OrcaLab

“OrcaLab research is land based as a matter of philosophy… research without interference. The approach works well in our area, with its many waterways & relatively small distances. OrcaLab’s location on Hanson Island at Blackney Pass is perfect for reception of radio signals from Johnstone Strait & Blackfish Sound, two of the most important areas used by the whales.”

Web Site: OrcaLab

Killer Whale jumping out of the water, doing a back flip.

Contact Us

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

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Did you know that Grizzly Bears have a complex omnivorous diet? 🐻 ⁠
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Although they can consume a large quantity of salmon during the spawning season, grizzly bears are mostly vegetarians; with diets consisting of an estimated 70-80% vegetation. Grizzlies have large habitat ranges and enjoy many different food sources including: fish (salmon and trout), small rodents, ungulates, insects, berries, grasses, roots and tubers. ⁠
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After hibernation, before other plant food sources have grown or fruited, bears will eat tubers and roots. To source starchy plant materials below ground, grizzlies use their powerful front paws to dig them out of the earth. Some of the preferred early spring root vegetation of grizzly bears include the roots of the Hedysarum, bulbs of the glacier lily, and bulbs of the spring beauty. ⁠
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For coastal grizzly bears in British Columbia to be healthy and consume enough nutrients each year before their winter hibernations, they need to have access to many different food sources. Declining salmon runs, large wildfires, climate change and human activities affecting their habitats pose risks to the availability of these food sources. ⁠
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Photography by @iantmcallister ⁠
#grizzlybears #bcbears #savebcbears #grizzlydiets #bcgrizzlybears #protectgrizzlies⁠
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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

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