Cycles, seasons and sediment of the Fraser Estuary
The Soul of the Fraser by Ken Ashley, Director of the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT), tells the story of the important intertidal habitat in the Fraser River Estuary.
Federal Minister presses pause on Terminal 2
In a six page letter (PDF) to the CEO of the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, Canada’s minister of Environment and Climate Change, Jonathan Wilkinson, requested more information from the Port to assess the effectiveness of mitigation efforts in the proposed expansion of Terminal 2 on Roberts Bank. Wikinson’s letter conveyed the panel’s conclusion about likely adverse effects to fish, fish habitat and other at-risk species if Terminal 2 proceeds…
A bond through salmon, language and grandmothers
The book was produced to accompany the Royal BC Museum’s 2020 feature exhibition Orcas: Our Shared Future which, due to the pandemic, is rescheduled to now open in May 2021…
Saving endangered whales: Strategies from above and below the 49th parallel
On May 10, the Canadian federal government announced its first wide-ranging measures to reduce the primary threats compromising survival of the salmon-eating Southern Resident killer whales reliant on the transboundary waters of the Pacific Northwest and British Columbia. Although federally listed as endangered in 2003 in Canada and 2005 in the US, little has happened…
No mitigation measures can protect Southern Resident killer whales from the noise of Trans Mountain’s tanker traffic
While we disagree with the NEB’s conclusion, we acknowledge that their review of the effects on killer whales accurately portrays the complexity and severity of the situation.
Southern Resident killer whales need more than luck
The reality is that calves like Lucky only have a 40% chance of survival. More sobering still is the fact that no calves have survived in this population in the last three years. This is why we have stopped using images…
Chinook salmon, 74 killer whales, and the future of the Salish Sea
2018 closes with just 74 Southern Resident killer whales remaining in the world. You’ve been with us through a year of huge wins and some heartbreaking losses and it’s worth a recap as we close the year and prepare for 2019. January – With 76 Southern Residents remaining, Raincoast and partners petition the government to…
Government declares “imminent threat” to survival of Southern Resident killer whales
Last week, the government announced fisheries closures in some key Southern Resident foraging areas. While welcome news, the measures only partially address our concerns over food availability and disturbance to endangered killer whales…
Pacific Herring: Underpinning the coastal foodweb
One of the most abundant fish in BC waters, Raincoast scientists are studying the interactions between Pacific Herring and the coastal food web. Studies include the relationships between herring spawn events and the terrestrial mammals who feed upon them.
Summer employment opportunity
Are you a biology student looking for a great summer job? Check out Raincoast’s juvenile salmon program in the Fraser Estuary. We are looking to hire two field assistants…
Critical situation for Southern Resident killer whales provokes call for urgent action
Only 76 Southern Resident killer whales remain. This is a critical situation. Today, represented by Ecojustice, and in collaboration with other science and environmental organizations, we are calling on the Canadian government to take immediate action to protect these whales…
A gift of abundance for Southern Resident killer whales
As 2017 draws to a close, all of us at Raincoast are buoyed by the news that grizzly hunting across the entirety of British Columbia will finally end. Thank you for supporting our 20+ years…