Salish Sea

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

 

Stz’uminus First Nation’s Coast Salish Group envisions a ‘mini-Granville Island’ in Ladysmith harbour, part of the Ladysmith Waterfront Area Plan. (Image courtesy Coast Salish Group)

Land transfer aimed at creating ‘mini-Granville Island’ on Ladysmith waterfront

Town working to transfer property to Stz’uminus First Nation’s development arm

 

Eagle Wing Tours highlights this year on the Salish Sea with four Top 5 galleries from its team of photographers. (Sierra Hamilton photo courtesy Eagle Wing Tours)

Victoria whale watching teams shares series of 5 favourite shots on the Salish Sea

Photographers describe in their own words, why each image shows a special moment

 

During response activities Tuesday (Aug. 16) U.S. Coast Guard personnel recover most of a seine fishing net that detached from a vessel that sank off San Juan Island near Greater Victoria on Aug. 13. (U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Northwest/Twitter)

Endangered orcas’ close call with fuel spill off Victoria a ‘wake-up call’: researcher

A quicker response was needed to protect marine wildlife, says U.S. institute

During response activities Tuesday (Aug. 16) U.S. Coast Guard personnel recover most of a seine fishing net that detached from a vessel that sank off San Juan Island near Greater Victoria on Aug. 13. (U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Northwest/Twitter)
A fishing boat with thousands of litres of fuel onboard sank between Greater Victoria and Washington state on Aug. 13. A sheen spanning more than three kilometres was reported to have entered Canadian waters by that evening. (U.S. Coast Guard Pacific West Coast district/ Twitter)

Sunken fishing boat causes oil spill that spread to Greater Victoria waters

Vessel had 9,400 litres of diesel in its tank when it went down

A fishing boat with thousands of litres of fuel onboard sank between Greater Victoria and Washington state on Aug. 13. A sheen spanning more than three kilometres was reported to have entered Canadian waters by that evening. (U.S. Coast Guard Pacific West Coast district/ Twitter)
A southern resident killer whale. Credit: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Ocean Wise.

B.C. study finds endangered southern resident killer whales aren’t getting enough to eat

UBC researchers find the orcas haven’t been eating enough since 2018, sea lions partly to blame

A southern resident killer whale. Credit: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Ocean Wise.
(Matson Conservation Area)

Habitat Acquisition Trust throws Spring Fling for work on Matson Conservation Area

May 15 event in Esquimalt offers opportunity to learn about upcoming conservation work

(Matson Conservation Area)
Big Mama’s newest calf is seen playing on its back in Boundary Pass May 2. (Val Shore, Eagle Wing Tours, PWWA)

First Salish Sea humpback calf of 2022 makes playful entrance off B.C.’s coast

The new calf is the seventh to be born to famous Salish Sea humpback Big Mama

Big Mama’s newest calf is seen playing on its back in Boundary Pass May 2. (Val Shore, Eagle Wing Tours, PWWA)
T63 Chainsaw was one of the Bigg’s killer whales spotted in large clusters Thursday. Chainsaw is known for its jagged dorsal fin. (Photo courtesy Valerie Messier/Pacific Whale Watch Association; video courtesy of Maxx Kinert)

VIDEO: New record, Victoria expert says 72 whales spotted the most in one day

Clusters seen between Hood Canal in Puget Sound, Campbell River on Vancouver Island

T63 Chainsaw was one of the Bigg’s killer whales spotted in large clusters Thursday. Chainsaw is known for its jagged dorsal fin. (Photo courtesy Valerie Messier/Pacific Whale Watch Association; video courtesy of Maxx Kinert)
The Malahat Nation’s environment department is in the process of surveying areas of the Salish Sea to find what is known as ghost gear – abandoned fishing and trapping equipment that has sunk. It’s part of the nation’s ocean cleanup and awareness program. (Photo courtesy of Malahat Nation)

Malahat Nation working to remove ‘ghost gear’ from Salish Sea

Surveying is underway via a remote operated vehicle

The Malahat Nation’s environment department is in the process of surveying areas of the Salish Sea to find what is known as ghost gear – abandoned fishing and trapping equipment that has sunk. It’s part of the nation’s ocean cleanup and awareness program. (Photo courtesy of Malahat Nation)
The most recent Bigg’s killer whale calf, T124A7, breaches the water alongside three adult members of the pod. (Karac Lindsay/Eagle Wing Tours, courtesy of Pacific Whale Watch Association)

