Karen McAllister
Executive Director
Natasha Wehn
Project Director
Laurie McConnell
Dir. of Community & Systems
Sydney Dixon
Marine Specialist
Rob Hackney
Finance Director
Roan Bohonos
Content Designer
Lars Isaac
Videographer & Video Editor
Laurie Hamelin
Communications Lead
Email: info@pacificwild.org
Phone: 250-380-0547
Main Office
1529 Amelia Street, Victoria, BC
Lək̓ʷəŋən Territory
V8W 2K1
Field Office
P.O. Box 26
Denny Island, BC
Haíɫzaqv Territory
V0T 1B0
Did you know trawling’s history on Canadian coasts dates back to colonization?
⚓️European powers introduced industrial fishing methods like trawling to exploit the Grand Banks in the 1500s. On the west coast, bottom trawling began in the early 1900s, with small vessels supplying local markets before steam-powered trawlers expanded into the Hecate Strait during WWI.
🇨🇦 By 1944, Canada finally began formally recording trawler activities in B.C. – after nearly 30 years of these vessels operating with little oversight. Monitoring was led by the Pacific Biological Station in Nanaimo, which became a hub for fisheries research.
More recently, factory trawlers have arrived on B.C.’s coast. These ships weren’t built here. They were sold off after fishing heavily in European and northern seas like the North Sea and Bering Sea, leaving stock collapses and strict regulations in their wake. Now, their industrial footprints threaten to leave similar scars on Canada’s Pacific coast.
🛑 Industrial trawling continues to put our ocean’s most fragile ecosystems at risk. Learn more about its impacts and how you can help protect marine life.
#Trawling #BottomTrawling #Fishing #Overfishing #BanBottomTrawling #ProtectOurCoast #Cod #InDeepTrouble #DraggedToDeath #MarineProtection #OceanConservation #StopTrawling #Maritimes #Ocean
🚨 Investigation reveals shocking footage from "semi-closed containment" salmon farm
What lies beneath experimental salmon farms? Thanks to the investigative work of @clayoquot.action and @watershedwatchbc, we now have disturbing answers.
📹 These are the Sh*t Tapes* — raw, gut-churning ROV footage obtained through government access to information requests. They expose massive piles of fish feces and uneaten feed smothering the seafloor under an “experimental” Cermaq salmon farm near Tofino, B.C.
🐟 Though marketed as “semi-closed” or “closed” containment, the videos show these systems are leaking waste directly into the ocean. One trench of feces filmed by Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) stretched minutes long with no end in sight. Inspectors noted entire areas of the sea floor were covered 100% in waste.
👀 This is pollution you were never meant to see.
💊This experimental farm also used antibiotics at least seven times in just one year. If uneaten medicated feed is settling on the seafloor, what does that mean for wild fish, crab, or prawn in the area, or for the people who harvest them?
This is a wake-up call.
👍 But there’s some good news: Pacific Wild, along with other ENGOs like @clayoquot.action and @watershedwatchbc, are part of the stakeholder group actively submitting feedback and recommendations on the Salmon Aquaculture Transition Plan — working hard to ensure these experimental farms are not allowed to operate in the ocean beyond 2029.
🔗 Watch the videos. Read the inspection report. Raise your voice.
👉 Head to @clayoquot.action and @watershedwatchbc’s pages to learn more.
📢 TAKE ACTION: Follow the link in our bio to tell the Minister of Fisheries that enough is enough, we need to get ALL in-water salmon farms out of B.C.’s coastal waters.
#FishFarmsOut #FOFF #SaveBCSalmon #WildSalmon #PacificSalmon
🐚 There is hope for trawling! Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) can stop the destruction caused by bottom trawling – and benefit everyone, including fishers over time.
Bottom trawling devastates seafloor habitats and marine life. But when areas are closed to trawling through highly protected MPAs, ecosystems can recover and thrive, creating a “spillover effect.” As populations rebound inside protected areas, target species migrate beyond their boundaries, supporting sustainable fisheries.
A powerful example comes from the Isle of Man in the Irish Sea. After five small areas were closed to bottom trawling, king scallop populations became five times more abundant, with reproductive potential increasing by over 1,200%. This not only restored the ecosystem but boosted surrounding fisheries. This story is featured in David Attenborough`s latest film “Ocean”, highlighting how banning trawling benefits ocean health and coastal communities alike.
Yet bottom trawling is still allowed in some Canadian MPAs, despite violating minimum protection standards established in 2019. Fully protecting these areas is critical to achieving similar success.
🤝 Pacific Wild is working to protect 30% of Canada’s oceans by 2030 through a strong network of MPAs in the Great Bear Sea and beyond. Protecting these areas from destructive fishing practices will rebuild fish stocks, enhance biodiversity, and create a healthier ocean for all.
