GREAT GEAR

December 2003 - January 2004

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

EUROPEAN KAYAK SYMPOSIUM

Les Ecrehous landfall.© Chris Jones photo

Jersey Canoe Club’s 7th European Seakayaking Symposium will be held in Jersey Channel Islands (UK) May 28-31, 2004. Following three days of workshops and paddling, participants will be able to explore the coast and, depending on skills and weather, paddle to the amazing islet of Les Ecrehous 7 miles offshore, or even Sark and Les Minquiers reefs 12 miles distant. Those who enjoy surf will have the opportunity to practice their skills at St. Ouens’ Bay, while the spectacular North coast, where river and sea interlink, offers the chance to undertake moving water skills. For information contact Kevin Mansell, Lesvrech, La Rue de La Corbiere, St. Brelade, JE3 8HU, Jersey, United Kingdom. Tel: UK 44 (0)1534 745936.

Email: kevin@seapaddler.co.uk.

ALASKA AND BACK

This fall, brothers Garth and Kevin Irwin completed a major sea kayak expedition, paddling to Glacier Bay, Alaska from Victoria BC, via the Inside Passage, and then back to Victoria via the outer coast. The trip was an amazing feat and Garth has recently finished his website which documents the journey. You can find information about the planning process and a variety of slide shows that document each leg of the journey: www.cankiwiskayak.com.

PADDLERS FOR PARTS

The Paddlers for Parts Association is a group of sea kayakers and white water paddlers based in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, which promotes organ and tissue donation and supports the aims of the Kidney Foundation of Canada. Each year the group undertakes a 1000 mile journey either by kayak, canoe, bicycle or foot, in an effort to raise funds for the Kidney Foundation. Their mission is to promote organ and tissue donation, while promoting paddling. As a non-profit organization, they raise funds to support the “Paddlers Bursary Fund” which provides grants to mature students living with kidney disease who are attempting to improve their lives through education. See www.paddlersforparts.ca/.

Les Ecrehous landfall. PhotoCourtesy of the Trade Association of Paddlesports

20TH ANNUAL SUCCESS

The 20th annual West Coast Sea Kayak Symposium at Port Townsend, Washington this fall was enjoyed by almost 1500 registered attendees and thousands of curious onlookers. Organized by the Trade Association of Paddlesports (TAPS), sixty-four exhibitors displayed kayaks and related gear, under clear blue skies and 70°F+ temperatures. On-water instructors taught a wide range of courses to beginners as well as seasoned sea kayakers. Land-based presentations covered a full spectrum, ranging from practical knot tying to planning an international expedition. The beach was crowded with eager participants trying the newest kayaks, canoes and recreational boats. At times, the biggest challenge was finding enough water to paddle, as hundreds of boats crisscrossed the patrolled demo area. The 2004 event will be held September 17- 19, 2004. www.gopaddle.org. See photo.

DRAGON BOAT CHAMPIONSHIPS

Posnan, Poland this year played host to the World Nation’s Cup Dragonboat Championships, the officially sanctioned world championship by the International Dragon Boat Federation. Canada won the Nation’s Cup for the second time. The cup is awarded to the country whose premier teams win the most points during the competition. The Canadian men’s premier team finished 1st in 1000m, 5th in 250m and 500m. The women’s premier team finished 1st in 250m, 2nd in 1000m and 3rd in 500m. The premier mixed team finished 1st in 500m, 2nd in 250m. Next year’s Nation’s Cup will be hosted by Shanghai in October 2004. Thanks to Karen Lukanovich of Simon River Sports, www.simonriversports.com, who is a proud member of the team.

GUIDES ALLIANCE CHANGES

The 2003 Annual General Meeting of the Sea Kayak Guides Alliance of BC elected new members to the executive. Sue Handel has been elected Coordinating Director. Andrew Jones and Matt Bowes have been elected as Members at Large. More at www.skgabc.com.

HOOD CANAL WEB CAM

If you’re planning to paddle in Hood Canal, Washington, check out Kayak Hood Canal’s new website. Their web cam is pointed at the Great Bend of the Hood Canal and the Olympic Peaks. The Cam updates every 5 minutes. www.kayak hoodcanal.com.

INNOVATIVE KAYAK STORE

Now entering its second year, BC Dive and Kayak Adventures of Vancouver is already the top Seaward Kayak dealer in BC. Guided in their development by Paul German (long time guide/instructor), the store has developed new programs for buyers. It’s the only kayak store offering a six month, no interest/no payment plan as well as an innovative Cash Back program (you get up to 50% of your money back after three years, no strings attached, if you remember to mail in the coupons). Check out their December Sale at 1695 West 4th Ave. Vancouver, 604-732-1344, www.bcdive.com.

