Pacific Wild supports the protection of ecosystems that can sustain biodiversity throughout the Great Bear Rainforest & the northwest Pacific region.

stories & news from the great bear

The seine fleet on the water in the Strait of Georgia in 2019. Photo: Ian McAllister

Herring

Pacific Wild’s Feedback on the 2023/2024 Draft Integrated Fisheries Management Plan for Pacific Herring

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Pacific Wild Journal 2023: Dispatches from a Northern Rainforest

Wildlife

Wolves and the Food Web

Marine Protection

Canada must Sign High Seas Treaty

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from land to sea: Great bear rainforest story map

Explore the food web of the Great Bear Rainforest with this ArcGIS-powered Story Map and learn how species interconnect to feed coastal temperate rainforest ecosystems and coastal communities. On this interactive site, immerse your senses in the beauty of the Great Bear Rainforest, take a tour through the food web, explore the science and learn how you can take action to help conserve British Columbia’s precious marine and terrestrial ecosystems.

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Your support is essential and together we can create enduring conservation achievements on the ground and in the waters of coastal British Columbia.

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Save BC Bears

For the first time in decades the B.C. government is asking for feedback on grizzly bear stewardship. It’s time to get loud: demand meaningful public engagement and planning that puts grizzlies first.

Caribout Wolves billboard Kelowna

Caribout Wolves billboard Kelowna

Do You Caribout Wolves?

#CariboutWolves We believe caring about wolves IS caring about caribou. The ongoing destruction of critical caribou habitat is causing their

In Deep Trouble

#InDeepTrouble Bottom trawling is known to be one of the most destructive and wasteful fishing techniques in the world. Dragging

Marine Protection Pacific North Coast image

Marine Protection

The marine environment of the Great Bear Rainforest has few parallels in the world when it comes to biodiversity, richness and abundance.

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The wonders of this rainforest have to be seen to be believed. Watch our collection of videos to learn more about the Great Bear.

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What does stewardship actually mean? The draft Grizzly Bear Stewardship Framework failed to include a definition, and crafting one was part of the goal of last week’s Indigenous Roundtable hosted by the Grizzly Bear Foundation ( @grizzlybearfdn ). Pacific Wild was honoured to be able to attend and listen to the Indigenous conservation leaders and guides discuss what best practices should look like for ecotourism, grizzly bear protection and the challenges they foresee in their Nations moving forward.⁠
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Stay tuned for a collective recommendation in response to the recent draft documents on grizzly bear conservation and viewing released by the provincial government this summer, which Richard Sparrow (Director of Indigenous-Led Conservation at the Grizzly Bear Foundation) hopes to put forward following these meetings.⁠
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Bear photo by @iantmcallister⁠
#GrizzlyBears #IndigenousLedConservation #Reconciliation

The current state of wild salmon in B.C. is in crisis. Pacific salmon are facing unprecedented threats and many runs are at historic lows. Numerous runs have been identified as either Endangered, Threatened, or a Species of Special Concern under the Species at Risk Act. Without immediate action, we risk the disappearance of wild salmon in B.C., the result of which would be devastating to local ecosystems, economy and culture.⁠
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A wide breadth of peer-reviewed research shows that the impacts from open-net farms, such as parasites and pathogens transmitted from farmed salmon to wild salmon, as well as pollutants negatively affect the health of wild Pacific salmon. The removal of open-net salmon farms is a controllable action the government can take to protect dwindling salmon runs. And we know it works! After the removal of open-net salmon farms from the Discovery Islands region, the average number of sea lice per juvenile wild salmon declined by 96%, a substantial decline not witnessed in similar samples from the nearby Broughton Archipelago.⁠
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The Canadian government has promised to remove the remainder of open-net salmon farms from B.C. waters by 2025. Until then, B.C. remains the only jurisdiction on the Pacific Coast of North America that still allows open-net salmon farms to operate. We invite you take action to #savewildsalmon: pressure Canada to keep their promise to remove open-net salmon farms from B.C. Follow the link in our bio to send a pre-written letter to government officials and help give wild salmon a fighting chance. ⁠
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Photography by @iantmcallister⁠
#salmonconservation #pacificsalmon #salmonstories #savewildsalmon #salmonaresacred #fishfarmsout #salmonfarm

