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

Stop the Privatization of BC Rivers!

There is something fishy going on that everyone in British Columbia should be aware of. Watch this video and you will see what is really happening behind the scenes with our water - and why we need to act now...before it is too late.

Source: http://www.ourrivers.ca/

Earth Hour - Saturday March 28th, 2009

Source: Adventure Canada Newsletter / http://www.earthhour.org/

Picture: www.earthhour.org

Earth Hour is this coming Saturday, March 28th. Don't forget to turn out your lights between 8:30-9:30 pm local time to show your support! Earth Hour is an annual international event created by the WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature/World Wildlife Fund), held on the last Saturday of March, that asks households and businesses to turn off their non-essential lights and electrical appliances for one hour to raise awareness towards the need to take action on climate change.

2,712 cities, towns and municipalities in 83 countries have already committed to VOTE EARTH for Earth Hour 2009, as part of the worlds first global election between Earth and global warming.

Bluewater Adventures will be in the Canadian Gulf Islands and plans to participate in the event.

STOP THE HUNT - www.pacificwild.org

Picture: Pacific Wild www.pacificwild.org

Article Source: www.pacificwild.org

First Nations, Animal Protection and Conservation Groups Unite to Save Bears in BC’s Great Bear Rainforest

Groups call on BC Government to End Trophy Hunting of Bears before April 1st
(BRITISH COLUMBIA, March 17, 2009) First Nations, animal protection and conservation groups have united to protect bears from cruel and unsustainable trophy hunts. At a press conference today, the groups urge the British Columbian government to end trophy hunting of bears in the Great Bear Rainforest prior to the opening of the spring bear hunt on April 1st.

“One might expect that in the Great Bear Rainforest, bears could live and thrive in peace,” said Bruce Passmore, director of outreach for Humane Society International/Canada. “But trophy hunting of bears is still permitted in the Great Bear Rainforest, even in protected areas. It is time for the provincial government to heed public opinion, the best available science and economics by giving these magnificent animals the protection they need to survive.”

According to a 2009 Ipsos Reid poll, 78 percent of British Columbia residents oppose trophy hunting of bears in the Great Bear Rainforest. First Nations groups are in agreement and also want an end to the trophy hunting of bears.

Kitasoo/Xaixais Chief Percy Starr is disappointed that all species of bears in their traditional territory are not protected. “We’ve spent years to ensure our lands are protected, only to learn that trophy hunters can continue to come on our lands and kill bears for sport.” “It's not right that anyone should make a sport of killing,” said Guujaaw, a spokesperson for Coastal First Nations. “Bears are as much a part of the environment as we are.”

For the rest of this article, check out www.pacificwild.org Voice your opinion!

A Message from Alexandra Morton - Sign the Petition and Pass it on!

Source: Alexandra Morton

March 2009

Hello,

When I won in BC Supreme Court last month the fish farms in Canada were designated as a “fishery.” While the federal government has always had the ability to apply the Fisheries Act to these operations to protect wild fish, they largely have not.

Now that the fish feedlots are legally a fishery, there would seem no reason to avoid regulating them like all other marine users. I am told there is an effort afoot to place these corporate operations back under Provincial jurisdiction, as “farms” where no one is responsible for the affect they have on wild fish.

If enough people ask/demand that the Fisheries Act be applied to this industry as it is to all other marine users, we might stand a chance of bringing reason to this situation. To sign the petition to apply the Fisheries Act to fish farms the way it is applied to fishermen please click on this link

Alexandra Morton

www.adopt-a-fry.org

No Tankers Day March 24 - Across Canada

Source: Dogwood Initiative Newsletter

March 4, 2009

A national day of action to keep BC's coast safe from oil spills on the 20th anniversary of the Exxon Valdez disaster in Alaska's Prince William Sound. Join Dogwood Initiative and other leading environmental groups and show your support for protecting BC's coast from tar sands tankers and oil spills by making all your purchases in NoTanker loonies. Check out http://www.notankers.ca/ for more details.

Keep the Promise to Protect the Great Bear!

