Category Archives: Rivers & Oceans

Rivers & Oceans

BBC’s Planet Earth does a deep dive on West Coast whale poo

Editor’s Note: Most of what follows is applicable to our waters, doubly so because MERS operates in our waters. Stay tuned to see if there are any scenes from Cortes or the surrounding islands in the BBC story.

Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Whale researcher Jackie Hildering and her colleagues never imagined their work on humpbacks would capture the attention of the globe’s premier documentary series.  

Or that whale poo would be of such interest to Planet Earth — BBC’s famous nature show. 

Continue reading BBC’s Planet Earth does a deep dive on West Coast whale poo →
Rivers & Oceans

Discovery Island Sea Snail Species Threatened By Warming Oceans

A new study found that a species of Sea Snails found on the beaches of Cortes, Quadra and neighbouring Discovery Islands is already experiencing ocean temperatures beyond their comfort zone. According to the associated UBC press release, oysters will survive as the oceans warm up, but the Nucella lamellosa might not. 

“I conducted a research study using a combination of field and lab experimental methods to answer the big question: are marine ecosystems going to be able to keep up with the rate of environmental change that they’re experiencing? We know that species can respond to ocean warming by moving, by genetically adapting, or by acclimatizing within generations. Every species is going to have a different ability to employ those strategies based on its traits,” explained Lead author Dr Fiona Beaty, from the University of British Columbia.

Continue reading Discovery Island Sea Snail Species Threatened By Warming Oceans →
Rivers & Oceans

West Coast toxic hot spots threaten endangered salmon and killer whales

Editor’s note: Though Cortes Island is not mentioned in the following report, it is on the embedded map of metal hotspots. We appear to be either bordering on, or close to, the areas for cadmium (Cd), nickel (Ni) copper (Cu) and lead (Pb).

Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Newly identified toxic metal hot spots on the West Coast further threaten endangered killer whales and their key food source, a recent study shows.

Continue reading West Coast toxic hot spots threaten endangered salmon and killer whales →
Rivers & Oceans

How the Salmon Run: Streamkeepers weigh in on latest salmon returns

By Kim Paulley, CKTZ News, through an LJI grant from Canada-info.ca

The latest salmon returns are in for 2023 and two streamkeepers from the region have made observations about the different populations. A great year for Pink Salmon was the good news. Poor returns for Chum were noted by both streamkeepers.

Continue reading How the Salmon Run: Streamkeepers weigh in on latest salmon returns →
Indigenous Nations, Rivers & Oceans

Salmon SWAT teams deployed in B.C to help fish during drought

Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A provincewide drought this summer dried up B.C. rivers and jeopardized the survival of already stressed salmon stocks. 

But for the first time, localized salmon SWAT teams mobilized quickly to tackle hot spots of concern on rivers across B.C. as part of a new pilot project, said Jane Pendray, manager of the Pacific Salmon Foundation’s (PSF) climate adaptation program.

Continue reading Salmon SWAT teams deployed in B.C to help fish during drought →