By Chris Genovali

Raincoast Conservation Foundation has an exciting project in the works with our friends at Patagonia, a leader among environmentally-minded businesses.

Striving to alert more people about Enbridge’s desire to impose tar sands pipelines and super tankers on British Columbia’s central and north coast via their proposed Northern Gateway project, how could we inform the people of California, for instance, as they are expected to be one of the primary recipients of the “world’s dirtiest oil”?

To read the full article please visit The Huffington Post website.

By Kady O’Malley  CBC Inside Politics January 27, 2012 

Listen to the interview

Alternative linke for interview

Click here for the interview 

Wolf portrayal in film not based in reality

Fleeting images from the official trailer for the new Hollywood film The Grey suggest a love story, a violent plane crash, then a flash of bristling fur, the glint of a knife blade, and, in the background, the sound of a haunting howl.

Opening in theatres this weekend, The Grey is described as the story of an “unruly group of oil-rig roughnecks” whose plane crashes in the remote Alaskan wilderness. Amid a mountain backdrop – in reality, Whistler and Smithers, B.C. – the cast, headlined by Liam Neeson, must battle mortal injuries, merciless weather and, most menacing of all, “a vicious pack of rogue wolves on the hunt.”

Before you settle in with a tub of buttery popcorn, take note that wolf experts are giving the reality factor of the production a unanimous thumbs-down.

Paul Paquet, a senior scientist with the Raincoast Conservation Foundation, says such a film serves to feed into negative myths that have surrounded wolves for centuries.

“I think it’s kind of an embarrassment for the studio and the producers and writers and actors,” Paquet says. “It’s such a blatant misrepresentation of reality. Unfortunately, though, there are consequences that are pretty negative for wolves.”

Portraying wolves as manhunters creates unnecessary antipathy and fear, he says. In the long term that can mean people are less accepting of wolves and may even lead to people killing them.

The very idea that wolves would stalk humans, says Canmore’s Gunther Bloch, a canid behaviour expert who has studied wolves for two decades, has no basis in reality.

“It would be extremely exceptional behaviour, and only if they didn’t have a food resource – which in itself would be rare,” Bloch says.

Wolves are opportunistic eaters whose food choices are dictated by availability and habitat. A wolf living in the northern Canadian tundra will hunt migrating caribou. In the Rockies, wolves eat deer, elk, bighorn sheep and snowshoe hares, and snack on mice and voles. In the Arctic, they hunt muskox. A West Coast wolf might feast on running salmon for several weeks.

Given the opportunity, however, wolves will also help themselves to the offerings of an urban garbage dump.

While a rabid or food-conditioned wolf might on very rare occasions lose its fear of humans and attack, a person who finds himself close to a wolf’s food source – even a kill – should not expect a fight.

“They would bark an alarm bark, a warning,” Bloch says. “They wouldn’t attack; in the end, they would run away. They would figure out how to get the pups out of there.”

For the most part, Bloch adds, wolves are very intelligent and have become well conditioned over thousands of years to fear humans who have so often – and successfully – persecuted them.

Since the 1950s, wolves have enjoyed a period of recovery from widespread “control” efforts, the result of prejudices that arrived in North America with the first Europeans. But, while attitudes have changed, in some places where the population had recovered, wolves are again in jeopardy and being targeted.

Wolves have long suffered from misconceptions, including the idea they operate exclusively by pack rules.

For the first five or so months after a litter of pups is born in April, the parent wolves individually hunt small prey, bringing meals back to the den to feed their pups. Then, once the pups have grown, they assemble as hunting groups.

Another misconception people have about wolves, Bloch says, is that wolf behaviour is restricted to hierarchy and status.

“To say that wolves congregate in a pack suggests hierarchy, when the reality is a family-type situation – mother and father, pups and older pups helping look after younger ones, functioning as babysitters,” he says. “Wolves are very close. If a member is injured, they will feed it until it is well again. There are a lot of emotional things going on.”

No one thing in the ecosystem is essential, but, as apex and summit predators, wolves interact with and influence a suite of other species, Paquet says. By extension, their presence has a profound effect on the ecosystem, as their behaviour affects not just the balance between predator and prey but also the plants their prey feed on.

They can also have a positive influence on humans.

“Nature and the wildlife it contains provide physical, emotional and intellectual benefits to people,” Paquet says. “The beauty and symbolic nature of large carnivores inspires many people. As a result, animals such as bears, tigers and wolves often form the foci of literature, poems, paintings, sculptures and dance.”

Wolves figure prominently in First Nations’ cultures, but urban people too can develop strong emotional attachments to large carnivores.

Few might ever see a polar bear or grizzly in the wild, but they want these animals to exist, not just for themselves, but also so their children or grandchildren might have an opportunity to see them in their natural habitat.

Large carnivores, including wolves, top the list of species people hope to catch a glimpse of when they engage in wilderness-based recreation, which can translate into people spending money to travel for such opportunities.

Unfortunately, though, Paquet says, some people harbour the attitude that wolves as predators are in competition with – and a threat to – humans.

