Notes from the Field | Raincoast Conservation Foundation

Notes from the Great Bear

A tiny bird rests in the rigging of the vessel, Achiever.

Published on 2020.01.22 | by Ross Dixon, Communications & Development Director | in Notes from the Field

Umbrella species like the grizzly bear and apex predators such as the killer whale are a focus of Raincoast’s conservation efforts precisely because they are reliant on a broader range of species and processes, and a more complex system to which they contribute to and depend on…

Connecting the invisible to the visible

A black bear forages in the estuary with the tide out.

Published on 2020.01.21 | by Lauren Henson, Raincoast Research Fellow | in Notes from the Field

As modern scientists, we frequently deal in abstraction. We are separated from the species and ecosystems we study often by hundreds of miles, bureaucratic bubbles, cloistered campuses, and the machinations of innumerable statistical analyses whirring silently away in the electric flatness…

The best summer camp on earth?

Published on 2019.08.19 | by Nathaniel Glickman, Education and Outreach Associate | in Notes from the Field

Our research and outreach vessel, Achiever, just returned from one of the most inspiring trips of the year. Let me explain why…

Creating transformative experiences for students on the Salish Sea

Students aboard Achiever, cluster around the bow on the Salish Sea.

Published on 2019.03.29 | by Maureen Vo, Education and Development Coordinator | in Notes from the Field

These experiences are transformative and what we strive to create for young people with the Salish Sea Emerging Stewards program. The program brings students on multi-day journeys aboard Achiever to learn about coastal environments and conservation challenges…

Breaking new estuary ground on the Steveston Jetty

Steveston Jetty on a grey day, with overset diagrams showing some of the work we're doing.

Published on 2019.02.27 | by David Scott, Raincoast Lower Fraser Salmon Program Coordinator | in Notes from the Field

When we began our research in the Fraser estuary in 2016, the presence of multiple barriers, including the Steveston Jetty, became a significant concern. With the announcement of the Coastal Restoration Fund in 2017, an opportunity to begin addressing these barriers appeared…

Join us in the Great Bear Rainforest in 2019

Achiever rests on the waters of the Great Bear Rainforest at sunset.

Published on 2019.02.05 | by Nicholas Sinclair | in Notes from the Field

We watch as her three little cubs slowly take to the high water and make their way to mom. They graze on roots, and search for salmon carcasses that simply aren’t there. The cub’s curiosity…

Advancing non-invasive approaches for monitoring wildlife: considering the ethics of developing new techniques

Published on 2019.01.28 | by Heather Bryan, Postdoctoral Fellow, RACS Lab | in Notes from the Field

A theme that underlies our research in the Applied Conservation Lab is that we aim to apply methods that are minimally invasive to wildlife. This ethos emerges in large part from our partners in First Nations communities, who have taught us many important lessons about respecting the people, places, and animals where we work. Our […]

Fraser estuary research completed for 2018

Raincoast scientists aboard their boat on the Fraser River getting the seine nets ready to do their summer research.

Published on 2018.09.25 | by David Scott, Raincoast Lower Fraser Salmon Program Coordinator | in Notes from the Field

After a long five months we have now wrapped up our 2018 field season in the Fraser estuary, our best year yet! This year our team spent 76 days in the field and we captured more than 35,000 fish, including over 6,400 juvenile salmon. While it has been a long and hot season with a […]

Moving marine-derived nutrients from the sea to the land

Published on 2018.09.04 | by Kristen Walters, Lower Fraser River Salmon Conservation Program Coordinator | in Notes from the Field

The aim of this research is to inform salmon management strategies given the importance of allowing adults to return to their natal streams to spawn. Considering this life cycle is imperative for management agencies…