As boaters, we can unknowingly be responsible for spreading aquatic invasive species that can cause tremendous damage to local waterways and ecosystems. One of the most unwanted species in the world – the European green crab – is prevalent in Canadian and U.S. waters. Boaters can sometimes transport these crabs during the crabs’ multi-month larval … Continue reading
Read more »Category Archives: Biodiversity Protection
What is marine planning?
Marine planning comes in many forms. At its core, it’s a way that coastal communities, Indigenous nations, industry, and all those who use the ocean can engage in the planning for its management and protection in a way that balances competing ecological, economic, cultural and social uses for the ocean, and that includes coastal areas. … Continue reading
Read more »5 Opportunities Destined for Marine Action in 2024
Reflection isn’t uncommon during these winter months, particularly as one calendar year transforms into the next. At GSA, our thoughts are drawn to five memorable moments that are likely to see some threats to the Salish Sea addressed in 2024. In these moments, oceans are working harder than ever, trying to absorb more and more … Continue reading
Read more »A big biodiversity threat
Opposition is strong against the Roberts Bank Terminal 2 project – and it’s getting stronger. Opposition against the destructive RBT2 project was reinvigorated and renewed in late September when the Province of B.C. granted its environmental approval. The rationale was weak: the project will move forward regardless of what the Province does because most of … Continue reading
Read more »Grassroots Action for Orcas
Lucero González Ruiz, who leads our biodiversity initiatives, used to be afraid of the ocean. She stumbled into what she refers to as her destiny – protecting the ocean – after casually signing up for a few courses at the Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre. At the time, her only objective was to obtain a few … Continue reading
Read more »New hope on the horizon for these endangered orcas
In June we celebrated Orca Action Month and in the last couple of weeks we got some good news for the Southern Resident orca population and we wanted to share our excitement with you! There are two new calves in Lpod! On Friday, June 30, the Centre for Whale Research confirmed that there are two … Continue reading
Read more »Bigger buffer zone for orcas, but not in Canada
Washington State signed new legislation that requires boats to keep 914 metres from orcas, more than doubling the current requirement, beginning in January 2025. Unfortunately, Canada isn’t following suit. Originally published in PostMedia’s The Province on May 18. Endangered southern resident orcas are on the verge of getting a lot more space, but not if … Continue reading
Read more »Wild Salmon are in a state of emergency
In 2022, wild Pacific salmon were on the receiving end of three significant federal policies that failed to prioritize their health and wellbeing, and an Indigenous one that did: Phasing out the 19 fish farms in the Discovery Islands was set aside by a federal judge. The ruling was based on procedural fairness and a … Continue reading
Read more »Perspective on change
It’s hard to believe that in all the more than 18 years we’ve been taking annual kayak trips in coastal BC, that we’ve never had the experience of seeing orcas in the water while paddling but we hadn’t. We’d seen orcas in the wild while sitting in camp, but this year we were out on … Continue reading
Read more »Meet Ambre Comeau, GSA’s Orca Action Month Volunteer!
Growing up, I had spent most of my childhood outside exploring the natural world, reading my collection of National Geographic magazines, as well as encyclopedias on North American plants, animals, and insects. My parents always encouraged this curiosity and helped to nurture it by gifting me microscopes, bug catching nets, and models of animal anatomy … Continue reading
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