In the case of ranchers, farmers and hunters, the potential for wolves to physically harm a person is very rare, but the competition aspect is real.

And the growth of the human population and subsequent encroachment on wolf habitat makes conflicts inevitable.

“Humans tend to push out other species,” Paquet says.

“That, in my view, has been one of the great mistakes of the conservation movement. All these years we’ve asked for tolerance, when all along we should have been asking for acceptance.”

Tofino-based surfer Peter Devries rides the waves around the Great Bear Rainforest for the documentary about the area. Photograph by: Jeremy Koreski

Judith Lavoie, Times Colonist

When a couple of sea lions swam close to Chris Darimont as he was surfing, he realized that, with his wetsuit and surf board, he looked remarkably like a marine mammal.

That is when the idea came to Darimont, science director for the Raincoast Conservation Foundation, that there should be an opportunity for surfers to speak for the marine mammals of the Great Bear Rainforest and the threats they would face from oil tankers in northern B.C. waters if the Enbridge Gateway pipeline was approved…

Read the full story  http://www.timescolonist.com/technology/Surfers+documentary+speaks+life/6068313/story.html#ixzz1ktM3meVB

 Sidney, British Columbia – A plan to tag the endangered southern resident killer whales that ply both sides of the international boundary between Canada and the USA is meeting with growing opposition, now on the Canadian side of the border. Despite efforts between Canada and the United States to develop a coordinated strategy for the recovery of these endangered whales, a unilateral decision was made by the US federal government (NOAA) to attach satellite tags to the bodies of resident killer whales.

“The nominal information that might be generated from deploying these invasive tags to the fins of endangered killer whales simply does not justify the risk of serious injury resulting from the tags“ said Raincoast biologist Misty MacDuffee.

“Yes, we would all like to know more about the movement of killer whales, especially during the winter, but these tags are unlikely to provide that information on their own. This is a small, exceptionally vulnerable population of whales where the loss of individuals from any ensuing infection could have broader implications.  The risk to individual and population health from this type of invasive research simply isn’t worth it,” said Raincoast science director Dr. Chris Darimont.

Information from the tags would provide data on location only, and only for the animal tagged, not necessarily the whole pod of whales, and for only the limited time the tag remains attached to the whale.  These are long-lived animals that hunt for salmon up and down of coast North America.  Having a snapshot of their position in these waters will not paint a picture of their ecology and biology over the lifetime (up to 100 years) of these animals.

“This information is meaningless on its own,” said MacDuffee. “It wouldn’t provide information on the depths they were feeding at, what they were feeding on, what their distribution was being driven by, or any of the context needed to make management decisions about food supply or critical habitat.  This additional – and important -information would have to be gathered separately.”

The attachment is designed to come off the whale on the basis of rejection by the animal’s immune system.  This can happen in as little as three weeks.  Given that much longer seasonal and multi-year information is what researchers and managers on both sides of the border desire, this again risks the health of an individual whale with no certainty of useful information.

BC’s southern resident killer whales are endangered because of chemical pollutions, noise and disturbance and declining salmon abundance. With a weakened immune system from pollution exposure, wounds (from tagging) can become more readily infected and lead to serious illness or death.  Secondly, attaching the tags will increase stress and disturbance  resulting from close following and harassment of the targeted whale and its pod members.

Raincoast has been a long standing advocate for, and practitioner of, non-invasive research methods; for example, our decade-long wolf study was done without collaring or capture of any wolves. There is plenty we have learned, and can continue to learn, by using non-invasive techniques and alternative strategies.

High resolution of photos are available from Raincoast:

Top photo shows the dorsal fin of a transient killer whale after satellite tagging.   A pair of serious wounds can be seen at the site where the barbs had been sheared off the animal after the whale rejected the tag.

The second is of an improperly deployed tag where one of the two barb penetrates the entire thickness of the dorsal fin, and the second dangles loosely behind this. These are very sharp barbs that can cut other members of the pod, including calves, who approach this animal.

Contact: Misty MacDuffee (250-818-2136), Dr. Chris Darimont (250-589-7873)

Set sail with Raincoast, Patagonia and Woodshed Films  (in collaboration with Jeremy Koreski  and Dean Azim) for an exploratory surf trip along British Columbia’s unspoiled west coast.  While searching for waves, the crew documents what would be threatened if the Northern Gateway tar sands oil pipeline is built.

Check out the trailer here.

By Randy Shore, Vancouver Sun

Alaskan salmon ranches and interception fisheries are damaging B.C.’s wild salmon populations, according to three Canadian conservation groups.

Raincoast Conservation Foundation, SkeenaWild Conservation Trust and Watershed Watch Salmon Society said Wednesday they plan to challenge the eco-certification awarded to the Alaskan salmon fishery by the Marine Stewardship Council.

To read the full article, please visit the Vancouver Sun website.

