Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Bonny Glambeck and Dan Lewis of Clayoquot Action collect fish farm samples. (Photo credit: Jérémy Mathieu / Clayoquot Action)

Ottawa is scaling back its promise to phase out open net-pen salmon farms, critics say

3 expansions approved since phase-out promise made

  • Sep 19, 2022

 

Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada and members of the public in Nanoose Bay rescued a beached porpoise Aug. 14. (Submitted photo)

Beached baby porpoise rescued from tidal pool on Vancouver Island

Porpoise calf found thrashing in sand and rocks in Nanoose Bay

 

A pair of Port Alberni Salmon Derby participants drop their lines in Alberni Harbour during the annual Labour Day fishing derby. (SONJA DRINKWATER/ Special to the AV News)

Alberni’s Somass River sockeye return doubles its original forecast

With the sockeye run mostly past, anglers and advocates paying close attention to chinook run

 

Kris Dudoward is shown aboard the commercial fishing vessel Irenda earlier this week with catch of sockeye salmon on B.C.’s Skeena River near Prince Rupert. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Mitch Dudoward

Commercial fishers and wild salmon advocates cheer large returns to B.C. waters

Sockeye populations returning to a number of areas in British Columbia better than forecast

Kris Dudoward is shown aboard the commercial fishing vessel Irenda earlier this week with catch of sockeye salmon on B.C.’s Skeena River near Prince Rupert. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Mitch Dudoward
A giant Pacific octopus shelters on a reef near Campbell River, awaiting the return of the tide. Alistair Taylor photo

Drastic fluctuations turning B.C. West Coast intertidal zone into ‘murder scene’

Rare tides, climate change occuring at a faster rate than intertidal animals can evolve or adapt to

A giant Pacific octopus shelters on a reef near Campbell River, awaiting the return of the tide. Alistair Taylor photo
Photo depicting ocean warming and temperature change patterns. (Government of Canada)

Federal report shows the impact of warming oceans on B.C. coast

2021 Pacific Ocean report details climate change impacts and conservation goals

Photo depicting ocean warming and temperature change patterns. (Government of Canada)
A bucket brigade on the Spokane River is releasing tagged salmon into the Columbia River system. (Lake Roosevelt Forum/Facebook

Spring salmon spotted for 1st time since 1930 in B.C.’s Columbia River

U.S. efforts to return salmon to Upper Columbia River gaining traction, some caught in BC waters

A bucket brigade on the Spokane River is releasing tagged salmon into the Columbia River system. (Lake Roosevelt Forum/Facebook
Three vehicles removed from the Chilliwack River on May 1, 2022. (DFO photo)

Helicopter used to remove vehicles from Chilliwack River bed

DFO project in co-operation with Soowahlie First Nation, ICBC and others

Three vehicles removed from the Chilliwack River on May 1, 2022. (DFO photo)
An Atlantic salmon is seen during a Department of Fisheries and Oceans fish health audit at the Okisollo fish farm near Campbell River, B.C., Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS /Jonathan Hayward

North Island First Nations disappointed with DFO’s handling of 10-year-old fish virus study

2012 fish virus study suggested farmed salmon suffered from anemia and jaundice because of PRV

An Atlantic salmon is seen during a Department of Fisheries and Oceans fish health audit at the Okisollo fish farm near Campbell River, B.C., Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS /Jonathan Hayward
Rainbow trout infected with whirling disease which damages the backbone of the fish causing them to swim in a “whirling” pattern. (Photo: Sascha Hallett, fishpathogens.net)

Concerns raised about possibility of invasive fish disease in B.C. waters

Whirling disease has decreased fish populations by 90 per cent in certain regions

Rainbow trout infected with whirling disease which damages the backbone of the fish causing them to swim in a “whirling” pattern. (Photo: Sascha Hallett, fishpathogens.net)
Nineteen salmon farms in the Discovery Islands were given 18 months to vacate, causing shock and uncertainty in the industry. (Photo courtesy Grieg Seafood BC)

DFO says Canada still committed to transitioning away from open-net pen salmon farming

All remaining Discovery Islands’ facilities must be cleared of fish by this coming summer

Nineteen salmon farms in the Discovery Islands were given 18 months to vacate, causing shock and uncertainty in the industry. (Photo courtesy Grieg Seafood BC)
Nuchatlaht First Nation Judae Smith, left, yelps as a wave splashes the team during a marine mammal refloatation exercise at Cox Bay last week. (Nora O’Malley photo)

All hands on deck near Tofino for training session on how to save beached whales

DFO teams up with Coastal First Nations and area marine mammal experts for learning session

