Tag Archives: Deep Bay Marine Field Station

Centuries-old Pentlatch fish trap panel connects K’ómoks, Qualicum people to their ancestors

Editor’s note: Fish traps like this would also have been used by other Ayajuthem speaking peoples (The Klahoose, Homalco and First Nations) who have a shared ancestry with the K’ómoks First Nation. These are the most northern Coast Salish Nations.

By Madeline Dunnett, The Discourse Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

As a child, Pamela Mitchell recalls her father telling her about the ancient fish traps on the shoreline of K’ómoks territory, near her home.

As she learned about the traps, which were used over generations by her ancestors, and their corresponding posts sticking out of the water, she recalls her dad telling her, “don’t touch! They are very old!”

Continue reading Centuries-old Pentlatch fish trap panel connects K’ómoks, Qualicum people to their ancestors

Marine heatwaves a threat to B.C.’s shellfish industry says expert

Editor’s note: The shellfish industry is one of Cortes Island’s principle employers.

By Mick Sweetman,  CHLY 101.7 FM Nanaimo, through an LJI grant from Canada-info.ca

This summer was hot, not only for us, but also for the life in our oceans as marine heatwaves swamped B.C’s coastal waters. According to researchers, sea temperatures off northeastern Vancouver Island reached 21 degrees Celsius in July, boiling kelp alive.

In the first week of August the average global sea surface temperature reached a record-breaking 30 degrees Celsius.

Continue reading Marine heatwaves a threat to B.C.’s shellfish industry says expert