NEW CONSERVATION AREAS

Canada’s outgoing Prime Minister Jean Chretien and BC Premier Gordon Campbell recently announced their agreement to create three new national conservation areas in BC over the next several years, including the proposed southern Okanagan National Park, and marine conservation areas in Gwaii Haanas (Queen Charlotte Islands) and the southern Strait of Georgia. The southern Strait of Georgia conservation areaOrca Pass International Stewardship Area in the southern Gulf Islands and the San Juan Islands, which is proposed by a coalition of citizens’ groups.

HISTORIC AGREEMENT

The Heiltsuk Nation and the Province of BC have signed a Cooperative Management Agreement for the Hakai Luxvbalis Conservancy Area on BC’s Central Coast. The area encompasses 70,000 hectares of marine waters and 50,000 hectares of terrestrial coastal environments that are home to a wide array of species. The offshore banks and waters surrounding the island archipelagos support kelp beds, grey and humpback whales, orcas, Pacific white-sided dolphins, Stellar sea lions, a variety of sea birds, including Brants, Rhinoceros Auklets and Sandhill Cranes, as well as a renowned salmon run in Hakai Pass. The Goose Group of islands is particularly significant as it is home to one of only two sea otter colonies on the coast, as well as many sea bird colonies. The Conservancy Area is the largest marine protected area on the BC coast and accessible via BC Ferries’ Discovery Coast ferry route from Vancouver Island. See www.bcferries.com.

AQUATIC RESERVES DESIGNATED

Washington State’s Public Lands Commissioner Doug Sutherland has designated four sensitive areas of Puget Sound as aquatic reserves and given special protections to two spots in Commencement Bay. Sutherland said the protections are necessary to bolster the health of the Sound’s marine life, which is faltering under the pressure of urbanization, pollution, overfishing and population growth. The moves mean the state will not lease state-owned underwater land for marinas or other waterfront property uses.

COASTAL PROTECTION SIGNED

This fall, outgoing Governor Gray Davis of California signed three bills that protect California’s coast from cruise ship dumping and noise pollution from motorboats. Among the bills are some of the strongest laws in the nation dealing with discharges from passenger ships. The two cruise pollution bills will ban cruise ships from dumping oily bilge water, sewage sludge, and hazardous wastes such as dry cleaning, photo chemicals and medical wastes. Davis also requested a federal ban of discharges in four national marine sanctuaries along the coast. The bills require cruise ships to report dumping such wastes to the state within 24 hours, and impose $25,000 penalties for violating the law.

The Quiet Waters Act gives coastal waters the same level of protection from motorboat noise pollution as inland waters; provides officials with safer, more efficient techniques for measuring and enforcing maximum noise levels for motorboats; and extends existing motorboat noise limits to include coastal waters within one mile of the California coastline. For more: Teri Shore, Clean Vessels Campaign Director, Bluewater Network, San Francisco: www.bluewaternetwork.org.

SALMON FARMS BANNED

Outgoing Governor Gray Davis has signed into law a bill that formally bans salmon farming in California waters. The bill prohibits exotic species, salmonids and transgenic fish from state waters. The implications of this legislation on aquaculture development in the US has salmon farmers very concerned.

CELEBRITIES FOR THE OCEANS

A group of 20 Hollywood celebrities has joined the Shifting Baselines Campaign to create a new public service announcement spotlighting ocean decline. Check out www.shiftingbaselines.org. Shifting Baselines is a partnership of The Ocean Conservancy, Scripps Institution of Oceanog-raphy, Surfrider Foundation, The Hertzberg Foundation, and USC Wrigley Institute for Environmental Studies.

LUNA TO BE RELOCATED

US and Canadian officials have agreed to work together to bring the isolated young male orca, Luna, back to his family, L pod of the southern resident orca community. This cross-agency, cross-border collaboration is a testament to the widespread public desire to help Luna and in so doing help restore his family. But the effort has been plagued with a variety of problems including lack of funding. As of press time, the situation was still unresolved. Check www.orcanetwork.org for updates.

OCEANS EXHAUSTED

In the September issue of Audubon magazine, Ted Williams covers the release of the very important Pew Oceans Commission report in his article entitled “The Exhausted Sea”. See: magazine.audubon.org/incite/ incite0309.html.

FLOOD DAMAGE

Shut down and seriously damaged by flooding of the Cheakamus River, the North Vancouver Outdoor School (NVOS) in Paradise Valley north of Squamish, BC is asking for aid. It has been British Columbia’s foremost environmental education field school for over 30 years and a model for salmon habitat restoration for over 20 years. Its Coast Salish Bighouse has offered an awardwinning aboriginal education program for almost two decades. Each year 5000 elementary school students, over 300 secondary school leadership trainees, and over 6000 eco-tourists, educators and retreat participants experience this 165-hectare site and its trail network, animal farm, ponds, salmon hatchery, and winter gathering of bald eagles in thousand year-old cedars. Flood pictures can be viewed at gallery.nvosas.ca/album10. NVOS needs at least $250,000 immediately if it is to avoid further damage, get programs running safely again, and repair salmon habitat. Cheques made out to “Vancouver Foundation for the NVOS Recovery Fund” can be sent to Vancouver Foundation, attn: Linda Caisley, 1200 - 555 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC V6B 4N6. Donors will receive tax receipts.