Nuchatlaht First Nation Judae Smith, left, yelps as a wave splashes the team during a marine mammal refloatation exercise at Cox Bay last week. (Nora O’Malley photo)
Gwa’sala-‘Nakwaxda’xw councillor Darryl Coon speaks out against DFO, with Elected Chief Terry Walkus Sr. and Band Manager Leslie Walkus next to him. (Tyson Whitney - North Island Gazette)

North Island First Nations tell DFO they will control fisheries in traditional waters

Former elected chief Paddy Walkus asserted the nations will now be instating their traditional laws

Gwa’sala-‘Nakwaxda’xw councillor Darryl Coon speaks out against DFO, with Elected Chief Terry Walkus Sr. and Band Manager Leslie Walkus next to him. (Tyson Whitney - North Island Gazette)
Seiners filled the waters between Comox and Nanoose Bay during the roe herring fishery a couple of years ago. The numbers appeared to be down this year through March. File photo courtesy of Pacific Wild

Soundings show low herring numbers in Strait of Georgia

DFO says soundings only give information for in-season fishery management

Seiners filled the waters between Comox and Nanoose Bay during the roe herring fishery a couple of years ago. The numbers appeared to be down this year through March. File photo courtesy of Pacific Wild
Mike Yip photo SNACK TIME: Marine wildlife of all kinds enjoyed a smorgasbord as the herring run arrives off Parksville’s shore last weekend. Here, photographer Mike Yip captures a sea lion getting in on the buffet.

Pacific herring spawn spectacle surfaces along West Coast

Seabirds and sea lions cry and bark while feasting on abundant herring return

Mike Yip photo SNACK TIME: Marine wildlife of all kinds enjoyed a smorgasbord as the herring run arrives off Parksville’s shore last weekend. Here, photographer Mike Yip captures a sea lion getting in on the buffet.
Longtime Tofino crab fisher Jeff Edwards holds up a Dungeness crab aboard his vessel ‘Camegan’. (Submitted photo)

Tofino crab fishery rocked by rights transfer pleading for federal help

Indigenous rights-based changes to Tofino crab fishery weigh heavily on family-run businesses

Longtime Tofino crab fisher Jeff Edwards holds up a Dungeness crab aboard his vessel ‘Camegan’. (Submitted photo)
A dead chinook salmon is seen on the beach next to the Harrison River in Harrison Mills, B.C. Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2016. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Pacific Salmon Treaty fails to conserve B.C. fish, say advocates

Advocates say the public needs to apply pressure on both sides of the border

A dead chinook salmon is seen on the beach next to the Harrison River in Harrison Mills, B.C. Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2016. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
A king salmon is laid out for inspection by Alaska Department of Fish and Game at the Mike Pusich Douglas Harbor officials at last year’s Golden North Salmon Derby on Aug. 25, 2019. Despite some setbacks the derby will take place this year, though with some changes to adapt to the coronavirus pandemic. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Feds leaving West Coast fishing sector to flounder after salmon closures, harvesters say

United Fishermen and Allied Workers’ Union wonders why industry hasn’t had climate compensation

A king salmon is laid out for inspection by Alaska Department of Fish and Game at the Mike Pusich Douglas Harbor officials at last year’s Golden North Salmon Derby on Aug. 25, 2019. Despite some setbacks the derby will take place this year, though with some changes to adapt to the coronavirus pandemic. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Fisheries and Oceans Minister Joyce Murray announces federal funding of $11.8 million for 31 Indigenous commercial fishing companies to grow their operations. She made the announcement Wednesday, Feb. 23, at St. Jean’s Cannery in Nanaimo. (Greg Sakaki/News Bulletin)

Feds providing $11.8 million for Indigenous commercial fishing operations in B.C.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada program supports business development, fisheries access and training

Fisheries and Oceans Minister Joyce Murray announces federal funding of $11.8 million for 31 Indigenous commercial fishing companies to grow their operations. She made the announcement Wednesday, Feb. 23, at St. Jean’s Cannery in Nanaimo. (Greg Sakaki/News Bulletin)
Heiltsuk Nation Chief Marilyn Slett taking part in the herring spawn on kelp (SOK) fishery in a previous season. (Photo submitted)

DFO closes herring spawn on kelp fishery at Central Coast against Heiltsuk Nation wishes

‘We are extremely troubled by this decision’: Heiltsuk Chief on SOK harvest closure

Heiltsuk Nation Chief Marilyn Slett taking part in the herring spawn on kelp (SOK) fishery in a previous season. (Photo submitted)