In the fourth in a series of programs about Canada’s 2021 Budget, Rachel Blaney, MP for North Island Powell River talks about the temporary COVID Relief subsidies and benefits.
Continue reading Budget 2021: COVID relief subsidies and benefitsTag Archives: Cortes Island Aquaculture
Paul Kirmmse remembers Cortes Island in 1971
Born in New York, he chose Canada. Another two years passed before he arrived on a remote island off the West Coast. Paul Kirmmse remembers Cortes Island in 1971.
“I originally came here in January of ’71, looking for land. A guy gave me a job for the summer, beginning in April, serving coffee to the fishers and the loggers. There was a little cafe just above Mansons Lagoon, across from what used to be the Barton store – which I understand is now the Cortes Island Museum. It was dragged up the road and put in place to become the museum,” he says.
Continue reading Paul Kirmmse remembers Cortes Island in 1971
Sea Stars – Wolves of the Ocean floor
Kelly Fretwell from the Hakai Institute recently described sea stars as wolves of the ocean floor.
The topic came up when I mentioned that they prey upon the oysters in Gorge Harbour, on Cortes Island.
Julia Rendall, President of the Bee Islets Growers Corporation, said they normally eat about a third of her crop. The bottom clusters are “all chewed, eaten.” She remembers the summer that Sea Star Wasting Disease reached the Gorge.
“That was the year I had the very best harvest, for shuck oysters,” said Rendall … I got about $8,000 a raft instead of $5,000.”
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Cleaning up shellfish growing areas on Cortes and East Redonda Islands
Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) is cleaning up some of the shellfish growing areas in our area.
Erik Lyon, of Rising Tide Shellfish, believes the clean-ups may be connected to the fact aquaculture licenses in this area will come up for renewal in 2025
DFO has not yet returned Cortes Currents initial query, but Lyon is working on extensive clean-ups on Cortes and East Redonda Islands.
Continue reading Cleaning up shellfish growing areas on Cortes and East Redonda Islands
Scallops are for sale on Cortes Island
Scallops are for sale on Cortes Island
Yesterday morning, Erik Lyon, of Rising Tide Shellfish reported, “For the first time, this morning we will be selling scallops off the dock. While supplies last, there will be scallops available at the Gorge Harbour store. Tell all your friends. We’ve got a quarter million of them, so there is plenty to go around.”
Continue reading Scallops are for sale on Cortes Island