Rubber Boot Diaries

A Season to Celebrate: Haida Gwaii 2019

2019-10-30T13:21:00.000-07:00

A Season to Celebrate:

Haida Gwaii 2019

As Bluewater Adventures finishes a fulfilling season in Haida Gwaii we reflect on the memories created by our renowned Haida Resource Guides like artists, Robert Davidson and Terri-Lynn Williams-Davidson, Haida matriarch, Barb Wilson and Elder, Captain Gold. It is always a treat for our guests and Crew to have a "front row seat" to the unfolding art, history and culture of the Haida people through their stories.

On our expeditions, Bluewater Crew capture all wildlife encounters in a log book to share with researchers and for our own historical data. 2019 was a very active year! Just a few of the highlights in Haida Gwaii were, "2 humpbacks breaching 50 times", "1000's of ancient murrelets", transient (Biggs) orcas on the hunt", "a pod of 70+ offshore orcas", "6 fin whales and a grey whale" and "witnessing hundreds of puffins take flight!"

Breaching humpback whale. Photo: J Varley

We tend to have some unusual encounters too! This year Crew and guests spotted a fur seal, Risso's dolphins, mola molas and a salmon shark.

Rissos dolphin. Photo: T Stoeri

Risso's dophins can grow up to more than 3.5 metres long and can dive to at least 1000 feet. They are typically found in warm or temperate waters but have been seen off of Haida Gwaii presumably due to its rich foraging areas. They feed mostly at night on anything from krill and small fish to cephalopods like cuttlefish, octopus and squid.

Mola mola or Sunfish. Photo: R Elliott

The mola mola or ocean sunfish is probably one of the strangest creatures we encounter on our expeditions. They can grow to be up to 3 metres across and females can lay about 300 million eggs at one time. They are most often spotted when floating on their side at the ocean surface, absorbing the heat of the sun to regulate their body heat. They are also deep divers - probably drawn to the Continental Shelf and its rich supply of nutrients. Believe it or not, their main diet is jelly fish.

Haida Gwaii trips take place May through August on both Island Roamer and Island Solitude. Inquire about an upcoming trip here.

www.bluewateradventures.ca

A Season to Celebrate: Southeast Alaska 2019

2019-10-30T13:00:00.003-07:00

Iconic Southeast Alaska sunset. Photo: P Goldstein

2019: A Season to Celebrate

Southeast Alaska

Alaska - Land of the Midnight Sun. Although Bluewater Adventures doesn't travel far enough north to experience round the clock sunshine, this itinerary is no less spectacular. One thing that we have learned over the many years exploring this coast is that seasons bring similar patterns in coastal wildlife viewing, but you can never count on it being the same.

This year, Frederick Sound was off the "bubble-net feeding charts" with many experiences of the co-operative feeding technique used by only some humpback whales. Biologists believe that bubble-net feeding is a "learned behaviour".

Humpback whales bubble-net feeding in Southeast Alaska. Photo: P Goldstein

One departure hosted a photo group from the UK and the planets aligned with wonderful weather, calm waters and once in a lifetime photographic opportunities. Like they say - "pictures say a thousand words" - thanks to Paul Goldstein (@paulgoldstein) for this collection!

Black bear closeup at Anan Creek Wildlife Observatory. Photo: P Goldstein

It was a dry start to July with salmon arriving to spawn and some rivers too shallow to navigate. This can all change in an afternoon of heavy rain - which it did, prompting the bears to arrive with serious appetites. Overall, Southeast Alaska saw a very strong pink salmon run and the bears at both Anan Creek and Pack Creek clearly reaped the rewards.

A coastal wolf "allows" us to observe it. A rare and welcomed sight. Photo: P Goldstein

Southeast Alaska remains as one of our most prolific wildlife expeditions with outstanding scenery from tidewater glaciers to emerald-green grottoes. Sunsets that change your surroundings to an other-worldly, hot pink has to be experienced to be truly understood.

View 2020 Southeast Alaska availability here. │ BOOK NOW

www.bluewateradventures.ca

A Season To Celebrate: Northern Great Bear - Khutzeymateen Grizzly Sanctuary 2019

2019-10-25T16:02:00.000-07:00

A grizzly in spring grazing on sedge grass. Photo: N Shearar

2019: A Season to Celebrate

Northern Great Bear - Khutzeymateen Grizzly Bear Sanctuary

British Columbia's north coast is one of those places where we hope to raise the sails. With a good wind, we make way out of the port of Prince Rupert to a remote estuary called the Khutzeymateen Grizzly Bear Sanctuary. Only just a few vessels are permitted to venture where we go which makes visiting this off the map place so special.

Transient (Biggs) Orca hunting a Steller sea lion. Photo: E Boyle

The outer Islands always provide superb opportunities to explore with colourful spring flowers, nesting kittiwakes and a massive Steller sea lion haul out monitored by a few dozing "beach masters". These males appear to be as big as Volkswagen vans!. Transient (Bigg's) orcas patrolled the waters for inquisitive, juvenile sea lions, who found cover in between our towed zodiacs, hoping they would be forgotten by those apex predators of the sea.

Dr Barrie Gilbert

Late May/ June is a unique time to visit. It is mating season for this important population of grizzlies. The large males tend to spend their time upriver, foraging away from human contact. Now they beeline it for the estuary to find the females, some still with cubs. Bear behaviorist, Dr. Barrie Gilbert, provided our guests with all the answers (and punchlines) for an area he knows so well.

The dynamic suddenly changes with the arrival of the large male grizzly, from foraging and quietly to "the pursuit" - and the females are not always willing participants. Captain Neil captured one such occasion.