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA - Three British Columbian conservation groups are taking aim at Alaskan salmon fisheries that are damaging BC fish stocks and violating conditions of the Marine Stewardship Council’s eco-certification.Raincoast Conservation Foundation, SkeenaWild Conservation Trust, and Watershed Watch Salmon Society today said they would challenge the current recertification of these fisheries by the MSC – the world’s foremost eco-certification label for sustainable fisheries.

By Chris Genovali

The Raincoast Conservation Foundation staff is a tightly-knit group of people. But for Raincoast biologists Andy Rosenberger and Adrianne Jarvela Rosenberger it’s literally a family affair.  In addition to their work as biologists for Raincoast’s wild salmon and marine conservation programs, this husband and wife team have taken on two other important roles for the organization; Andy serves as Raincoast’s GIS (Geographical Information Systems) technician and Adrianne handles our donor stewardship duties. Proving the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, their young son Finn is already showing a fascination with the ocean and predictions are he’s a lock as a future marine biologist for Raincoast.

To read the full article, please visit the Seaside Times website.

In 2011, Raincoast purchased a second commercial hunting tenure. Frustrating and unnecessary government delays have prevented us from being able to announce this successful aquisition.  However, in December 2011 we received assurances from the BC provincial government that the territory will be transferred to us in early 2012.

In 2005, our supporters helped us purchase a vast guide outfitting territory on BC’s central coast and end commercial trophy hunting of bears and wolves. Given the huge success of that initiative, both in terms of stopping trophy hunting and supporting commercial wildlife viewing, we decided to look for similar opportunities.   Last year, we negotiated a unique hunting tenure which comprises the home of nearly all the world’s free roaming spirit bears.

In July of 2011, thanks to your incredible generosity, we raised the $370,000 needed to purchase the tenure by the deadline.  Since raising the funds, we have been waiting for the BC Ministry of Environment to transfer the new territory to Raincoast.  These frustrating and unnecessary government delays have prevented us from being able to announce this purchase.  However, in December 2011 we received assurances from the BC provincial government that the territory will be transferred to us in early 2012.

The acquisition of this territory, in combination with our initial purchase, means that we have effectively ended commercial trophy hunting in a contiguous area of nearly 30,000 sq km.  This has only been possible because of your support.  Stand with us as we continue to pursue our goal of ending the trophy hunting of large carnivores on the coast of British Columbia.

click here for more information.

BY CHRIS GENOVALI AND MISTY MACDUFFEE, TIMES COLONIST DECEMBER 16, 2011

On British Columbia’s south coast, Kinder Morgan wants to triple the amount of crude oil being shipped from Vancouver’s Burrard Inlet through Georgia Strait, the Fraser estuary, Gulf Islands, Haro Strait and Juan de Fuca Strait.

The proposed pipeline expansions would deliver 700,000 barrels of tarsands oil per day to Burrard Inlet by 2016.

This month, the National Energy Board approved the most recent request by Kinder Morgan to divert more oil to their Burnaby terminal, which will increase tanker traffic in the Salish Sea.

Despite requests to the NEB by Raincoast Conservation Foundation, the Gulf Islands Alliance and other organizations, this was done without a full public process. Kinder Morgan is seeking approval for additional increases in pipeline capacity by 2016, which would further expand tanker traffic.

To read the full article, please visit the Victoria Times Colonist website.

Wednesday, 14 December 2011

By Chris Genovali and Misty MacDuffee

On British Columbia’s south coast, Kinder Morgan wants to triple the amount of crude oil being shipped from Vancouver’s Burrard Inlet through Georgia Strait, the Fraser estuary, the Gulf Islands, the San Juan Islands, Haro Strait and Juan de Fuca Strait.

Their proposed pipeline expansions would deliver 700,000 barrels of tar sands oil per day to Burrard Inlet by 2016.

Recently, the National Energy Board approved the latest request by Kinder Morgan to divert more oil to their Burnaby terminal, which will consequently increase tanker traffic in the Georgia Strait-Puget Sound region (a.k.a. the Salish Sea). Despite requests to the NEB by Raincoast Conservation Foundation, the Gulf Islands Alliance and other NGOs, this was done without a full public process.

To read the full article, please visit the San Juan Islander website.

Published: December 13, 2011

By Chris Genovali and Misty MacDuffee

On British Columbia’s south coast, Kinder Morgan wants to triple the amount of crude oil being shipped from Vancouver’s Burrard Inlet through Georgia Strait, the Fraser estuary, the Gulf Islands, the San Juan Islands, Haro Strait and Juan de Fuca Strait.

Their proposed pipeline expansions would deliver 700,000 barrels of tar sands oil per day to Burrard Inlet by 2016.

This past Friday, the National Energy Board approved the most recent request by Kinder Morgan to divert more oil to their Burnaby terminal, which will consequently increase tanker traffic in the Salish Sea. Despite requests to the NEB by Raincoast Conservation Foundation, the Gulf Islands Alliance and other NGOs, this was done without a full public process. Kinder Morgan is seeking approval for additional increases in pipeline capacity by 2016, which would further expand tanker traffic.

To read the full article, please visit the Gulf Islands Driftwood website.