Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Calls for a last-minute moratorium are intensifying as the start of Pacific herring season in the Straight of Georgia (SoG) approaches on Nov.24. (Courtesy of Ian McAllister)

Two sides to a coin: Opening of the herring fisheries in BC

‘We should have a say, as Indigenous leaders, on what happens in our territory’: Chief Chickite

 

Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development Jerry DeMarco responds to a question during a news conference, Tuesday, November 7, 2023 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Canada failing to keep proper watch over fish stocks on both coasts: audit

Dependable and timely catch-monitoring information lacking, could lead to overfishing

 

Kayak guide Alex Scarth found this cemetary of dumped hake last month. (Alex Scarth photo)

Ucluelet kayak guide sound alarm over ‘gnarly’ offal increase

Group of kayakers discover grotesque dump site of unprocessed hake carcasses in Ucluelet harbour.

 

Canadian Fishery Officer Jessica Bouwers participated in Operation North Pacific Guard, an annual, multi-national effort to coordinate fisheries enforcement to protect global stocks. Photo contributed

VIDEO: Canadian-led mission enforces international fishing regulations

Fishery officers joined by U.S. Coast Guard personnel in North Pacific action

Canadian Fishery Officer Jessica Bouwers participated in Operation North Pacific Guard, an annual, multi-national effort to coordinate fisheries enforcement to protect global stocks. Photo contributed
The commercial tuna fishing vessel Ocean Provider. (PHOTO COURTESY DFO)

Boat owners fined for illegal tuna fishing near Bamfield

Crew caught more than 30,000 pounds of albacore tuna in 2022 without a licence

The commercial tuna fishing vessel Ocean Provider. (PHOTO COURTESY DFO)
This bright light on the bottom of this picture was a series of three lights Campbell River resident Dean Berg captured on video May 29. Photo from Dean Berg

VIDEO: B.C. man believes he shot video of UFO off Vancouver Island

Dean Berg made the video of glowing lights off water back in late May

This bright light on the bottom of this picture was a series of three lights Campbell River resident Dean Berg captured on video May 29. Photo from Dean Berg
This undated photo provided by NOAA Fisheries shows a yelloweye rockfish. Fisheries and Oceans Canada says conservation and protection officers are concerned about what they claim is “rampant illegal fishing” of rockfish populations in Metro Vancouver. (NOAA Fisheries via AP)

‘Rampant illegal fishing’ near Vancouver compromising rockfish populations: DFO

Rockfish Conservation Areas are closed to all fishing for finfish

This undated photo provided by NOAA Fisheries shows a yelloweye rockfish. Fisheries and Oceans Canada says conservation and protection officers are concerned about what they claim is “rampant illegal fishing” of rockfish populations in Metro Vancouver. (NOAA Fisheries via AP)
Screenshot from video on US Coast Guard Pacific Northwest Twitter video posted on July 1. (@USCGPacificNW)

One dead after yacht sinks off the coast of Vancouver Island

A Port Angeles, Wash., crew from the U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Northwest responded to the incident

  • Jul 5, 2023
Screenshot from video on US Coast Guard Pacific Northwest Twitter video posted on July 1. (@USCGPacificNW)
From left to right: SIPP Group CEO Emilie de Rosenroll, federal Minster of International Development Harjit Sajjan, and Jason Goldsworthy, executive director of COAST at the Oak Bay Marina. (Ella Matte/News Staff)

Greater Victoria ocean organizations get $8.1M from feds for local projects

A new Centre for Ocean Applied Sustainable Technologies will be funded

From left to right: SIPP Group CEO Emilie de Rosenroll, federal Minster of International Development Harjit Sajjan, and Jason Goldsworthy, executive director of COAST at the Oak Bay Marina. (Ella Matte/News Staff)
Recent strong winds resulted in more than 70 stray oyster tray stacks washing ashore on Denman Island. As of April 1, 2023, all aquaculture gear is required to be properly tagged with the licence holder’s name; and DFO Facility Reference number or BC Land File number. These baskets had neither. Photo supplied

Shellfish trays litter Denman shoreline despite new DFO regulations to prevent it

B.C. Shellfish Growers Association says members need more time to update equipment

Recent strong winds resulted in more than 70 stray oyster tray stacks washing ashore on Denman Island. As of April 1, 2023, all aquaculture gear is required to be properly tagged with the licence holder’s name; and DFO Facility Reference number or BC Land File number. These baskets had neither. Photo supplied
Marine vessels from seven South Island First Nations cruised into Victoria’s Inner Harbour to celebrate Indigenous ocean stewardship and show the value of recent government funding. (Natasha Baldin/News photo)