WORKING FORESTS WON’T WORK

BC’s Liberal government has pushed the Working Forest “Enabling” Legislation through its second reading, ignoring the input of local communities. The Union of BC Indian Chiefs, dozens of First Nations and the First Nations Treaty Summit (representing the vast majority of First Nations bands in BC) have signed a joint statement against the Working Forest Initiative and other forestry privatization policies.

The government’s own report on its public consultation process states that 97% of 2700 respondents rejected their Working Forest proposal, while only 1% supported it. The Bill is fundamentally undemocratic, as it gives sweeping, all-encompassing powers to Cabinet to determine what happens to public lands and resources. It allows the Cabinet to make Crown Land use designations and resource allocations to private interests through Orders-in-Council, circumventing legislative debate and media scrutiny about proposed legislation. The Working Forest Initiative is designed to give the timber industry “certainty” over public lands but it would undermine the establishment of new parks and forest protections on BC’s public lands, facilitate the sell-off of Crown forest lands to private interests, and undermine fair and just First Nations land settlements. For more info, www.workingforest.org or contact Ken Wu, WCWC Victoria: 250-514-9910.

MAPS ONLINE

Check out www.livingoceans.org/oog_maps.htm for maps related to proposed Offshore Oil and Gas development, Rare, Threatened, & Endangered Species, Herring Spawn Shorelines, Anadromous Estuaries, Benthic Complexity, Seabirds and more.

PINK SALMON MISSING AGAIN

While pink salmon returned this fall in healthy numbers along most of the BC coast, the rivers of the Broughton Archipelago, off northeast Vancouver Island, remained virtually empty for the second year in a row.

While the Department of Fisheries and Oceans has downplayed the issue, its own data shows a drastic decline in four rivers and a substantial decline worthy of concern in three others.

“My research predicted a 90 per cent collapse of these salmon as a result of epidemic sea lice infections that are only found near fish farms,” says Alexandra Morton,biologist and independent researcher who lives and works in the region. “In the streams closest to the fish farms, this is exactly what we are seeing.” (For more, see page 37.)

With growing evidence that fish farms cause sea lice outbreaks, which in turn infect and often kill juvenile wild salmon, many people are wondering why the federal and provincial governments are allowing open net-cage fish farms to expand on this coast.

To view a map of the Broughton Archipelago showing the affected streams and the location of the fish farms visit www.farmedanddangerous.org/maps.php.

STUDY SLAMS FISH FARMS

A Stanford University study shows that salmon farming poses a significant threat to salmon fisheries in the Pacific Northwest. Writing in the October issue of Environment magazine, the research team found that since the late 1980s, the market share of wild-caught salmon from Alaska, British Columbia and Washington state has been steadily eroded by fish farming.

The impact has been particularly devastating in Alaska, where salmon farming is banned, and 10 percent of the workforce is employed in some aspect of salmon fishing. Alaska’s share of the global salmon market has been more than cut in half, mainly because of competition from salmon farms.

In response, the Alaska state government recently declared a state of emergency and offered commercial salmon fishers a series of financial relief programs.

Market decline is only one of the issues, however. The report cites instances where lice, viruses and other pathogens from fish farms have contaminated wild salmon stocks swimming nearby.

Even more serious is the ecological risk to wild salmon from the escape of farm fish from netpen facilities. Well over a million salmon have escaped from farms in Washington and BC during the past decade.

“Escapees are capable of establishing and reproducing in the wild and competing with wild salmon populations for food and habitat,” says the report. Atlantic salmon have been found in dozens of rivers and lakes throughout BC and Alaska. The report also found that open netpen aquaculture can threaten other organisms by releasing untreated nutrients, chemicals and pharmaceuticals into the marine ecosystem.

“Unless some actions are taken on a national and international level, local communities and ecosystems will remain at high risk from the expansion of the global aquaculture industry,” the report concludes. For more, contact: Mark Shwartz: mshwartz@stanford.edu,650-723-9296.

FORCING FISH FARMING ON BC

Despite unanimous opposition from the Union of BC Municipalities, the BC provincial government has passed Bill 48, which allows Cabinet ministers to override local government decisions that restrict fish farming practices in their communities. Bill 48 allows the province to designate coastal waters as farming areas where the ‘Right to Farm Act’ will apply, giving the aquaculture industry protection against local bylaws and nuisance suits, removing the right of local governments to restrict fish farming practices. For more info: www.GeorgiaStrait.org or Suzanne Connell at 250-381-8321.