"The pursuit" lasted for more than 2 hours up a mountain and back. Photo: N Shearar

Crew noted "lots of bears" and "lots of mating" this year – a good indicator that we will be in for more incredible bear viewing Khutzeymateen Grizzly Sanctuary will in 2020... ;)

Northern Great bear/ Khutzeymateen expeditions take place in late May/ June. Check out the sample Itinerary for more information on this unique wildlife expedition. BOOK NOW!

www.bluewateradventures.ca

Haida Gwaii - Then & Now

2019-10-23T11:42:00.000-07:00

Hand made Haida canoe paddles. Photo: Rick Hulbert

Haida Gwaii translates to “islands of the people". The two main islands in Haida Gwaii, Graham Island to the north and Moresby Island to the south, are among approximately 150 smaller Islands making up this breathtaking archipelago.

Haida Gwaii black bear

Haida Gwaii is also referred to as the Galapagos of the North. During the last glaciation of BC, ice in Haida Gwaii receded about 2000 years earlier than the rest of the province. This resulted in some plants and animals evolving into genetically distinct species like the Haida Gwaii black bear, the largest known subspecies of black bear.

The iconic images of Haida Gwaii you see are usually of SGang Gwaay - a UNESCO World Heritage Site located at the southern-most point of Moresby Island. It is a magical place where we contemplate what life must have been like in this 19th-century, sea-side Haida village.

Our Haida Watchman guides take us through the village site to interpret the longhouse, middens, mortuary and memorial poles and the bounty that the location offered. It is just one of the village sites that we visit on our Haida Gwaii expeditions.

A visit to SGang Gwaay. Photo: R Burke

Since 1993, Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve has been protected from the ocean floor to the mountain peaks and is co-managed by the Haida Nation and the Canadian Government. A new plan called Gwaii Haanas - Land, Sea People Plan was introduced in 2018. It oversees the management of the archipelago, "unimpaired" for the "education and enjoyment of future generations". Central to the vision for the protection of Gwaii Haanas is "the recognition that land, sea and people are interconnected."

Captain Gold Photo: T Thayer

Captain Gold, a Historian, the founding Watchman and Bluewater Adventures Resource Guide, travelled with us on Island Roamer in June 2019. He regaled us with Haida history, shared his proud knowledge and passion for the Islands and introduce us to the rich marine and plant life of Haida Gwaii.

We are grateful for the friendships that have been forged over the years with esteemed biologists, carvers, historians, Elders and conservationists.

Stay tuned to hear about the 2020 Season and who will be leading each trip!

www.bluewateradventures.ca

Rising of the Salish Sea

2019-10-16T16:46:00.002-07:00

Map: Salish Sea Marine Sanctuary

The term “Salish Sea” (pronounced ‘SAY-lish’) was first proposed in 1989 by professor Bert Webber (previous owner of MV Snow Goose), as a means to unite an interdependent area and help promote protection of its ecosystem.

This transboundary sea includes the Strait of Georgia, the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Puget Sound, and associated smaller waterways. Comprising about 17,000 sq. kilometers and 7,470 kilometers of coastline, the Salish Sea stretches from Desolation Sound at the north end of the Georgia Strait, around the Canadian Gulf Islands and U.S. San Juan Islands, to Oakland Bay located at the south end of Puget Sound. These rich waters are home to a multitude of animals, many of which are at risk. One such species is the Southern Resident Orca. With no surviving calves in the past three years and further deaths this summer leaving only 73 whales remaining, this crisis has now reached global attention.

Bert & Sue Webber - right centre

Bert Despite Bert Webber’s efforts, it was not until 2009 in the United States and 2010 in Canada, that the name “Salish Sea” was officially adopted. A means to pay homage to the collective history of the Coast Salish peoples – the diverse nations of the Pacific Northwest sharing a common linguistic and cultural origin – who traversed these waters for thousands of years.

Although it has been ten years since ratification, if you are still unfamiliar with the "Salish Sea", you are not alone. In a survey performed by Oregon State University and the SeaDoc Society earlier this year, it was found that only 9% of Washingtonians and 15% of British Columbians identified the overall body of water as the Salish Sea. While the name “Salish Sea” is meant to complement – not replace – existing names, it is meant to raise consciousness by defining the entire co-dependent region. Therefore, these results perhaps raise questions on how we might better protect this interconnected ecosystem through improved geographic awareness.

Bluewater Adventures is excited to present an opportunity to explore the myriad of Islands located in the Canadian Gulf Islands in the northern reaches of the Salish Sea - spring of 2020 - dates still available for a family charter or just book on yourself - contact us for more details.

www.bluewateradventures.ca

A Remote Refuge

2019-09-26T12:15:00.001-07:00

A Remote Refuge...

Photo: Neil Shearar

It is one of those remote places that is barely on the map. It’s name, Khutzeymateen – pronounced “Khootz-ee-mah-teen”, is a Tsimshian word meaning “confined space for salmon and bears”. The protected area consists of over 44,000 hectares and contains the largest concentration of bears in Canada . Although British Columbia passed a law forbidding trophy hunting of grizzlies, the Sanctuary is off limits to visitors, unless you have a permit. This manages the number of people that visit per year minimizing stress for the bears.

The Khutzeymateen is located in the Northern reaches of the Great Bear Rainforest. With Prince Rupert, BC as our port, guests board Island Roamer in quaint Cow Bay before heading north towards this very important and remote refuge. Award winning writer, Phoebe Smith, captures her experience in the Khutzeymateen wonderfully in her article published this summer.

Photo: Erin Boyle

We sail through changing landscapes on this expedition. Past wildfower-dotted islands with white sand beaches and others that are mountainous with incredible, hanging bogs. While keeping watch for transient (Bigg's) orca and humpback whales, we may silently travel under sail - one of the benefits of traveling on a sailing vessel. Our compass then turns to the Khutzeymateen Inlet. It is the catchment for salmon bearing streams, important to local First Nations like the Lax’Kwa’alaams and the Metlakatla, as well as the bears and the rest of the ecosystem..

Photo: Neil Shearar

Late May is breeding season for the bears of the Khutzeymateen. Typically, the large male bears prefer to forage in areas away from humans. But breeding season brings them to the estuaries in pursuit of females (and oblivious to us), resulting in some rarely witnessed behaviour.

