Category Archives: Animals

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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Saving Three entangled Humpback Whales

Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Marine mammal rescue groups are frantically mobilizing to try to save three entangled humpback whales in B.C. waters.

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A closer look at Sea Lice on 15 Salmon Farms

There has been a lot of talk about sea lice infestation of fish farms lately. According to a recent article from the North Island Gazette, there were more than the ‘acceptable’ number of parasites on fourteen sites this Spring. The President of Cermaq Canada just sent an industry perspective of this issue to the Strathcona Regional District Board. I decided to take a closer look at the sea lice on 15 salmon farms.

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Stop Using Open-Net Pens For Salmon Farming

Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A First Nations leadership alliance is calling for the immediate end to salmon farming using open-net pens in B.C. waters, citing the threat of sea lice to wild fish stocks.

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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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