Ocean Protection

Orcas play in Chatham Sound near Prince Rupert, B.C., Friday, June, 22, 2018. A hush has blanketed the waters off the British Columbia coast as the pandemic has marked a significant reduction in sea traffic, which scientists say is an opportunity to study how noise affects southern resident killer whales. THE CANADIAN PRESS Jonathan Hayward

Canada’s ocean noise strategy delayed as threat to marine life clarifies

Decade-long discussion expected as Canada works to mitigate the impact of human activity

 

Amanda Swinimer’s new children’s book – The Science and Superpowers of Seaweed – has won an international award. (Contributed photo)

Shirley author wins North American book award

Amanda Swinimer wrote children’s book on seaweed

 

A person sits on a rock face overlooking the ocean in Niue in this 2018 photo. The tiny Pacific island nation of Niue has come up with a novel plan to protect its vast and pristine territorial waters — it will get sponsors to pay. Under the plan, which was being launched by Niue’s Prime Minister Dalton Tagelagi on Tuesday Sept. 19, 2023 in New York, individuals or companies can pay $148 to protect 1 square kilometer (about 250 acres) of ocean from threats such as illegal fishing and plastic waste for a period of 20 years. (Richard Sidey/Galaxiid via AP)

Tiny Pacific island looking for sponsors to protect its slice of the ocean

Niue hopes to raise more than $18 million to create a no-take marine protected area

 

This combination of images provided by NOAA and University of Miami shows experimentally outplanted corals on January 2023, left, and the same coral on July 2023 after suffering from bleaching near Miami. Scientists have seen devastating effects from prolonged hot water surrounding Florida — coral bleaching and some death. (Allyson DeMerlis, Michael Studivan/NOAA and the University of Miami via AP)

Water at tip of Florida hits hot tub level and may have set world record for warmest seawater

The water temperature on the tip of Florida hit hot tub levels,…

This combination of images provided by NOAA and University of Miami shows experimentally outplanted corals on January 2023, left, and the same coral on July 2023 after suffering from bleaching near Miami. Scientists have seen devastating effects from prolonged hot water surrounding Florida — coral bleaching and some death. (Allyson DeMerlis, Michael Studivan/NOAA and the University of Miami via AP)
Crews with Coastal Restoration Society work to remove “ghost gear” from the Alberni Inlet in February 2023. (PHOTO COURTESY HEATHER MILLIGAN)

Port Alberni poised to switch economic base from forests to ocean

Ocean-based industry leaders see an opportunity in Port Alberni

Crews with Coastal Restoration Society work to remove “ghost gear” from the Alberni Inlet in February 2023. (PHOTO COURTESY HEATHER MILLIGAN)
The remotely operated vehicle ROPOS is lowered into the water during the expedition to the proposed Tang. ɢwan-hacxwiqak-Tsig̱is Marine Protection Area. (Nicole Holman/Fisheries and Oceans Canada)

Expedition explores supervolcanoes and deep-sea firsts in B.C. waters

Footage of superheated geysers, novel images of species behaviour caught off Vancouver Island

The remotely operated vehicle ROPOS is lowered into the water during the expedition to the proposed Tang. ɢwan-hacxwiqak-Tsig̱is Marine Protection Area. (Nicole Holman/Fisheries and Oceans Canada)
BRNKL Rapid Deploy units from Barnacle Systems that will help the Canadian Coast Guard to remotely monitor abandoned vessels. (Courtesy of Barnacle Systems)

Victoria company’s technology used by feds to monitor 2.7K abandoned vessels

‘I’m so proud that the products we’ve developing will actually be able to help protect our coastline’

BRNKL Rapid Deploy units from Barnacle Systems that will help the Canadian Coast Guard to remotely monitor abandoned vessels. (Courtesy of Barnacle Systems)
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)
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)
A marine conservation area around the Gulf Islands is not currently on the horizon, according to Parks Canada. (Black Press Media file photo)

Gulf Island marine conservation area not on Parks Canada’s radar

First pitched in 2011, proposal could create area off limits to shipping

A marine conservation area around the Gulf Islands is not currently on the horizon, according to Parks Canada. (Black Press Media file photo)
Crews with the Western Canada Marine Response Corporation conduct a simulated oil spill outside Esquimalt Harbour April 26. (Austin Westphal/News Staff)