Few have visited this special place because it is about as easy to find as it is to pronounce. If you are drawn to "off the beaten path" places, then this experience is for you. Escape the masses and immerse yourself in BC’s Northern Great Bear Rainforest. 2020 Dates available for booking now.

Questions? Shoot us a quick email - explore@bluewateradventures.ca

Or, give us a call - 1-800-877-1770 / 604-980-3800

Waking Gwaii Haanas

2019-09-26T11:25:00.004-07:00

Waking Gwaii Haanas

Photo: Chris Wheeler

As we enter into Fall and all Bluewater Adventures' vessels are experiencing some of the best wildlife watching in the world, we begin looking toward next year. How we craft our expedition schedule is largely dictated by the rhythms of nature. We make sure that we are present in each area of the British Columbia Coast and Southeast Alaska when it is the very best time to be there.

Haida Gwaii black bear

One great example is Haida Gwaii – it is glorious come spring. Ancient cedar groves yawning to the rising sun after a long winter of quiet stillness in between passing storms. Vitality returns, the forest floor bursts with life and the mosses and lichens take on an even more vibrant shade of green. It is easy to understand how the Gwaii Haanas ("Islands of Beauty”) earned its name.

We spend most of the trip exploring Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve. Thousands of sea birds migrate to the southern regions of the park to nest and raise their young each spring. One such bird is the endangered Ancient Murrelet, who returns from the sea only to lay her eggs. In late May, tiny grey fluff balls emerge from their forest dens, and travel down the beach to greet their calling parents at the water’s edge.

Ancient murrelets - parents and chicks reunited Photo - Terry Carr

Spring tides off Haida Gwaii are rich in small fish and krill – welcome nourishment for hungry foragers. Some years have seen Risso’s dolphins and salmon sharks, while other years brought orca and mola mola. One massive creature we are sure to see are humpback whales returning from their birthing grounds further south.

A main highlight that has been bringing us back for over 40 years is the Haida hospitality and their story telling. Their culture is rich with history kept alive through music, art and oral history. We are grateful for the opportunities over the years, to travel with Haida Elders like Captain Gold and Barb Wilson - Kii'iljuus, who lead our trips as resource people. In sharing their family stories, personal adventures and knowledge of the village sites we encounter, our guests and Crew are brought closer to a time when the Haida thrived and villages teemed with activity.

Photo: Lindsay Janes

This unique place is incredible to explore throughout summer, but to witness the “waking” of Gwaii Haanas in spring; to celebrate the passing of winter and welcome new life to this remote and extraordinary archipelago is a powerful testament to the change of seasons.

Questions? Shoot us a quick email

explore@bluewateradventures.ca

Or Call: 1-888-877-1770/ 604-980-3800

Journey of Moments

2018-12-06T16:07:00.000-08:00

Each season, our guestbooks on board the boats fill with accounts guests have left behind of beautiful words conjured by wild places. This is one of them.

'Journey of Moments'

Island Roamer at one of the many waterfalls on BC's central coast Photo: Sherry Kirkvold

A"trip" is not just something you "take"
It gives you something in return.
It is a journey of moments.
Those moments:
Create memories
Create awareness
Create understanding and learning of the world we live in.

A slumbering Great Bear Rainforest grizzly Photo: Andrew Wright

That in turn can change your perception:
Of learning who you are,
And who you are not.
It pushes you to new limits of what you believe you are capable of.
Of how you perceive the world.
Of seeing things or people you encounter in a new way.

Exploring an estuary in the heart of the Great Bear Rainforest Photo: Marni Grossman

It makes you aware of what is important.
What is REALLY important.
Life...
How do you live it?
What do you see in your future? And the future of the environment around you?
What can you do to change the world to make a positive impact with the time
That is given to you.

A humpback whale comes for a visit Photo: Lindsay Janes

So travel.
Open your eyes,
Open your mind,
Open your heart,
Open your soul,
And make your journey of moments count!

JM (guest) - Riverton WY
Aboard SV Island Roamer exploring the Great Bear Rainforest 2018

www.bluewateradventures.ca

An Expedition: Conservation of BC's Salish Sea

2018-11-22T10:56:00.001-08:00

An Expedition: Conservation of BC's Salish Sea

Ross Dixon Nov 13, 2018

The Gulf Islands are located in the Salish Sea, a labyrinth of remarkable coastal waterways. From shallow embayments to deep fjords, rocky reefs and soft river deltas, these waters provide countless places for marine plants and animals to live. When these geographic features are combined with varying amounts of sunlight, salt and oxygen, have created a food web so rich that it supported the world’s smallest and largest creatures for millennia. Even more compelling is the extent to which endemic (locally unique and native) species occur on the coast: Two-thirds of the mammal species and subspecies that are found only in BC occur nowhere else in the province but the coast.

Marine Mammals

Twenty-seven species of marine mammals have been observed in the Salish Sea. Thirteen of them can be found regularly. For these animals, the Salish Sea serves a multitude of purposes—feeding, breeding, resting, overwintering, or simply as a migratory corridor. Some species, such as killer whales and Pacific white-sided dolphins, range widely, but others, such as sea otters, are more closely associated with specific areas.

Wings over the Salish Sea

The Salish Sea lies along the path of the Pacific Flyway, a critical migratory route for millions of marine and terrestrial birds that stretches from South America to the high Arctic. The Salish Sea region provides habitat to more than 170 species of marine birds, offering food, shelter, a place to find mates, socialize, moult, and overwinter. Some of these birds are year-round residents and others are visitors as they move around the margins of the Pacific Ocean and beyond. In addition to marine birds, the Salish Sea watersheds are home to land-based bird species. Although no exact numbers are available, roughly 130 species of land-based birds inhabit the terrestrial areas bounded within the Salish Sea watersheds

The People

Dr. Paul Pauquet is recognized as a world authority in conservation science, Paul brings to us over 30 years applied research experience. He has published not only seminal works in Conservation Biology but also broadly using ecological, geographical, and ethical approaches.