Source: Sierra Club of Canada
www.savethegreatbear.org/keepthepromise

Keep the promise to protect the Great Bear Rainforest!

That’s what you need to tell British Columbia Premier Gordon Campbell. It’s the world's largest temperate rainforest and home to the ‘Spirit Bear,’ the rarely seen white form of the black bear, as well as the forest-nesting marbled murrelet sea bird and salmon-eating coastal wolves.
A couple of years ago, Premier Campbell made a very specific commitment to preserve this precious rainforest. The final countdown is on for the BC government to make their promise a reality by the March 31, 2009 deadline.

Premier Campbell needs to hear from you. We are down to the wire. Unless all elements of the promise are kept, the ecological health of the rainforest will be in jeopardy once again. We've come so far towards the rare success of having a vast unspoiled forest safeguarded, let’s not undermine all this good work by not reaching the finish line.

Help us tell the BC government that a promise is a promise. Send your message to BC Premier Gordon Campbell today! (Copied to Environment Minister Barry Penner, Agriculture & Lands Minister Stan Hagen, and Forests & Range Minister Pat Bell). Thank you for voicing your support for the Great Bear Rainforest at this critical time.

Click on this link to send your letter www.savethegreatbear.org/keepthepromise

New Law to Protect Orcas In Pacific Northwest

Published Date: 2009/2/26
Article ID : 6238 Version 1.00

By Greg Joyce

The Canadian Press VANCOUVER — Almost 300 endangered or threatened killer whales that ply the waters of the Pacific Northwest have improved habitat protection with a new federal government regulation. The protection, under the Species At Risk Act (SARA), covers the habitat of Northern and Southern resident killer whales, said Lara Tessaro of Ecojustice. Southern resident orcas are endangered and number about 85, and the northern orcas are considered a threatened species and have a population of about 200. The order comes after Ecojustice and several other environmental groups launched a lawsuit last fall against the Department of Fisheries. “It's the very first one ever issued under the Species At Risk Act so it's a precedent-setting order,” said Tessaro. “What it means is that it is now an offence to destroy the critical habitat of resident killer whales.

It designates, legally, their critical habitat as an area that attracts legal protection.” Southern resident orcas suffered a 20 per cent decline between 1993 and 2003 before recovering slightly. Northern resident whales' populations dropped by about seven per cent in recent years. The declines are due to threats to their habitat, including dredging, pollution, trawling, tanker traffic, military sonar tests, seismic testing and a decline in salmon stocks, she said.

For the whole article, check out the Canadian Press Link

JUST ANNOUNCED! Bluewater Once Again Among the Worlds' Best

Bluewater Adventures was selected by National Geographic Adventure Magazine as one of the "Best Adventure Travel Companies on Earth!" - Jan, 2009

Check out the ratings www.ngadventure.com/ratings

Where the White Bears Roam...

Ian MacAllister is speaking and guiding this group through the Great Bear Rainforest. He is from Pacific Wild Foundation, and founded Raincoast Conservation.

Join Bluewater at the Vancouver Outdoor Adventure and Travel Show!

Bluewater Adventures will be attending the Vancouver Outdoor Adventure & Travel Show Feb 14-15, 2009 at BC Place. Come check us out at Booth # 423. We will be handing out brochures and talking about all of our adventures, including the Queen Charlotte Islands, the Great Bear Rainforest, Northern Vancouver Island, Southeast Alaska, the Inside Passage and the Gulf Islands.

Randy Burke will also be presenting at the Adventure Theatre on Feb 14th at 5:15pm. This will be a presentation on the Queen Charlotte Islands Tour - Selected by National Geographic Traveler Magazine as one of the World's Best Guided Tours.

Admission to the show is $ 10 at the door. Make sure if you plan on attending that you contact the Bluewater office to receive an electronic '2 for 1' coupon to the show, compliments of the Bluewater team.

Check out the show link here http://www.outdooradventureshow.ca/vancouver/

Alexandra Morton's Salmon Fight Makes the New York Times

Alexandra Morton, a self-trained biologist, has been battling fish farms in British Columbia that she says are endangering wild salmon runs. Her story was recently posted in the New York Times. Click here to watch the video.