Sunflower Sea Stars: The Ocean’s Many-Armed Gardeners
Among the distinguished creatures of BCs coastal waters, the sunflower sea star (Pycnopodia helianthoides) stands out as a true ocean giant. With as many as 20 flexible arms radiating from its central body, it’s one of the largest and fastest sea stars in the world, gliding with surprising ease along the seafloor. Identifying the Sunflower […]
Drawing a Line in the Water: How a Citizen Watchdog is Reshaping Whale Watching
Armed with a camera, a notebook, and persistence, Ryan Michael is reshaping how the coast thinks about whales, tourism, and the waters they call home. A Circus at Sea The orcas move like shadows beneath the waterline, their dorsal fins slicing the surface of Haro Strait. Midsummer light bends off the water in silver sheets. […]
Fish Farm Closures Linked to Fraser Sockeye Surge
The Fraser River’s unexpectedly strong sockeye salmon returns this year have renewed calls to accelerate the removal of open-net fish farms from BC’s coastal waters. Marine scientists, First Nations leaders, and wild salmon experts say the surge, with some runs six times higher than forecast, is evidence that removing fish farms from key migration routes […]
Freed Entangled Whale “Starry Knight” Seen Breaching and in Healthy Condition
The young humpback whale Starry Knight, seen entangled near Sooke on July 14 and later freed by rescuers, was spotted breaching near Galiano Island just two weeks later—an inspiring sign that recovery is underway. “Now we’ll be able to note this tragic event in Starry Knight’s life, follow its recovery, and hopefully see it return […]
Sea Stars Are Melting Away: Scientists Identify The Cause Behind Devastating Wasting Disease
This cookie sea star found near Calvert Island, British Columbia, shows how SSWD “melts” the animal’s flesh. Photo credit: Hakai Institute / University of British Columbia
Bycatch Deaths in Pacific Trawl Fisheries Are Higher Than Reported
In British Columbia’s trawl fleet, non-target species such as halibut, salmon, sharks, skates, crabs, and deep-sea invertebrates are routinely caught and discarded. Though industry practices frame these releases as “non-lethal,” the biological reality is stark: many of these discarded marine animals do not survive.
How Trawlers “Go Dark” Despite Supposed Strict Regulation
Fishing vessels around the world are routinely “going dark” by turning off their automatic identification system (AIS) transponders – and British Columbia’s trawler fleet is no exception. This has allowed industrial trawlers to operate out of sight in sensitive habitats, encouraging a pattern of exploitation along our coast. What Are AIS Transponders and Why They […]
Serial Poacher to Face Six Years in Prison After 17 Years of Violations
A BC man with the longest record of Fisheries Act violations in Canadian history has been sentenced to six years in prison – a punishment the judge said was the only way to stop him from “ravaging the ocean.” Scott Steer, a poacher from Gabriola Island, was convicted earlier this year of illegally harvesting and […]
BC Trawlers Pressured Observers to Not Report 140 Million Pounds of Bycatch
When Monitoring Breaks The federal government requires every industrial trawler in BC to carry an independent at-sea observer to monitor bycatch. Former observers told The Narwhal that they were bullied, isolated, and threatened by crew members onboard trawlers, to the point of fearing for their safety. “You’re out there alone.” Jon Eis, a veteran observer, […]
Killer Whales May Be Sharing Food with Humans to Learn More About Us
Killer whales off the BC coast have been observed doing something astonishing: offering food to humans. The behaviour is rare, potentially unprecedented among wild apex predators, and documented in a new peer-reviewed study published in the Journal of Comparative Psychology. The study’s lead author, marine researcher Jared Towers of Bay Cetology, was present for two […]