Dr Paquet has also worked extensively on real-world management and conservation, which according to him depends largely upon human attitudes. He serves on many international government and NGO advisory committees dedicated to conservation of carnivores, including the Species Survival Commission (SSC) of IUCN-World Conservation Union, the Large Carnivore Initiative for Europe, WWF International, and the European Union. He is a long-time fellow of World Wildlife Fund Canada. Paul was a founder and director of the Conservation Biology Institute, Corvallis, Oregon. Most important to Dr Paquet, however, is the contributions he makes as Senior Scientist for the Raincoast Conservation Foundation.

About Raincoast Conservation Foundation

Raincoast’s mission is to protect the land, waters and wildlife of coastal British Columbia.

Within the Salish Sea, Raincoast’s conservation efforts include research and advocacy to support the recovery of the endangered Southern Resident killer whale population. For more than a decade, Raincoast has been using science, public education and the courts to try and protect Canada’s endangered population of salmon-eating killer whales. With their Chinook salmon stocks in serious decline and targeted by fisheries, and a noisy and polluted ocean, they face extinction under existing conditions. The good news is they can recover if these conditions are reversed. Paul has co-authored two Population Viability Analyses (PVAs) on the SRKWs. A PVA can be a powerful analysis that evaluates and ranks threats to wildlife populations and assesses the likely effectiveness of recovery options. This research shows that SRKW could be functionally extinct (less than 30 individuals) with a century existing under conditions. Conversely, reducing vessel traffic (small and large boat noise and disturbance) and increasing Chinook abundance increases their likelihood of long-term survival.

Salish Sea Conservation Expedition with

Bluewater Adventures & Raincoast Conservation Foundation

Join us this April for a unique trip to explore the Gulf Island’s and Salish with the Raincoast Conservation Foundation, a charity dedicated to science-based conservation on the British Columbia coast. Partial proceeds of this trip go directly towards the protection of BC's Salish Sea.

April 23 - 27, 2019 (5 days) $3435 per person

(+$300 sustainability fee & 5% GST )

Visit www.bluewateradventures.ca for more information or to book.

“Walk softly, Tread carefully, and listen”…

2018-02-23T14:57:00.002-08:00

“Walk softly, Tread carefully, and listen”…

SGang Gwaay - photo: Tom Stoeri

SGang Gwaay – previously named Ninstints (after one of the village chiefs) is an ancient Haida village, located on Anthony Island, at the southern end of Haida Gwaii. Accessible only by boat or plane, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and contained within the National Park Reserve and Heritage Site, Gwaii Haanas. But even if it didn’t boast all the formerly mentioned credentials, it would still remain one of the most magical places on our coast.

One aspect of SGang Gwaay’s magic is the stories that contribute to the village’s history. For several thousand years it was the home of the Kunghit Haida, historically some of the most feared warriors on the west coast. When the small pox epidemic hit in the late 1800’s, SGang Gwaay’s population was decimated from around 300 to 30 and those who survived moved north to Skidegate. The village was abandoned in 1884.

In 1959 a CBC, a crew from the B.C. Provincial Museum and University of British Columbia visited the village to remove several of the Haida poles in order to protect them from the weather and from poaching. Two of the crew members were Bill Reid, world renowned Haida carver and Wilson Duff, Provincial Museum curator. The removed poles were so large that they had to cut them into sections in order to transport. Today you can visit these ancient poles at UBC’s Museum of Anthropology.

Captain Gold - photo: Tom Thayer

Another person whose has been a key player in the recent story of SGang Gwaay is Captain Gold. In the 1970’s he paddled a canoe down from Skidegate to SGang Gwaay, nearly 250 kms of hazardous seas. People thought he was mad – they knew the village was full of the spirits of the ancestors, and couldn’t understand why he’d want to be there alone. But Captain Gold saw the importance being there to welcome visitors and make sure that the village remains were not removed. He single-handedly changed the image of the village and became the proto-type Haida Watchman. By the late 1980’s the Haida Nation decided to send other elders to other uninhabited villages with the same purpose of watching over the area. In 1987 when Gwaii Haanas was officially created, the Haida Watchmen became the figurehead program that employs local Haida, gives youth a chance to learn more about their heritage, and allows visitors a chance to hear the stories from the Haida people, themselves.

SGang Gwaay is indeed a magical place, full of stories, so if you get the chance to visit this incedible village site, heed the advice of Captain Gold’s sister, Haida watchman Irene - “Walk softly, Tread carefully, and listen”…

Join Bluewater Adventures on one of our early Haida Gwaii trips to experience the solitude of SGang Gwaay during the slow season.

by Randy Burke

Khutzeymateen, "A Magical Place"

2018-01-29T15:03:00.001-08:00

Khutzeymateen, a place I had never heard of, became my first foray into the wilderness. My apprehension over the word ‘bear’ was soon dispelled as we entered the Khutzeymateen Grizzly Bear Conservatory under the learned ‘Bear Whisperer’ Barrie Gilbert’s tutelage and guidance. We walked their paths, following footprints embedded in the earth, finding their resting places, their rub trees and learned of the biology of these great carnivores.

Grizzly grazing on protein-rich sedge grass

We soon learned that the this place is not just about bears, and that other animals benefitted from this sanctuary as well. Animals like wolves, wolverines, deer, and others live as they should in surroundings natural to them. Because visits to the Khutzeymateen is limited to few tourists every year, it remains pristine and we soon appreciated that our presence was a privilege.

Stillness - Khutzeymateen Inlet

We sailed past the outer islands shared by numerous species of birds and bellowing sea lion bulls that were surrounded by their harems. Dall's porpoise flashed past the vessel like a flurry of bullets with orcas in fast pursuit. Great humpback whales surfaced and silently floated past and disappeared, only to later, interrupt our dinner with a spectacular breach.

Steller sea lion haul out Photo: Terry Carr

During our trips ashore, we examined tidal pools, rich with colourful creatures; we hiked into hidden beaches - some covered in centuries of sparkling, broken sea shells and wildflowers.

