Category Archives: Rivers & Oceans

Rivers & Oceans

DFO ‘legacy of neglect’ leaves North Coast salmon to flounder

Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Fisheries and Oceans Canada cut the monitoring of salmon streams along BC’s North and Central Coast, leaving critical stocks uncounted at the height of spawning season.

Seasonal “creek walkers” — contractors for the fisheries department (DFO) who trek along streams to record salmon returns — haven’t been hired as stocks return along the coast from Bella Bella to the Alaskan border, including major watersheds like the Skeena, Nass and Kitimat systems, says a coalition of conservation groups. 

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Rivers & Oceans

Threat of oxygen-poor ‘dead zones’ surfacing on BC central coast

Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The spectre of low-oxygen “dead zones” is surfacing along BC’s Central Coast, threatening the region’s rich marine ecosystems and fisheries. 

Widespread hypoxia — when oxygen levels in the ocean fall below levels required by marine life — is being detected in the deep waters of Queen Charlotte Sound for the first time, said Sam Stevens, an oceanographer at the Hakai Institute and lead author of a new study. 

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Rivers & Oceans

The Story of the Island’s Streamkeepers

Originally published, as part 8 of the Cortes Island Resonance series by the Cortes Community Radio Society.

Over the past decade, a quiet but deeply dedicated group of islanders has transformed the health and future of Cortes Island’s salmon-bearing streams. At the heart of this story are Christine and Cec Robinson, whose leadership helped launch the Cortes Streamkeepers into a community-wide conservation effort that today is rebuilding fish populations, improving habitat, and inspiring a new generation of salmon stewards.

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Parks, Rivers & Oceans

Director’s Report: Quadra beach access project

From the desk of Regional Director Robyn Mawhinney

Hello,
What a blessing the rain has been, when wildfires and smoky skies have been sparking so much stress. This report is an update on the SRD’s Beach Access project: it shares news on new Quadra beach accesses which Strathcona Regional District staff are working on, plus how to find the shore accesses the SRD have already opened and installed signage for.

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Rivers & Oceans

Funding For The Whaletown Dock Facelift; Aug 30 Dock swap

Cortes Community Docks ( formerly called Harbour Authority Cortes Island) received the necessary funding to carry out needed upgrades to the 111-year-old dock in Whaletown. In today’s article Harbour Master Jenny Hartwick gives the details, and also talks about the upcoming August 30 dock swap. 

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