Annual Spring Newsletter!

Check out the Bluewater Spring Newsletter on our website! This edition of 'Waterways' shows 2009 special trips, talks about our adventures and provides insight into coastal conservation issues that affect the areas in which we operate. Check it out!

School Trips Wrapping up in the Gulf Islands

Our 2009 school trip season is wrapping up in the Gulf Islands this week. It was another great year of sailing, campfires, kayaking and learning about the BC Coast. We had amazing weather for sailing and lots of luck with wildlife sightings. We hope all our students and teachers had a memorable experience with us in the Gulf Islands! Bluewater looks forward to hosting you again on another adventure aboard the Island Roamer and Island Odyssey.

Bluewater...the Green Generation - Celebrate Earth Day!

April 22, 2009 is Earth Day! Bluewater is educating school groups in the Gulf Islands tomorrow about ways they can reduce their impact and become part of the green generation!

To see some of our acts of Green click here or Check out our new 'Coastal Conservation' page and get educated on some serious coastal issues that impact our areas of operation.

More Success in the Rainforest

Photo: Bluewater Passenger, Andy Wright

In the recent Sierra Club Spring Report, the report of 'Defense for Climate and Species' found that "In the most productive stands of the Great Bear Rainforest...,keeping a single hectare of forest intact rather than releasing the carbon through logging equals taking up to 450 cars off the road for a year." http://www.sierraclub.org/

Looking for Your Trip Photos!

Do you have a picture from your Bluewater trip that you want to share on our Blog? email Leanne at explore@bluewateradventures.ca . Let us know which trip you were on, and the story behind the picture!

Here is a picture of the Island Odyssey from my Northern Vancouver Island trip last August - one of my favourite sunset pictures I took from my kayak on a calm evening.

Congrats to Bluewater Naturalist Jen Pukonen!

The Bluewater crew is happy to introduce the newest member of the Bluewater team. Ocea was born in early February to proud parents Jen and Dylan. Congrats guys!

Sea Lice Threatening Fraser River Sockeye

Source: Georgia Strait Alliance Newsletter April 1, 2009

Image: Georgia Strait Alliance

Recently released genetic analysis has confirmed our fears - Fraser River sockeye may be impacted by sea lice from fish farms. In studies conducted in 2007 and 2008, sea lice were found on juvenile sockeye salmon migrating past open net cage salmon farms in the Northern Strait of Georgia. DNA analysis confirmed that in 2007, 60% of the sockeye were from the Fraser River, while in 2008, 99% were from the Fraser. The samples represent 30 separate Fraser River sockeye sub-populations, including salmon from Adams River and Cultus Lake stocks.

For further information on the latest evidence of the threat to our wild salmon, read the press release sent out by the Georgia Strait Alliance.

Progress in the Great Bear Rainforest

Photo: Patrick McCloskey

Article Source: The Vancouver Sun

Date: March 31, 2009

The B.C. government has met a deadline to bring a new approach in resource development to B.C.'s central and north coast — known as the Great Bear Rainforest — where people, the environment and the economy are given equal billing.

After over a decade of eco-protests that tarnished the province's forest products image, first nations, forest companies and environmentalists joined Tuesday in supporting the new approach, called ecosystem-based management.

Agriculture and Lands Minister Ron Cantelon said the Great Bear plan is an example to the world on managing human activity while protecting biodiversity.

"The war is over. Now we can move on in a positive way," he said in an interview.
For the full article click here