We walked sandy beaches - the only footprints being ours and something wild. We climbed craggy hanging bogs covered with succulents, sun dews and mosses and picked berries and edible greens- seen again at dinnertime.

SV Island Odyssey - our home for 7 days

And that unforgettable afternoon, while the sails bellowed, we encountered a Steller sea lion being hunted by transient orcas - an experience that cannot be put into words.

First Nations petroglyph, "The Man Who Fell From Heaven"

Our visit to a coastal First Nations village was an inspiration as we listened to the proud spokesperson sharing century-old tales of his village and its people, the tribal conflicts, the hieroglyphics and the prized petroglyph of ‘The Man Who Fell From Heaven’.

The Khutzeymateen, forever imprinted in my memory as a magical place!

By Lorraine Alden, Guest – Khutzeymateen/ North Coast with Bluewater Adventures

Meaningful Memories by Mat Janeway ~ Bluewater Mate

2014-11-26T11:22:00.000-08:00

The cloudless blue sky reflected off the calm pacific around us, and the gentle breeze was matched by an easy, almost lazy swell. The Island Roamer was steaming west, out to the continental shelf, and we couldn’t have asked for fairer weather. Suddenly, a yell from the wheelhouse:

"Albatross!"

And there it was, a Black Footed Albatross, Phoebastria nigripes, sedately bobbing on the surface of the water. With a spread of its wings, and three long beats, it was airborne. The jaw dropping, 6 foot wingspan carried it just above the surface, gliding easily over the waves. The massive bird gently turned to cross our bow, and presented us a view of its entire body; the perfect photo opportunity.

Hardly 5 minutes had passed, when a second yell from the wheel house was heard, louder this time.

"Sperm whale!"

The Long black body, hanging almost motionless in the water, had just surfaced 200 yards from us and was drifting slowly forward, across our path. The blow hole, the dorsal fin, the long deep back furrows, we could see it all. And it was big. For a full minute, we watched in awe, as this mysterious, graceful creature hyperventilated before diving below the surface once again. We were all left with that funny feeling, a mix of disbelief, wonder, and serendipity.

It is moments like these that make each day, week and season with Bluewater Adventures memorable. This year was no exception.

My season as mate for Bluewater Adventures began in late May, in the remote and wild archipelago of islands called Haida Gwaii (formerly the Queen Charlotte Island). These islands are widely known for their rich cultural history and abundant wildlife, but that’s a bit of an understatement. They offer an experience unlike any other, presenting your senses with unique sights, sounds, smells, and textures. Some of these experiences can happen again and again, and yet others are over before you know it.

One thing you can almost always count on in the spring are humpback whales. Returning from their winter breeding grounds in Hawaii and Mexico, they arrive with only one thing in mind; food. Sometimes it may be just be a few whales within sight, but this season saw scores of hungry humpbacks, all frothing the water in a feeding frenzy. Lunging, lobbing, breaching, and breathing, all day and all night.

And then there were the Velella velella, the strange and beautiful Hydrozoan that sails the pacific, who washed ashore in their millions, littering the beaches with a deep indigo blanket. But

these curious little creatures didn’t arrive alone, they brought all sorts of exotic flotsam and jetsam with them, all carried in the same ocean currents to be washed onto the pristine shorelines.

And what shorelines! Home to a squishy, oozy, and slippery assortment of unusual forms from the intertidal zone, they are absolutely abound with life. Scarlet sea stars, carmine cucumbers, aqua algae and crimson crustaceans. Enough to fill your wildest dreams—and memory cards.

And yet, season after season, it’s always the people that surprise most. The new, young, and passionate generation of Haida, practicing age old traditions; the kind and generous passengers, with unwavering enthusiasm; and of course, the crew, with their lively company and quiet competence.

Bluewater Adventures is Excited to Announce a Unique Travel Opportunity in the Great Bear Rainforest!

2014-01-17T15:00:00.000-08:00

“The Great Bear Rainforest Allies Expedition”

– Bluewater Adventures Partners with Raincoast Conservation Foundation

Photo: Sherry Kirkvold

Bluewater Adventures is excited to announce a unique opportunity to explore the Great Bear Rainforest like never before. Along with one of nature’s greatest allies, the Raincoast Conservation Foundation, Bluewater presents an expedition focusing on the work that goes into understanding and conserving this very special area and why its preservation is of the utmost importance.

Photo: Rachel Elliott

Led by Raincoast’s Captain Brian Falconer and Dr. Caroline Fox, this voyage will introduce guests to the Great Bear Rainforest and Sea on a very intimate level. We will observe research techniques and learn about the biology behind a thriving ecosystem. We will learn how scientific practices are enriched by First Nations’ traditional ecological knowledge and discover the importance of current conservation campaigns on the British Columbia coast...All while being immersed in one of the largest unspoiled tracts of coastal temperate rainforests in the World.

Photo: Sherry Kirkvold

This is a “first time experience” offered to travelers in the Great Bear Rainforest. A small group of people will have the unique opportunity to share a passion for nature with those who make understanding and protecting it their life’s work.

This announcement coincides with CREST's recently released report comparing two outdoor recreational activities within the Great Bear Rainforest – bear hunting and bear viewing. The outcomes largely support bear “viewing” as being the most economically valuable. Bluewater welcomes guests to join this research and conservation-based expedition to get an “on the front lines” perspective.

Part of the proceeds of this expedition goes to supporting the Raincoast Conservation Foundation.

