News

February-March 2002

This is an article from WaveLength Magazine, available in print in North America and globally on the web.
To download a pdf copy of the magazine click here: > DOWNLOAD

PADDLE FESTIVALS

The Okanagan Paddle Festival will be moving to Summerland, BC, June 15-16. The location is Powell Beach Park, a long, flat, sandy beach with acres of grass fields for displays. For information: E-mail: susan_bain@telus.net. Ph: 250-862-8049

The Annual Port Angeles Kayak Symposium will be held April 13-14, organized by Olympic Raft & Kayak. See the special events page at www.raftandkayak.com. Call 360-452-1443.

And the Pacific International Kayak Association is holding its longrunning Coast Kayak Symposium May 17-20 on Thetis Island BC, a non-commerical event and excellent learning environment. E-mail: mercias@telus.net. Ph: 604-597-1122. See our Events Calendar.

NECKY KAYAKS MAKING MOVES

Necky is sponsoring the Necky Race Series along with WaveLength, Bowen Island Sea Kayaking, Ecomarine, and Deep Cove Kayak Centre:

o June 8th-the Round Bowen Island Race, Bowen Island BC (604- 947-9266, www.bowenislandkayaking.com)

o July 14th-the Ecomarine BC Marine Trails Association (BCMTA) Ocean Kayak Marathon, Vancouver BC (604-689-7575, www.ecomarine.com)

o July 27th-the Deep Cove Marathon, North Vancouver BC (604- 929-2268, www.deepcovekayak.com).

Necky Kayaks has moved to a new location in Ferndale, Washington: 2460 Salashan Loop, Ferndale, WA 98248. www.necky.com.

NEW STORE FOR OCEAN RIVER SPORTS

Ocean River Sports of Victoria BC is moving to 1824 Store Street, next to Capital Iron. The new store will have water access and is scheduled to open Feb. 1st. Ocean River sells new and used kayaks, paddles and all the gear you need, and offers rentals, tours and instruction. Call 1-800-909-4233 or 381-4233 in Victoria.

Web: www.oceanriver.com.

CHESAPEAKE, ONE OF THE 50 BEST

Chesapeake Light Craft of Annapolis, MD was chosen as one of America's Best by Forbes FYI annual "50 Best" issue in the summer of 2001.

Web: www.clcboats.com

WENDELL PHILLIPS SLIDESHOW

Wendell Phillips is having a slide show at the Outdoor Adventure Show at BC Place in Vancouver, Feb. 16. It features paddling among icebergs in skin kayaks, and in tropical waters of Southeast Asia. Wendell, a photojournalist, captures images of the Dugong (Sea Cow), sea turtles, Musk Ox, Reindeer, Humpback Whale and more. Tickets: $8 at the door (includes admission to the show)

FIRST NATIONS PRESENTATION

The Nanaimo Paddlers Group is pleased to host Tom Sewid of Village Island Tours, and two dancers in full native regalia with the stories and culture of their people, at Beban Park Social Centre, Nanaimo, BC April 3 at 7 pm. Admission by donation. Proceeds to outhouses and campsite maintenance and development. Contact Jan Pullinger, Ph.: 250-245-5222 or E-mail: npeditor@shaw.ca.

OFFSHORE OIL AND GAS

BC's coastal residents, from Vancouver Island to the Queen Charlottes to Prince Rupert, have given a very loud "no" to lifting the offshore oil and gas moratorium. The provincial Offshore Oil and Gas Task Force, commissioned to travel the north and central coast to gauge the support for lifting the moratorium completed its tour in December. The Oil Free Coast Alliance, with over 85 member groups, has been present at almost every public meeting and has monitored public opinion.

"The government wanted to hear what the people had to say and they have heard overwhelming opposition to lifting the moratorium," says Oonagh'Connor, of Living Oceans Society and spokesperson for the Oil Free Coast Alliance.

Many people spoke about the dangers of drilling in an earthquake zone, how seismic testing harms fish, and the inevitability of oil spills. Many First Nations were particularly adamant about protecting the ocean, which they regard as the source of their physical, cultural and spiritual nourishment.

The large oil companies have made it clear that BC's potential offshore reserves are a very low priority for them. The Canadian federal government has expressed no interest in lifting the moratorium- yet the BC government is seriously considering it.

For more information contact Oonagh'Connor: Ph.:250-973-6580.

