of them fished Cortes waters. While this decline may partially reflect the shift towards large corporate fishing fleets, a new UBC study states a quarter of Canada’s fish stocks are in decline and the industry would benefit from a complete closure of fishing for some species.
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Coming Soon: the European Green Crab
Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Cynthia Bendickson believes an ecological battle along the inside passage of Vancouver Island is looming. It’s not a question of if, but when the invasive European green crab will land on the shorelines of the Salish Sea, says the biologist and executive director of the Greenways Land Trust.
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Early Warning System For farmed Oysters
Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Editor’s note: According to the BC Shellfish Growers Association: “the most prolific areas for shellfish farming have been Baynes Sound, Cortes Island and Okeover Inlet.” The Shellfish industry is one of Cortes Island’s largest employers. Twenty-two people were working at Island Seafarms when the COVID crises began and a skeleton crew is preparing for next year. There are also a number of independent contractors in the Bee Islet Growers Corporation, in Gorge Harbour, and other lease holders around the island.
A Vancouver Island researcher is developing an early warning system to prevent the contamination of farmed oysters along B.C.’s west coast, which can cost the industry millions.
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The Humble Cortes Island Shellfish Farmer
The Cortes community is in various levels of emergency mode: the climate emergency has moved many people to increase their local self-reliance. Community non-profits like the Cortes Community Economic Development Association, the Friends of Cortes Island Society and Climate Hope are organizing to relocalize essential needs like food production.
And then the covid-19 pandemic came along with its own challenges to the established modern food systems – bacon is under threat.
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