August 28 – September 4, 2014
Aboard SV Island Odyssey
$5407.50 per person*

*Includes 5% GST and a $300 contribution supporting the Raincoast Conservation Foundation

Contact us for more information
www.bluewateradventures.ca
explore@bluewateradventures.ca
TEL: 604-980-3800/ 888-877-1770

Bluewater Adventures wins Sustainable Tourism Award

2013-12-05T12:27:00.002-08:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact:
Erin Boyle
Erin@bluewateradventures.ca
Tel: 604-980-3800

Bluewater Adventures wins Sustainable Tourism Award

A CANADIAN COMPANY THAT CARES

Introducing the World to Some of the Last Truly Wild Places on the Planet

Photo: Sherry Kirkvold

Photo: Hubert Kang/ CTC

Photo: Rachel Elliott

North Vancouver, BC, Canada. December 3, 2013 – Bluewater Adventures made a commitment from the beginning to adhere to the principals of ecotourism by supporting local communities, promoting conservation, ensuring their practices are low impact, and by providing their guests with world-class knowledge about the BC coast, the wildlife and First Nations culture.

When Bluewater Adventures’ Managing Director and Owner, Randy Burke, purchased the company almost 28 years ago he knew that he wanted to introduce people from all over the world to the remote and wild corners of the BC coast; he believed that by sharing his knowledge and passion for this part of the world with his guests he could foster deep and lasting connections that would inspire others to care as much as he did.

“One of the most important aspects of conservation is giving people the opportunity to discover and care about vulnerable places. It’s impossible to experience these places in such an intimate way and not feel invested in their future.”- Randy Burke

The issues around conservation, both locally and globally, have changed dramatically over the last 28 years. Canada, a country once known for its pristine wilderness, is now the focus of extreme criticism, globally, as a result of questionable environmental policies that have left many wondering if Canadians do in fact care about the health of the planet.
Canadians do care and Bluewater Adventures is just one example of this; having demonstrated a commitment to conservation through numerous ongoing conservation initiatives and partnerships which include:

· Signing protocol agreements with local First Nations

· Becoming Carbon Neutral

· Joining1% for the Planet

· Completing the Green Tourism Canada Assessment– Gold Award

· Achieving Ocean Wise Certification

· Purchasing Bullfrog Power

Most recently, the Tourism Industry Association of Canada has acknowledged these commitments and presented Bluewater Adventures with the – Transat AT Sustainable Tourism Award (Dec 3, 2013).

Since 1974, Bluewater Adventures’ reputation has brought respected groups and people from around the world to enjoy multi-day, live-aboard trips exploring the remote wilderness of coastal British Columbia and Southeast Alaska. Aboard the 21-metre expedition yachts, guests and crew keep watch for whales and other marine mammals, coastal birds, bears, old-growth forests, and ancient native villages. Experienced Biologists, renowned resource people, and professional crew engage guests on these unique learning journeys. Trips specialize in wildlife, coastal ecology and conservation, and history of the west coast.

For more information and reservations, contact Bluewater Adventures at (888) 877-1770, or visit their website: www.bluewateradventures.ca

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Naturalist, Lindsay Janes, on Bear Viewing with Bluewater Adventures

2013-06-14T18:49:00.003-07:00

In a few short days, I’ll be heading up to the Khutzeymateen Inlet for some prime bear viewing. Am I excited? You could say that... Why am I excited? Bear with me…

The Khutzeymateen Valley is a large conservation area that is infamous for the large number of grizzly bears - not to mention black bears - that make this sanctuary their home. My hope is that we’ll get to see a few of these residents as they go about their spring routine… that is, eating delicious sedges.

Actually, when they’re not sleeping, eating is pretty much a bear’s main focus. Along with the sedges, a coastal bear’s annual menu includes fresh greens – and root vegetables for grizzly bears, who are known for their digging abilities – berries, and finally salmon in the fall, with some intertidal invertebrates as appetizers. (I would order this 5 course meal any day, hold the sedges).

Because bears are focused on food, we are able to visit estuaries during the summer and fall with this intention of viewing grizzly and black bears. Food is so important that these bears are willing to tolerate humans watching, as long as they are able to continue eating. Researchers like Dr. Barrie Gilbert – a naturalist with Bluewater Adventures – theorize that in some places bear viewing has actually helped increase the population of bears, since the older males are less likely to frequent areas that humans visit, therefore making it safer for mothers with cubs to feed.

Bear viewing isn’t just about getting great photographs – for guides it’s about finding that balance between being close enough to enjoy these magnificent animals, while still giving bears the space they need to feel comfortable in their activities. How much space? Well, as Grant MacHutchon – a commercial bear viewing facilitator and also a naturalist with Bluewater – says, “It depends…”

Is the bear giving signs that it he or she is stressed? Are there other bears in the area? Is the food source limited? Are you watching a mother bear with new cubs? These variables to consider while bear viewing was just one of many discussion topics that arose at the 2013 bear viewing guide training. This year it took place in Knight Inlet and when we weren’t discussing bears, we were out in the estuary watching them. Pretty rough, I know.

Growing up in BC, I’ve had many interactions with bears, and no two of them were the same. My experiences echoed the main theme of this course: each interaction that we have with bears is unique. Just like a person’s mood which changes daily (if not hourly), with many factors contributing to their overall state of mind, a bear’s tolerance of people watching them also changes. You might have been able to get fairly close to a mother bear and her cubs one day, but find the next morning that she is giving signs of stress at a much greater distance. And we may never know the backstory of why this is the case. Perhaps a new male moved into the area and threatened her cubs. Perhaps a wolf pack drove her from her feeding area. Regardless of the reason, a big part of bear viewing is understanding bear behaviour and reacting accordingly to their tolerance level at that specific moment. As well, although bears are highly adaptable creatures, we often watch from consistent areas - such as bear stands - to allow bears to predict where we will be, and give them the choice to feed in proximity if they feel comfortable.

Ultimately we want to ensure bears can go about their normal activity while still offering the best bear viewing experience for our guests. Keeping these guidelines - and other guidelines suggested by the Commercial Bear Viewing Association - in mind greatly increases our chances of incredible encounters with bears.

I’m excited that my – and Bluewater’s – season of bear viewing will begin in the Khutzeymateen, and I’m also excited that it will continue through to Alaska, Knight Inlet, and then into Great Bear Rainforest. The areas we visit are known for high bear concentrations and I look forward to comparing these experiences to each other and to previous years with a new lens of understanding bear tolerance.