Help us make this a reality. Send a pre-written letter to government officials today.
#MarineProtection #InDeepTrouble #DraggedToDeath #GreatBearSea #Ocean
🔥 New Interview + Feature Blog Article
This spring, we stood with Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chief Na’Moks at Witset Canyon—an ancient fishing site along the Bulkley River on Wet’suwet’en Yintah (territory) near Smithers B.C.
Chief Na’Moks grew up fishing these waters and speaks with fierce clarity about what it means to uphold Wet’suwet’en law, protect ancestral lands, and resist fossil fuel expansion.
He recounts the violence his people faced defending their Yintah from the Coastal GasLink (CGL) pipeline and warns of the danger LNG development poses to salmon, sovereignty, and future generations.
🔥 Watch the full interview with Chief Na’Moks on our Youtube channel at the link in bio.
🔥 Read our latest blog article featuring Chief Na’Moks and Gitxsan land defenders at the link in bio.
From Oil To LNG: The Fight for a Livable Future
Indigenous Resistance to Fossil Fuel Expansion in Northwest B.C.
🙏@tsayu2
@laxyipyouth
@jessestoeppler
#LNG #CGL #CGLpipeline #Wetsuweten #FossilFuels #MethaneGas #ClimateCrisis #Indigenous #IndigenousRights #IndigenousHistoryMonth#DRIPA #UNDRIP #EnvironmentalRacism #BCpolitics #PacificWild
🚣🏼♀️ Passage Paddle Update!
🌊The @thepassagepaddle crew is paddling through the heart of the Great Bear Rainforest, surrounded by towering bull kelp forests swaying beneath the waves.
Bull kelp, known as Nereocystis luetkeana or “mermaid’s bladder,” forms dense underwater forests that provide vital food and shelter for countless marine species along this wild coastline.
❗ Want to join in the adventure? Play Biodiversity Bingo to win prizes and race the crew through the Great Bear Sea by sponsoring kilometres in our fundraiser!
🔗 Link in bio!
#PassagePaddle #GreatBearRainforest #GreatBearSea #MarineProtection #BullKelp
🐺🦦Wolves eating sea otters?
As sea otter populations rebound, some coastal wolves have shifted their diets in a surprising way, targeting marine mammals. On Pleasant Island, Alaska, sea otters now make up over 80% of some wolves` diets.
⚠️ But this adaptation comes at a cost: scientists found the highest mercury levels ever recorded in wolves worldwide, putting their health at serious risk.
And it’s not just Alaska — wolves in British Columbia are also preying on sea otters. What does this mean for the future of coastal food webs?
🔁 Watch and read to learn how land and sea are more connected than we think!
Citation: Roffler et al., 2025
🎥 @iantmcallister and @pacificwild
#SaveBCWolves #CoastalWolf #SeaWolf #SeaOtter #LandToSea #MarineProtection #Biodiversity
Karen McAllister
Executive Director
Karen McAllister has been involved in habitat and wildlife protection in British Columbia for over three decades. Initially, she worked on frontline campaigns to protect Vancouver Island’s endangered rainforest, moving north in the 1990s to begin efforts to protect the central and north coast of B.C. Karen has a Bachelor degree in Biology and Environmental Studies from the University of Victoria and she is the co-author of The Great Bear Rainforest, a book that helped define the early campaign to protect the region. She is a co-founder and the Executive Director of Pacific Wild. Karen currently splits her time between the Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island and Denny Island, in the Great Bear Rainforest, and is happiest when sailing to remote west coast beaches or getting her boots muddy in salmon rivers.
Natasha Wehn
Project Director
Natasha is a filmmaker and organizer who has worked in the film industry in Vancouver for 8 years. Growing up in Howe Sound, she was profoundly impacted by the power and beauty of the wilderness around her and has always sought to bring together her love of nature and storytelling.
Natasha has a BA in film from Simon Fraser University and studied Project Management at UBC’s Sauder School of Business. She has worked in a wide variety of departments in the film industry, from camera to casting, the production office to production design, and sound to Assistant Directing. This broad experience provided a solid foundation for transitioning into Producing. One of the most rewarding projects was Luk’Luk’I; a 2017 docudrama that collaborated with residents in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside to tell their stories. Working on that project permanently changed Natasha’s perspective of life in the DTES. Natasha’s films have been screened in festivals internationally and won numerous awards.
Natasha believes that visual storytelling has an incredible capacity to build bridges and open people up to new perspectives. She is very excited to work at Pacific Wild and advocate for our precious planet, especially our incredibly unique coastal ecosystems.
In her spare time, Natasha enjoys breathing in the salty sea breeze, feeling the sun on her face, and learning about anything anyone is willing to teach her!