2021 brought record sightings, many newborn whale calves to Victoria waters

Whale researchers report 21 new humpback calves in the Salish Sea

The most recent Bigg’s killer whale calf, T124A7, breaches the water alongside three adult members of the pod. (Karac Lindsay/Eagle Wing Tours, courtesy of Pacific Whale Watch Association)
The most recent Bigg’s killer whale calf, T124A7, breaches the water alongside three adult members of the pod. (Karac Lindsay/Eagle Wing Tours, courtesy of Pacific Whale Watch Association)

2021 brought record sightings, many newborn whale calves to Greater Victoria waters

Whale researchers report 21 new humpback calves in the Salish Sea

The most recent Bigg’s killer whale calf, T124A7, breaches the water alongside three adult members of the pod. (Karac Lindsay/Eagle Wing Tours, courtesy of Pacific Whale Watch Association)
A humpback whale calf breaches the ocean’s surface in fall 2021. (Credit: Val Shore, Eagle Wing Tours, PWWA)

Record number humpback calves spotted off Greater Victoria in 2021

21 new calves spotted in Salish Sea so far

A humpback whale calf breaches the ocean’s surface in fall 2021. (Credit: Val Shore, Eagle Wing Tours, PWWA)
A jellyfish floats seemingly weightless, in this image taken from a video shot in the waters off the Ogden Point breakwater by diver Justin Gross. (YouTube/Justin Gross)

VIDEO: A peek under the Salish Sea off the shores of Vancouver Island

Greater Victoria diver shares first-person perspective of the wonders of kelp forest

A jellyfish floats seemingly weightless, in this image taken from a video shot in the waters off the Ogden Point breakwater by diver Justin Gross. (YouTube/Justin Gross)
A jellyfish floats seemingly weightless, in this image taken from a video shot in the waters off the Ogden Point breakwater by diver Justin Gross. (YouTube/Justin Gross)

VIDEO: A peek under the Salish Sea off the shores of Victoria

Local diver shares first-person perspective of the wonders of kelp forest

A jellyfish floats seemingly weightless, in this image taken from a video shot in the waters off the Ogden Point breakwater by diver Justin Gross. (YouTube/Justin Gross)
L47 (Marina) pictured with her youngest male offspring, L115 (Mystic) in 2011. (Courtesy of the Center for Whale Research)

Salish Sea southern resident killer whale population now 73 after matriarch’s death

47-year-old orca Marina leaves three surviving offspring, two in next generation

L47 (Marina) pictured with her youngest male offspring, L115 (Mystic) in 2011. (Courtesy of the Center for Whale Research)
A Bigg’s killer whale seemingly defying gravity near Victoria, BC (Photo by Paul Pudwell/Sooke Coastal Explorations)

Nearly 30 Bigg’s orcas observed over long weekend in Salish Sea waters off Victoria

Annual sightings record set for transient orcas known as the ‘wolves of the seas’

A Bigg’s killer whale seemingly defying gravity near Victoria, BC (Photo by Paul Pudwell/Sooke Coastal Explorations)
The WSANEC leadership council is in the beginning stages of setting up a program to monitor southern resident killer whales. (AP file photo/Elaine Thompson)

WSANEC leadership council announces orca monitoring program

Program hopes to build knowledge, restore traditional relationship with the whales

The WSANEC leadership council is in the beginning stages of setting up a program to monitor southern resident killer whales. (AP file photo/Elaine Thompson)
The Pacific Whale Watching Association is urging people not to release balloons as they pose a serious risk to land-based and marine wildlife. (Photo by Pacific Whale Watching Association)

Helium balloons used in Greater Victoria can harm marine life: whale watching group

Balloons often wind up in ocean, potentially ingested by whales, other sea mammals

The Pacific Whale Watching Association is urging people not to release balloons as they pose a serious risk to land-based and marine wildlife. (Photo by Pacific Whale Watching Association)
A small pod of Pacific white-sided dolphins pass by close to shore in Campbell River June 16, 2021. Still capture from video courtesy of Kimberly Hart

VIDEO: Dolphin sunset captured from Vancouver Island shore

Spectacular setting for view of travelling pod of Pacific white-sided dolphins

  • Jun 18, 2021
A small pod of Pacific white-sided dolphins pass by close to shore in Campbell River June 16, 2021. Still capture from video courtesy of Kimberly Hart