Now… speaking of berries… I should probably go taste-test that salmonberry patch again…

Northern Gateway Hearing in Vancouver, BC

2013-01-16T14:06:00.000-08:00

Randy Burke, Owner and Director Of Bluewater Adventures signed up to speak at the Northern GatewayPipeline hearings that are currently being held in Vancouver, BC. He spoke on the morning of Tuesday, January 15th, 2013, presenting to 4 panel members.
This project aims to run pipeline from the Alberta Tar Sands, across a vast mountain range to the terminus port in Kitimat, British Columbia. From here, supertankers loaded with diluted bitumen, will set sail through the winding waters of the Great Bear Rainforest, into perilous Hecate Strait with their destination being foreign markets. Thousands have raised their voices in opposition to this project and continue to do so...

Please read the transcript of Randy's Presentation below:

Northern Gateway - National Energy Board’s Joint Review Panel – January 15, 2013

Submission by: Captain Randy Burke - Managing Director, Bluewater Adventures Ltd
- Director, Gwaii Haanas Tour Operators Association

- Director, Commercial Bear Viewing Association of BC
Panel members: Sheila Leggett, Kenneth Bateman and Hans Matthews
Recognition: This meeting is happening in the traditional territory of the Coast Salish.

Introduction:
I have been a professional mariner and Captain for the last 30 years along the British Columbia coast and since 1988 been the owner of Bluewater Adventures Ltd. Bluewater Adventures is an award-winning nature cruise company, based in North Vancouver. Founded in 1974, we are one of the first ecotourism companies in BC. I have 8 year round employees and an additional 20 seasonal employees. Bluewater Adventures sells the “Super Natural BC” coast, and relies upon intact wildlife populations, the protection of wildlife habitat, and dynamic Coastal First Nations communities for our business to survive and flourish. I believe this coast provides the finest tourism experience in the world – it equals the beauty of New Zealand and Norway, and no where else do you find whales in such abundance, and wilderness dependent species like grizzly bears and wolves to watch.

Great Bear Rainforest:

· One of our main destinations is the Great Bear Rainforest; and lower Douglas Channel is critical to our operations.

· Researchers at Cetacea Lab estimate there are 100 humpback whales regularly in the lower Douglas Channel area. It is recognized as critical habitat for northern resident orcas, and one of the only places on the coast where fin whales – the second largest whale on the planet - come inshore to feed.

· In 2012, we found there were more whales in the lower Douglas Channel area than anywhere else on the coast.

· Northern Gateway puts a superhighway right through the living room of these whales. The sounds from these ships will impede whales from communicating, feeding and destroy this critical habitat. Collisions with big ships have already been reported, with two cruise ships entering Vancouver with dead fin whales wrapped around their bows.

· The industrialization of this area is in direct opposition to the wilderness product I provide.

· Bluewater Adventures’ Great Bear Rainforest trip was named one of 50 Canadian Signature Experiences by the Canadian Tourism Commission. They designated a visit to the Great Bear Rainforest as iconic of Canada; one of the truly unique experiences Canada has to offer visitors from around the world.

· The January, 2013 edition of National Geographic Traveler magazine names the Great Bear Rainforest one of “20 must-see places”.

· Bluewater Adventures has signed First Nation protocol agreements with the Gitga’at of Hartley Bay, the Haisla in Kitimat, and Kitasoo / Xaixais in Klemtu recognizing their inherent rights and traditional territories. We operate with their permission and stand with Coastal First Nations in opposition to this project.

Statement:

- Northern Gateway and specifically, tankers transiting from Kitimat, through Hecate Strait and Dixon Entrance, risks the very existence of my business.

Why are the risks too great?

Inappropriate accounting of the risks of weather

In their submission Enbridge uses averages for weather and wave height that grossly underestimate the risks of high winds and high waves. In particular, the submission does not address the risks if winds, waves, currents or poor visibility are combined.

Environment Canada employees at Cape St James reported 100 foot waves just offshore. These occurrences are not mentioned in the averages submitted by Enbridge. As a mariner who has spent the last 25 years sailing Hecate Strait, I can assure you it is not the placid ocean depicted in Enbridge’s submission. Hecate Strait has been described as one of the most dangerous bodies of water in the world.

Carriage of oil by third party carriers. Enbridge presents a misleading picture as IF they are responsible for all of the transportation of bitumen and condensate. In reality, they would buy and sell from the Kitimat terminal and have no responsibility after that point. The carriage of the bitumen and condensate would be arranged using foreign ships, mostly operating under “flags of convenience”. It is the ship owner who is responsible, not the product owner in the event of an oil spill. In many cases, the ship owner is merely a holding company and when a major liability arises each individual ship can be written off bringing into question who is accountable for costs of cleanup. (Major Marine Vessel Casualty Risk and Response Preparedness in British Columbia EnviroEmerg Consulting for Living Oceans).

The legal limit of liability in Canada combined with available international funds for oil spills amounts to just $500 million. When we have examples of both the Exxon Valdez and Deepwater Horizon spills costing billions, if we had a major spill in Canada the citizens of

Canada

would be responsible for the clean-up. It is entirely irresponsible for Canadian citizens to be taking the risks for the profit making efforts of Enbridge.

No Details on what would happen in the event of an oil spill

Enbridge does not detail the effect of an oil spill, only the likelihood of its occurrence. Again the use of averages in the submission distorts the picture so it appears so unlikely, it is hardly worth worrying about. Yet as pointed out in the combined submission of Raincoast Conservation and partners, who quote Anderson & Labelle in Spill Science Technology Bulletin, “Enbridge Gateway would be expected to experience 7 spills from tankers or port operations over 1,000 barrels during it’s 30 year life”.

Before this project can be considered for approval I want Enbridge to show how it would clean up a major spill and what effect it would have on the BC coast. 20 years after the Exxon Valdez, oil is still just under the surface on the beaches, some wildlife populations have never recovered; what exactly did the expenditure of billions of dollars in clean-up efforts achieve?

