Contact Us
Email: info@pacificwild.org
Phone: 250-380-0547
Main Office
1529 Amelia Street, Victoria, BC
Lək̓ʷəŋən Territory
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Field Office
P.O. Box 26
Denny Island, BC
Haíɫzaqv Territory
V0T 1B0
🐟 **#SuperFishSaturday Species Profile: Yelloweye Rockfish** 🐟
Say hi to this Saturday’s superfish: the yelloweye rockfish, one of the Pacific Ocean`s most fascinating and long-lived residents! These striking fish can live over a century, but their future is at risk due to habitat destruction and overfishing.
🔸 Of all rockfish, yelloweye are some of the longest living. Yelloweye rockfish have been recorded to live up to 150 years, but they only reach maturity between 5 and 20 years old, making their populations slow to recover from fishing and habitat loss. These fish thrive in rocky reefs, including British Columbia`s ancient glass sponge reefs. These reefs are biodiversity hotspots, providing critical shelter and breeding grounds for yelloweye rockfish and other marine life.
🔸 Being caught as incidental bycatch can be devastating for yelloweye rockfish. Both bottom trawl and midwater trawl fishing sometimes bring up yelloweyes as bycatch, the former dragging nets along the bottom that can destroy habitats like the glass sponge reefs which not only take thousands of years to grow, but are also home for rockfish. Yelloweyes are very vulnerable to sudden changes in depth (like being brought up on a fishing line or in a net) as they do not have a swim bladder. If accidentally caught by recreational or sport fishers, it’s crucial they are released with a controlled descent device that can save their life!
🔸 Yelloweye rockfish are both a species of concern and listed as endangered, and protecting their habitats, especially the precious glass sponge reefs, is crucial. Reducing bycatch and ensuring that fishers are aware of protective measures such as controlled descent devices, are essential to ensure these incredible fish can continue to thrive.
Let`s work together to protect the yelloweye rockfish and their unique habitats! 🌊💙 #Yelloweye #rockfish #SaveOurOceans
📸: NOAA Photo Library
How do you connect to the cycle of life? 🐟️🌲
When salmon return to the earth, they provide nutrients to the forests and streams of British Columbia. When you return to earth, just like a salmon, you can leave a gift for the wild places you love. We’ve partnered with Epilogue, an online wills platform founded by experienced estate planning lawyers to help you get the will you need and create the conservation legacy you want to leave behind. Pacific Wild relies on gifts in wills to ensure we can continue the important work we do– A gift in your will to our registered charity can make a difference long after you are gone, and provide tax advantages for your estate.
With Epilogue, you can complete your will in as little as 20 minutes and from the comfort of your own home. Canadian supporters of Pacific Wild can enjoy 20% off any Epilogue package, by clicking on the link in our bio.
Consider supporting us here at Pacific Wild so we can continue furthering our conservation work! No matter the size of your gift, your legacy can help preserve the natural beauty we all cherish. Learn more and start your journey towards making a difference— link in bio! 💙 #Will #Give #Charity
Results are in! Some wins, Some Losses this Herring Spawn Season
Don’t want to read dense government reports but want to see what’s up with herring? Go to the link in our bio to read our new blog for a summary from the 2024 Pacific Herring Preliminary Data Summary in the Strait of Georgia (the Salish Sea).
📸: @iantmcallister
#foragefish #pacificherring #herring #biglittlefish #protectpacificherring
Notes from the field:
We clenched our teeth as our vehicles strained up a steep logging road towards our goal: a B.C. Timber Sales site containing a Priority Old Forest Deferral Area. What we found there took our breath away.
Shafts of sunlight sunk deep into the moss. When we stepped off the road and into the trees of the ravine, we noticed the difference in sound and atmosphere. It was muted, soft. As we clambered through the criss-crossing branches and ferns we noticed something white gleaming in the green maze. A jaw bone over here, ribs and spine over there, and hip bones covered by pieces of fur lay a few paces away. Finally we found a skull propped up on a boulder, which gave us the final clues to help identify our find. A few months ago this patch of forest had provided a soft bed to a wolf in its’ final moments. This was an incredibly rare find. Hundreds of wolves are killed each year in B.C. by hunters, trappers and government contractors, but few are found like this: quietly decomposing in an old growth forest.
We found no evidence of human intervention on the scene. Instead we saw the forest reclaiming its kin. Mushrooms processing decay, slugs eating mushrooms (among other delicious treats), the cycle repeating itself. Nearby, a large douglas fir revealed a perfectly V shaped nook at its base. Perhaps this had once been a temporary den site for the wandering wolf, now vacant and ready for a new guest.
Healthy forests are more than a collection of trees– they’re a web of life. They are the birth and final resting places of their inhabitants, a network of nutrients cycling through all plants, animals, fungi, and bacteria that call these places home.
Speak up to protect B.C. wolves and these incredible ecosystems we all rely on for survival. Send a letter at the link in bio.
Photos by Natasha Wehn
#fieldnotes #expedition #oldgrowth #SaveBCWolves
Who Lurks in the Kelp? 🦀
From playful harbour seals to stealthy kelp crabs, many fascinating creatures play a vital role in the thriving ecosystems within B.C.’s kelp forests. Every species, big or small, contributes to the delicate balance of life beneath the waves. Many little guys on or near the bottom like kelp crabs are herbivores, dining mainly on the kelp itself, while seals cruising through the kelp are top predators in these forest ecosystems. Protecting these underwater worlds means safeguarding the rich biodiversity that calls them home. 🌊💙
#Conservation #KelpCrab #SeaLion #OceanConservation
📸 : @iantmcallister
🎣 #SuperFishSaturday Spotlight: Coho Salmon 🎣
Did you know coho salmon are the acrobats of the fish world? 🐟 These "Silver Salmon" are known for their incredible leaps and agility– those leaps up waterfalls, past hungry bears, can be attributed to coho as they return to their birth rivers after spending three to four years at sea. They prefer slow-moving waters and shallow streams, but can conquer powerful rapids and waterfalls with jaw-dropping jumps.
With their striking red sides and dark spots, coho salmon are not only beautiful but also essential to the ecosystems they inhabit as they are important food sources for many other animals at all stages of their life cycle. Juveniles, after hatching in freshwater, spend a year honing their skills and defending their territories. These are called redds, and exhibit fascinating displays referred to as "wig-wag” dances. Despite their resilience, coho populations in B.C. have faced challenges, and are climbing back after a collapse in the 70s and 80s.
Let’s celebrate the strength and spirit of these super fish this Saturday!
What`s your favourite fish? 🐟
#Coho #Conservation #Salmon #Fishing
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