A huge thank you to everyone who made a donation for wildlife conservation this week on Giving Tuesday! Thanks to you, we reached our goal of $100,000 which was matched by a generous donor to $200,000! Your support makes a huge difference to our advocacy for the species and ecosystems in British Columbia, and we couldn’t be more grateful. From wolves and bears, to herring, salmon, whales and more - your contribution means that we can continue to forge a brighter future for these species and their habitats. Together we can make a difference. ⁠
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The staff at Pacific Wild made a pledge that we would do a cold plunge into the Pacific ocean if we reached our goal, and thanks to you, we did! Check out our Giving Tuesday Highlight to see us dip. ⁠
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Thank you again, you are a hero for wildlife! ⁠
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Wildlife photography by @iantmcallister and @chris_wsr⁠
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#givingtuesday2023 #givingtuesday #thankyou #wildlifeconservation #protectbcwildlife

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) is accepting comments on the 2023/2024 Draft Integrated Fisheries Management Plan (IFMP) for Pacific herring until December 3, 2023. Pacific Wild has submitted a response and list of recommendations. We continue to advocate for a rapid transition to ecosystem-based management of Pacific herring and a coast-wide moratorium of the gillnet and seine roe fisheries until such a time that herring populations have had time to recover in all five major fishing areas across the B.C. coast.

Highest on our list of concerns is the suggestion of a 20% harvest rate in the Strait of Georgia (SoG). The SoG is considered the last stronghold for herring on Canada’s Pacific Coast, containing about 50% of coast-wide herring biomass remaining in B.C.. If only the low end of DFO’s prediction (44,040 tons) of herring returns to spawn, a 20% harvest rate of 16,083 tons total allowable catch would represent nearly a 37% harvest rate. This vastly exceeds sustainable levels and fails to meet conservation objectives.

In addition, the continued failure of DFO to adequately acknowledge and manage resident sub-stocks, identify drivers of spawn loss, and account for shifting baseline syndrome contributes to the chronic mismanagement of herring fisheries in B.C. The Special Use herring fishery is scheduled to open in the SoG today at 18:00 and it is anticipated that the Food and Bait fishery will open in the near future.

The most effective way for you to help Pacific herring is to write to fisheries representatives telling them that you do not support the commercial gillnet and seine fishery and to support movement towards an ecosystem-based approach to management of herring in B.C.. Follow the links in our bio to read our full response to the Draft 2023/2024 IFMP for Pacific herring and speak out to protect this #BIGLittleFish for generations by sending a pre-written letter to fisheries minister Diane Lebouthillier.

Photography by @iantmcallister and @kwexphoto
#ProtectPacificHerring #PacificHerring #Herring #BIGlittlefish

A new poll by Research Co. found that marine conservation is crucial for the economic future of B.C.’s coast! ⁠
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Marine conservation and renewable energy were seen by participants as most important for B.C.’s coastal economic future, with declining fish stocks topping the list of concerns for coastal communities. Open-net fish farms, bottom trawling, and climate change were not far behind on the list of concerns. ⁠
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Nearly 80% of British Columbians polled support the implementation of Marine Protected Area networks as part of B.C.’s commitment to protecting 30% of land and waters by 2030. MPAs are essential for safeguarding the diverse marine ecosystems which house a rich tapestry of species. They serve as critical refuges where marine biodiversity can thrive, providing sanctuaries for fish, invertebrates, mammals and other marine organisms to reproduce and flourish. ⁠
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Helping to Mitigate the impacts of overfishing, habitat destruction and climate change, MPAs contribute to the overall resilience of marine ecosystems, enhancing their ability to withstand environmental stressors. This poll demonstrates that the majority of British Columbians agree that marine conservation through the implementation of MPAs is crucial for thriving economies and ecosystems. ⁠
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Read more about the poll findings at the link in our bio!⁠
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Wildlife photography by @iantmcallister⁠
#MPA #marineconservation #saveouroceans #marineprotection #marineprotectedareas

Wild salmon are the lifeblood of the B.C. coast. They play a pivotal role connecting land and sea by enriching fresh water and forest ecosystems with marine-derived nutrients during their annual journey to spawn. One of the most iconic species of the Pacific Northwest, Pacific salmon are an irreplaceable link of the food web, supporting extensive biodiversity and overall ecosystem health. Conservation of these incredible fish is essential not only for the health of ecosystems, but also for the preservation of the cultural heritage of First Nations and coastal communities.

Today is Giving Tuesday - you can make a huge difference for salmon conservation efforts as all donations will be matched up to $100,000!

Want to learn more about why conservation is crucial for Pacific salmon? Check out our salmon campaign on our website, linked in our bio.

Nature photography by: @iantmcallister
Interview filmed by: @larskisaac
Interview with Marine Coursac: @marinecoursac

#pacificsalmon #givingtuesday #salmonconservation #bcsalmon #protectoldsalmon #givingtuesday2023

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