Laurie McConnell
Director of Community & Systems,
Donor Relations
Laurie spent her twenties exploring the BC coastline every summer aboard a 26′ wooden sloop sailboat and discovered a love for the wild marine environment and all the creatures within it.
She relocated to the Sunshine Coast and has spent 39 years involved in the community across a variety of organizations and initiatives. She has a journalism degree and a background in communications, and studied art and creative writing as tools to transform the way we communicate around charged topics. Donor relations, stewardship, Friends of Pacific Wild and Artists for the Great Bear Rainforest are paired with digital systems management for a never-a-dull-moment role.
She is delighted to be working in her great love of BC’s unique coastal geography and culture. This is her dream job, helping protect such a critical piece of British Columbia and engaging in outreach and development to further Pacific Wild’s goals in the Great Bear Rainforest and Sea.
If you need any assistance regarding a gift, contact Laurie directly at: 1-778-401-5222.
Sydney Dixon
Marine Specialist
Sydney grew up on the coast of British Columbia, where her fascination with tide pools sparked a lifelong passion for the ocean. This enthusiasm deepened throughout her adolescence and guided her into adulthood. She earned an undergraduate degree in marine science and geography, launching her career in the marine field through roles in environmental monitoring and as a vessel captain leading wildlife tours.
After relocating to the west coast of Vancouver Island, she transitioned into the nonprofit sector, focusing on marine research and education. Sydney’s early research positions focused on studying the movement patterns and behaviour of killer whales, as well as monitoring sea star wasting disease and population dynamics in the intertidal zone.
In 2022, Sydney joined the team at Pacific Wild. Thrilled to collaborate with a talented group of colleagues, she now shares her extensive knowledge and passion for the marine environment with diverse audiences. Sydney is also completing a Master of Science degree at Royal Roads University and is excited to share her findings with Pacific Wild’s audience.
Rob Hackney, CPA, CGA
Director of Finance
Rob has admired the natural world from a young age. Enamoured by tales of the fabled Pacific Northwest, he drove westbound across Canada in his early twenties. Captivated by the sheer beauty of the rainforests, coastal climate, mountainous regions, and plethora of wildlife, he made Victoria, BC, his home in 2007.
Rob pursued studies on Vancouver Island, completing a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, with majors in accounting and finance. He further pursued a professional accounting designation, and received his letters (CPA, Chartered Professional Accountant) in 2015. He has worked in financial and tax accounting for private sector accounting firms, in legislation administration for the federal government, and in management information systems technology for an international organization.
Rob enjoys a wide range of outdoor activities including snowboarding, rock climbing, mountain biking, hiking, and learning about mycology and mycorrhizal fungi and plants.
With Pacific Wild, Rob has an outlet for his financial prowess and passion for protecting the environment. He is grateful to be working with a team of talented professionals in the fight to protect biodiversity and species at risk in our coastal ecosystems.
Roan Bohonos
Digital Content Designer
Roan was born and raised in Calgary, Alberta, and has always had a curiosity and appreciation of the natural world. His love for the coastal environment of B.C. and passion for wildlife protection ignited even further through having spent many summers on Vancouver Island whilst growing up.
Roan graduated in 2020 from the Alberta University of the Arts with a Bachelor’s of Design. After graduating, he spent a few years in the stock video/photography as well as freelancing space, honing his creative skills in the areas of graphic design, motion graphics, and video editing.
After moving to Victoria B.C. in 2021, Roan joined the Pacific Wild crew near the beginning of 2023. His personal interests and hobbies include basketball, snowboarding, hiking, photography, watching movies, photo-collaging, chess, and travel.
Lars Isaac
Videographer & Video Editor
Laurie Hamelin
Communications Lead
Laurie is a videographer and storyteller with a deep passion for conservation and the natural world. Born in Ottawa and raised in small towns along Lake Huron, a cheap second-hand camera changed her life—it was like magic, and it still is. Looking through that lens made her mind dance, inspiring her to create images and tell stories of all kinds.
Laurie earned diplomas and certificates in Television Broadcasting, Independent Film & Television, Photography, and Freelance Writing in Ottawa and Toronto. Her career has taken her all across Canada, working on television productions and for news stations, capturing stories that matter.
In 2015, Laurie followed her passion for nature and wildlife to British Columbia, where she hit the ground running as a video journalist covering Indigenous news. Her work has taken her deep into the province, exploring critical issues such as oil and gas development, open-pen salmon farms, the protection of lands and waters, and the climate crisis.
When she’s not shooting or writing, Laurie finds peace in nature—seeking out the quiet hum of the forest and mountains. She is thrilled to be part of the team with Pacific Wild, helping safeguard biodiversity in one of the most incredible places on Earth—the Great Bear Rainforest and Pacific Northwest.