INQUIRY SLAMS SALMON FARMS

Net cage salmon farms pose a threat to wild salmon and the marine environment and must be removed from BC coastal waters. This is the primary conclusion of a former BC Supreme Court judge who recently completed a review and eight days of public hearings on salmon farming in British Columbia. The Leggatt Inquiry into fish farming in BC has recommended removing all net-cage salmon farms from BC coastal waters. "There is no question that net cages are the root cause of environmental damage, including massive escapes of Atlantic farm salmon, disease transfer and pollution of marine waters and the ocean floor," Judge Leggatt says. He also warns that the industry may be violating aboriginal rights and federal fisheries law. His recommendations:

1. Remove all net-cage salmon farms from the marine environment by Jan. 1, 2005

2. Remove responsibility for promotion of aquaculture from Fisheries and Oceans Canada and increase monitoring and regulation of salmon farming by government regulators

3. Increase involvement of communities, especially First Nations, in consultation, partnership and ownership of salmon farming operations

4. Maintain the moratorium on new farm sites with no further expansion at existing sites

5. Apply the precautionary principle to regulation of the salmon farming industry

6. Require labelling and identification of farm salmon at the consumer level. For more information, see www.leggatt inquiry.com/Report/InquiryReport.asp.

FISH FARM ESCAPE

In early January, 8000 adult Atlantic salmon escaped into the waters off Vancouver Island's west coast after a heavy storm dragged net cages belonging to Pacific National Aquaculture onto rocks. This was the first fish farm escape of the year in this province. Last year 29,975 fish were reported to have escaped from BC farms. It is notable that 101 of 121 salmon farm tenures in BC are controlled by five multinational companies. Most are Norwegian owned.

WHALE FARMS?

The Japanese city of Hirado, about 1000 km. south of Tokyo, which was famous for its whaling industry until the end of World War II, plans to revive its tradition by creating a huge whale farm along its coastline. The town intends to capture minke whales in nets and bring them into a reserve covering some 2000 square km., where it will breed them for "research purposes" and to attract tourists. A Japanese whaling fleet is now on an expedition to Antarctica to harvest 440 minke whales, which is permitted currently by the International Whaling Commission, again for "research purposes".

ORCAS OFFICIALLY ENDANGERED

The southern resident orcas in Georgia Strait/Puget Sound have now been officially designated as "endangered" by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC). A similar status may be applied soon in the US, where a citizens' petition to list the whales as endangered has been filed. The number of southern residents dropped from 99 to 78 over the past five years. Two new calves were born last fall, bringing the number to 80.

WAVE OF THE FUTURE

The Georgia Strait Alliance has just published a colourful, map-filled briefing book about the Orca Pass International Stewardship Stewardship Area, between the Gulf Islands (BC) and San Juans (WA). Called Wave of the Future, written by Wave Length's Bryan Nichols, and with design & layout by Alan Wilson, the 40 page book explores the challenges and opportunities in the area, opportunities in the area, and how you can get involved in this unprecedented crossborder project. Contact 250-753-3459,

Download the booklet in PDF Format at: www.georgiastrait.org/OrcaPass/RideTheWave.pdf
Web: www.GeorgiaStrait.org.

RECYCLING SAVES THE EARTH

When you use chlorine-free, recycled paper, it saves trees, water, energy, garbage, air and water pollution. Every metric tonne of recycled paper (40 cases) saves 17 trees, 4100 kW of energy, 20,000 liters of water and 3 cubic yards of landfill, reduces air pollution by three-quarters and lowers water pollution by one third, including the chlorine compounds which are linked to a wide array of human, animal and fish health problems. Contact E-mail: info@rfu.org or phone 250-935-6992.

THWAYTES LANDING FUNDRAISING

The Land Conservancy of BC (TLC) is working to protect a 130- acre waterfront property in Indian Arm near Vancouver known as Thwaytes Landing. While the steep cliffs of the Arm are beautiful, there are only a handful of landing places. Accessible waterfront beaches are mostly privately owned. To reach Thwaytes Landing, you can launch at Deep Cove, home of Deep Cove Kayak Centre. Thwaytes Landing is considered to be the last residentially zoned large oceanfront property left in Vancouver. The threat of losing this to a private developer was strong possibility until a partnership between the Greater Vancouver Regional District, District of North Vancouver, the Pacific Parklands Foundation (PPF) and TLC has put a stop to that. Because of this partnership, $1 million of the $1.5 million purchase price has been raised. However, TLC and the PPF must raise the remaining $500,000 over the next two years. To make a tax-deductible donation, call TLC's Vancouver office at 604- 733-2313 or visit their website at www.conservancy.bc.ca.

BAJA BECKONS

Villas de Loreto, a paddlers' resort in Baja, reports that Aero California and Aero Mexico have great deals on air fare to Loreto for the next four months. Villas also notes that a small fee, charged by Park officials in the area to help promote conservation of the marine environment and wildlife, is already showing success.