By Alexandra Mehl, Ha-Shilth-Sa, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Offshore of Vancouver Island, in Nuu-chah-nulth waters 65 kilometers west of Hesquiat Harbour, lives a nursery of deep-sea octopuses brooding their eggs. This is one of four known octopus nurseries in the world, said DFO researcher Cherisse Du Preez.
Continue reading Deep-sea octopus nursery discovered in Nuu-chah-nulth waters
Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The federal government and coastal First Nations took a significant step towards establishing a massive marine protected area off the West Coast of Vancouver Island on Tuesday.
The proposed Tang.ɢwan — ḥačxwiqak — Tsig̱isMarine Protected Area (MPA) covers a 133,000-square-kilometre swath of open ocean 150 kilometres off the island’s west coast. The area harbours a unique concentration of hydrothermal vents, underwater sea mountains and rich deep-sea biodiversity hot spots found nowhere else in the world.
Continue reading Canada, First Nations take first steps to protect massive swath of deep ocean on West Coast
National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Ottawa and First Nations in B.C. are looking to amplify oceans as the best way to turn the tide on the twin spectres of biodiversity collapse and climate change, says federal Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Joyce Murray.
Canada and West Coast First Nations — the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh — are hosting the fifth International Marine Protected Areas Congress (IMPAC5) in Vancouver to spur change on the international protection of marine ecosystems, Murray told Canada’s National Observer.
Continue reading Feds and First Nations gearing up to host global ocean conservation summit
By Kaitlyn Bailey, Prince Rupert Northern View, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The Canadian Coast Guard (CCG), Parks Canada and the Council of the Haida Nation are concerned about pollution after a tour boat sunk off the coast of Haida Gwaii.
Continue reading Coast Guard concerned about pollution after boat sinks near Haida Gwaii
Cortes Kayaks bioluminescence tours have been setting out from Mansons Lagoon every Friday and Saturday for the past month.
There were about a dozen people in our group, which was mostly composed of off islanders from Vancouver, Victoria or the Cowichan Valley. The only experienced kayakers were our guides, Jolaine Boucher and Maria Francis. However most of the group had some experience and the only rookie was me.
Continue reading Experiencing Bioluminescence with Cortes Kayaks
