Category Archives: Rivers & Oceans

Rivers & Oceans

Cetus Research needs funds for a whale response and monitoring program

Campbell River Mirror, Local Journalism Reporter

A Quadra-based whale conservationist is fundraising to be “response ready” for when humpback whales and other marine mammals need help. Tristan Ray-Wilks, a Quadra Island resident and a director with Cetus Research and Conservation Society (CRCS) is raising funds on GoFundMe to launch a response and monitoring program that will provide assistance to distressed cetaceans spotted along the coastline of Vancouver Island. 

Continue reading Cetus Research needs funds for a whale response and monitoring program →
Rivers & Oceans, Waste

qathet Regional District’s beach clean-up program

Across the waters just to the south of Cortes Island, the qathet Regional District has been carrying out extensive beach-clean-ups for several years. The most recent outgrowth of this program is the opening of BC’s first Ocean Plastic Depot in Powell River, last month.  Abby McLennan, from Let’s Talk Trash, says that the beach clean-up program started in 2017. 

Continue reading qathet Regional District’s beach clean-up program →
Rivers & Oceans, Waste

BC’s first Ocean Plastic Depot

1 Comment

A 2014 study estimates there are more than 5 trillion pieces of plastic floating in the ocean. There is also a great deal of polystyrene. These are two of the most prevalent types of ocean debris washing up on our beaches. The Ocean Legacy Foundation decided to do something about it and partnered with the qathet Regional District to open up BC’s first Ocean Plastic Depot in Powell River.

Continue reading BC’s first Ocean Plastic Depot →
Rivers & Oceans

High expectations for this year’s Chum returns

This program was funded by a grant from the Community Radio Fund of Canada and the Government of Canada’s Local Journalism Initiative. 

According to data on the Pacific Salmon Explorer website, Northeastern Vancouver Island’s Chum runs have tended to be about 42% lower in the last decade. 2016 was an exception. Pete Calverley, from the Quadra Island Salmon Enhancement Society, recently told the National Observer,  “This year’s chum spawners are the result of a strong parent run four years ago.” The final numbers are not in yet, but there are high expectations for this year’s Chum returns. 

Continue reading High expectations for this year’s Chum returns →