Simulated oil spill off southern Vancouver Island tests marine response

Crews from the Western Canada Marine Response Corporation deployed as part of biannual exercise

Crews with the Western Canada Marine Response Corporation conduct a simulated oil spill outside Esquimalt Harbour April 26. (Austin Westphal/News Staff)
Mussels had a hard time in the dual heat and low tides. Here’s one from Vancouver Island’s west coast, cooked in a happier time. (Zoe Ducklow/file)

Unchecked climate change putting Salish Sea in hot water

Warming temperatures having a pronounced effect on Canada’s West Coast

Mussels had a hard time in the dual heat and low tides. Here’s one from Vancouver Island’s west coast, cooked in a happier time. (Zoe Ducklow/file)
A petition to the federal government aims to ban cephalopod farms in Canada. (Credit: Pixabay)

Green leader May petitions for preventative ban on octopus farms

Experts say practice not only morally questionable, but environmentally destructive too

A petition to the federal government aims to ban cephalopod farms in Canada. (Credit: Pixabay)
FILE – The Ocean Cleanup project’s latest iteration of plastic-collecting technology, the System 002, will leave Victoria and heads to the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. (Photo courtesy of the Ocean Cleanup/ Twitter)

OPINION: Court case could kill progress on plastic pollution in Canada

‘The world is beginning to act to reduce the plastic crisis’

  • Mar 6, 2023
FILE – The Ocean Cleanup project’s latest iteration of plastic-collecting technology, the System 002, will leave Victoria and heads to the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. (Photo courtesy of the Ocean Cleanup/ Twitter)
Waves and foam erupt from the Pacific Ocean during high tide at the mouth of the Quillayute River in La Push. (Black Press Media file photo)

Canadian environmental groups praise UN accord to protect marine life on high seas

New treaty to apply to nearly half of world’s surface

Waves and foam erupt from the Pacific Ocean during high tide at the mouth of the Quillayute River in La Push. (Black Press Media file photo)
The Canadian Coast Guard ship called John P. Tully has been used to bring scientists to the Explorer Seamount — Canada’s largest underwater mountain. (Devon Bidal/News Staff)

Oceana Canada celebrates commitment to protect B.C. Seamounts

Offshore area 4 times the size of Vancouver Island due to become protected

The Canadian Coast Guard ship called John P. Tully has been used to bring scientists to the Explorer Seamount — Canada’s largest underwater mountain. (Devon Bidal/News Staff)
An Harbour Air seaplane flies past a container ship anchored on English Bay, in Vancouver, on Wednesday, July 27, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Canada confirms protections for some marine areas but shipping pollution isn’t included

Wastewater from ships can include sulphur dioxide, carcinogens and heavy metals

  • Feb 13, 2023
An Harbour Air seaplane flies past a container ship anchored on English Bay, in Vancouver, on Wednesday, July 27, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Federal Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault, Fisheries Minister Joyce Murray and Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson announced a moratorium on deep-sea mining at IMPAC5, a global ocean conservation summit. (Rochelle Baker, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter)

Canada declares moratorium on deep-sea mining at global ocean conservation summit

More research needs to be done on potential impacts, says natural resources minister

  • Feb 13, 2023
Federal Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault, Fisheries Minister Joyce Murray and Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson announced a moratorium on deep-sea mining at IMPAC5, a global ocean conservation summit. (Rochelle Baker, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter)
Joyce Murray, minister of fisheries, oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, rises during question period on Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2022, in Ottawa. Federal politicians are expected to make a significant announcement on ocean protection during an international conference in Vancouver on how to take action on promises to protect the marine world made at recent global environment meetings. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Global ocean conservation conference in B.C. hopes to build on Montreal agreements

Significant announcements expected on ocean protection initiatives

Joyce Murray, minister of fisheries, oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, rises during question period on Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2022, in Ottawa. Federal politicians are expected to make a significant announcement on ocean protection during an international conference in Vancouver on how to take action on promises to protect the marine world made at recent global environment meetings. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld