Category Archives: Rivers & Oceans

Animals, Rivers & Oceans

Discovery Islands surfacing as a humpback hot spot

National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

It’s marvellously symbolic that Nick the humpback whale returns year after year with her offspring to the waters surrounding the Discovery Islands, wedged between B.C.’s remote central coast and Vancouver Island. 

She frequents the waters off Cortes Island near Whaletown — once a whaling station and rendering plant set up in 1868 as part of a colonial industry that eradicated humpbacks in the waters off eastern Vancouver Island by the early 20th century. 

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Rivers & Oceans, Tourism, Waste

Cruise ships self-reported compliance with new wastewater guidelines to Transport Canada

National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The federal government says cruise ships operating in Canadian waters have overwhelmingly met the more stringent wastewater guidelines put in this spring.

However, critics say Transport Canada’s report is very light on details and the industry’s largest source of water pollution remains untreated. 

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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.

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Rivers & Oceans

Activists call on UN delegates to move fast on high seas treaty

By Natasha Bulowski, Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

After a sluggish first week, activists took to the streets of New York City to push delegates negotiating a United Nations high seas treaty to act with urgency.

The “high seas” — waters that aren’t managed by a nation — account for roughly two-thirds of the world’s oceans. The vast majority are unprotected. A UN high seas treaty would be the first legally binding conservation framework for these waters, and would enable protection from overfishing, industry, resource extraction — like deep sea mining — and other activities. The treaty is key if the world is to protect 30 per cent of oceans by 2030, something more than 100 countries, including Canada, have called for.

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Energy, Rivers & Oceans

Dead salmon found at Trans Mountain construction site spark outcry from environmental group

By Natasha Bulowski, Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Environmentalists are calling on Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) to halt pipeline construction in Hope, B.C., after dead salmon were found at Trans Mountain’s worksite on the Coquihalla River last weekend.

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