B.C. First Nations vessels form flotilla at Victoria Inner Harbour

Event was a celebration of progress

  • Jun 9, 2023
Marine vessels from seven South Island First Nations cruised into Victoria’s Inner Harbour to celebrate Indigenous ocean stewardship and show the value of recent government funding. (Natasha Baldin/News photo)
Ocean week organizer Heather Murray telling her crew about various housekeeping items. (Ella Matte/News Staff)

Ocean Week Victoria invites you to take a deep dive

Orca skeletons, whale watching and more happening this week

Ocean week organizer Heather Murray telling her crew about various housekeeping items. (Ella Matte/News Staff)
Noctiluca scintillans, also known as red tide algae blooms, were spotted midway along the Patricia Bay beach walking path in North Saanich. (Photo of Courtesy of Frank Towler)

Shellfish harvesting banned around Saanich Peninsula due poisonous algae bloom

If the contaminated shellfish are eaten by humans there could be fatal side effects

Noctiluca scintillans, also known as red tide algae blooms, were spotted midway along the Patricia Bay beach walking path in North Saanich. (Photo of Courtesy of Frank Towler)
Mowi Canada West salmon farm. (Mowi photo)

Minister issues statement applauding the Broughton Aquaculture Transition Initiative

The federal government and industry supported the agreement

Mowi Canada West salmon farm. (Mowi photo)
Dawson McKay (left) and Rob Worrall get a fish ready for the weigh-in durng a Vancouver Island salmon derby. Photo by Mike Chouinard/Campbell River Mirror Dawson McKay (left) and Rob Worrall get a fish ready for the weigh-in at Ostler Park during Saturday’s salmon derby. Photo by Mike Chouinard/Campbell River Mirror

Research finds some Pacific salmon migration out of sync with food supply

SFU research finds changing climate is causing some salmon to migrate out of step with plankton

Dawson McKay (left) and Rob Worrall get a fish ready for the weigh-in durng a Vancouver Island salmon derby. Photo by Mike Chouinard/Campbell River Mirror Dawson McKay (left) and Rob Worrall get a fish ready for the weigh-in at Ostler Park during Saturday’s salmon derby. Photo by Mike Chouinard/Campbell River Mirror
A lone killer whale breaks the water in a Comox, B.C., harbour on Tuesday July 31, 2018.Transport Canada has announced several new measures, ranging from sanctuary zones to fishing closures, as it works to protect critically endangered southern resident killer whales off the British Columbia coast. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jen Osborne

Protected areas, fishing bans to help B.C.’s threatened southern resident orcas

Federal government announces series of measures off B.C. south coast

A lone killer whale breaks the water in a Comox, B.C., harbour on Tuesday July 31, 2018.Transport Canada has announced several new measures, ranging from sanctuary zones to fishing closures, as it works to protect critically endangered southern resident killer whales off the British Columbia coast. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jen Osborne
Black Press file photo of the annual herring spawn in the Salish Sea.

Herring advocate skeptical about precautionary principle in Strait of Georgia

Critic questions DFO methodology in calculating harvest limits

Black Press file photo of the annual herring spawn in the Salish Sea.
Black Press file photo

Fisheries and Oceans Canada faces deluge of calls to improve ‘suspect’ science

Report yields 49 recommendations to address concerns about how DFO science presented

Black Press file photo
Kris Dudoward is shown aboard the commercial fishing vessel Irenda earlier this week with catch of sockeye salmon on B.C.���s Skeena River near Prince Rupert. The union representing commercial fisheries, the United Fisherman Allied Workers filed a petition on Feb. 22 requesting the end of foreign ownership of fishing licences and quotas on the BC coast. File - THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Mitch Dudoward **MANDATORY CREDIT**

Union files petition in Ottawa to stop foreign ownership of fishing licences and quotas

UFAW-Unifor seeks a formal ending to all foreign investment, owner operator policy framework

Kris Dudoward is shown aboard the commercial fishing vessel Irenda earlier this week with catch of sockeye salmon on B.C.���s Skeena River near Prince Rupert. The union representing commercial fisheries, the United Fisherman Allied Workers filed a petition on Feb. 22 requesting the end of foreign ownership of fishing licences and quotas on the BC coast. File - THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Mitch Dudoward **MANDATORY CREDIT**
Waves pound the shore in Eastern Passage, N.S. on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022. An “ill-timed” tweet warning it is illegal to take lobsters that have washed up on a beach was approved by no fewer than seven people even after one of them warned it may not be well received in the middle of a hurricane. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan

Fisheries Department scrambled to claw back ‘ill-timed’ lobster tweet: documents

Controversial post issued five hours after cyclone Fiona slammed into Atlantic Canada

Waves pound the shore in Eastern Passage, N.S. on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022. An “ill-timed” tweet warning it is illegal to take lobsters that have washed up on a beach was approved by no fewer than seven people even after one of them warned it may not be well received in the middle of a hurricane. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan