Tag Archives: Okisollo Channel

Rivers & Oceans

PRV1a in fish farms, an interview with Dr Gideon Mordecai

Editor’s note: In Dr Mordecai’s most recent study, the PRV-1a virus was reported beside fish farms in the Okisollo Channel and Raza Island. Wild salmon infected with that virus would have swam by neighbouring Cortes, Read and Quadra Islands on their way home to spawn. 

Dr Gideon Mordecai is a Research Associate with the Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries at UBC. He is also the author of more than 20 scientific publications, the most recent of which reported the PRV1a virus was in 70% of the samples they studied from 56 fish farms.

Cortes Currents asked Dr. Mordecai,”Fish farms are claiming that BC’s PRV1 isn’t deadly for wild salmon. Is that true?” 

Continue reading PRV1a in fish farms, an interview with Dr Gideon Mordecai →
Rivers & Oceans

70% of the fish farms sampled had PRV-1, study finds

1 Comment

A new study published by the Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, states that 70% of the samples taken from 56 fish farms had PRV-1.

One of the co-authors is independent biologist Alexandra Morton, who explained, “The study was my concept and I funded a lot of the analysis and did a lot of the sampling myself. It was truly collaborative with Clayoquot Action sampling the Farms in Clayoquot Sound. An extraordinary man, Dr. Neil Fraser from Powell River got in his speed boat and went to the central coast. The Wild Fish Conservancy down in Washington State, sampled farms there. So it was  a sustained effort by a lot of people, and then Dr. Gideon Mordecai did the analysis of the relationship between the different strains that we picked up.”

Continue reading 70% of the fish farms sampled had PRV-1, study finds →
Rivers & Oceans

Fish Farms: SRD frustrations with DFO consultation process

The Strathcona Regional District Board (SRD) expressed its frustrations with the Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) consultation process at the Aug 17 SRD Board meeting. 

Although they were among the parties invited to a series of meetings about the transition of open net pen fish farms out of the ocean, there have been last minute scheduling changes.

Continue reading Fish Farms: SRD frustrations with DFO consultation process →
Tourism

Kayak Surfing off Quadra Island

Reuben Buerge has been surfing sea kayaks in our area for the past 10 to 12 years. 

This relatively recent sport only reached North America during the 1980s and Buerge is not aware of reaching the waters off Quadra Island more than two decades ago. 

“Surfing sea kayaks is a pretty kind of niche-y thing. You really only  see it in a few areas in the world and we’re lucky enough to have that amazing feature in our backyard that’s perfect for us,” he explained. 

Continue reading Kayak Surfing off Quadra Island →
Tourism, Transportation

Sightseeing on the Discovery Island Mail Run

According to Luke, the pilot, there are usually sightseers on board when CorilAir delivers the mail in the Discovery Islands.

A man from Campbell River and his sister-in-law from Ontario were on the plane when it picked me up at Cortes Bay, on Wednesday, March 23rd. Neither of them had made the trip before, and they were busy taking pictures throughout the trip. So was I. Everything looks much different when you are sitting hundreds of feet up in the air!

Continue reading Sightseeing on the Discovery Island Mail Run →