Oil spill clean-up technology ineffective on bitumen

Almost all the clean-up technology on the BC coast is designed for surface clean-up and containment of crude oil. Yet bitumen is likely to sink. How can the Joint Review Panel approve a project without viable, mitigation clean-up technology? It is not acceptable to have 10% or 30% recovery and call that success. And Deepwater Horizon demonstrated the use of dispersants is dangerous, with many unknown effects, particularly on human health (WWF Canada).

Gwaii Haanas Tour Operators Association:

- The purpose of the Gwaii Haanas Tour Operators Association is to represent the interests of visitors and tour operators to the Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve and Haida Heritage Site. There are 20 member companies in the Association.

- National Geographic rated Gwaii Haanas the number 1 national park in North America.

- My company's Gwaii Haanas tour was rated “One of 50 of the Worlds Best Tours”.

- The southern tanker route would come right past Gwaii Haanas and an oil spill that affected Gwaii Haanas would ruin a world-class gem.

- I note the southern tip of Gwaii Haanas, Cape St. James has the distinction of having the “highest average winds of any light station in Canada”.

- The Association opposes Northern Gateway

Commercial Bear Viewing Association of BC:

The Association was formed to promote sustainable bear viewing and the protection of wild bears and their ecosystems.

- Bear viewing is demonstrating tremendous growth and interest from around the world. The British Columbia coast is not only one of the last remaining places in the world where you can view grizzly bears, but it is home to the unique, Kermode or Spirit bear (Ursus Americanus Kermodei). This all-white bear is a black bear created by the prevalence of specific recessive genes in one small area of the BC Coast.

- The area with the highest concentration of Kermode bears is right on the tanker route down Douglas Channel.

- The Kermode bear is the provincial mammal of BC, yet Enbridge’s submission does not recognize this animal, provides no evidence how their proposal would affect these animals or how they would mitigate negative effects from increased shipping or an oil spill.

- The value of Kermode bear viewing alone is estimated at $1.5 million in 2012.

Reputation of the BC Coast:

- Our reputation is paramount. It is very difficult to put a figure on the value of a good reputation, or the cost of losing it. What we are proposing here is risking the very reputation that British Columbia has spent decades and millions of tourism dollars promoting – namely a beautiful British Columbia coast, full of wildlife.

- I was in business when the Exxon Valdez spill happened over 700 km away. I received several concerned calls asking what effect the spill would have on our tours and whether we were going to cancel any tours. People do not understand regional geography.

- After the Deepwater Horizon disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, how do you feel about spending your holiday on the Alabama coast. Hesitant? Do you know if all the oil has been cleaned up? How many years does it take before we let go of that fear, or is it spoiled in our minds forever?

- After this process, any oil spill on the BC coast is going to get tremendous media attention. Any significant spill will “tar” the reputation of the BC Coast for decades to come.

- And the effect will be well-beyond its geographical boundaries. It won’t matter that the spill may be near Hartley Bay, people will cancel their holidays to Gwaii Haanas and northern Vancouver Island.

- I can assure you a major oil spill in the Great Bear Rainforest will reduce our business by an estimated 20-30%, and that is enough to put us out of business. Not just Bluewater Adventures, but the 20 members of the Gwaii Haanas Tour Operators Association and the majority of the members of the Commercial Bear Viewing Association.

Conclusion:

The precautionary principle says this project should not be approved. There are greater risks than the proponent has recognized, and specific ones that cannot be mitigated effectively. When one industry’s proposal jeopardizes thousands of tourism jobs, simply to create a few hundred mostly short term jobs it does not make sense. When the risks of this proposal can ruin coastal tourism for decades, it does not make sense. Coastal ecotourism cannot co-exist with Northern Gateway. I urge you to turn down the application.

I appreciate this opportunity in democracy. I trust that my voice and the voices of British Columbians will be heard, respected and acted upon.

Thank you

Please Help to Stop the Trophy Hunt

2011-04-25T14:58:00.000-07:00

Photo Credit (left): Andy Wright

Each year, hundreds of these animals are killed by Trophy Hunters. Those bears that you saw playing in a stream during your adventure may have already been killed by the time you returned home from your adventure.

In 2007 a record 430 grizzly bears were killed in British Columbia, 363 of them by sport hunters. This alarming statistic raises serious questions about government policy towards these bears. The science used to estimate grizzly populations, and therefore set harvest quotas, is weak.

Government grossly undervalues grizzly bear viewing as an economic generator while overestimating the importance of trophy hunting, revealing its bias toward the hunting sector. In addition, given the grizzly’s vast habitat requirements, the health of this species will be a measure of our ability to make sound landscape-based decisions around forestry, mining and other extractive industries.

The Raincoast Conservation Foundation latest campaign to stop the trophy hunt on coastal BC is aiming to raise the funds required to buy out commercial hunting territories.

To date, Raincoast has raised approximately $200,000. The deadline is fast approaching. Please help to reach their goal of $370,000 by May 31, 2011. Learn more on how you can help here.

Good News for the Holidays!

2010-12-08T09:42:00.001-08:00

In the past 24 hours there have been two victories for British Columbia's coastal waters!

1) MP's in the House of Commons voted in favour of a motion to ban oil tankers on BC's north coast.

This ban would prevent bulk oil tanker traffic in the Dixon Entrance, Hecate Strait and Queen Charlotte Sound. It's just the beginning - continual support is needed as this motion now moves to become legislation - but it's a hopeful start. It means that Parliament is listening to British Columbians, whose majority do not want oil tanker traffic on their coast.

As a company that has sailed in these areas for over 35 years, Bluewater knows how important this motion is. Oil tanker traffic in these ecologically sensitive waters - waters that are also some of the most volatile in BC - just doesn't make sense. Enbridge claimed in a desperate advertisement yesterday - an ad that mentions (short-term) job creation for First Nation communities, but fails to mention how many of them don't want those jobs - that 1500 tankers have safely travelled in our waters.

We know it only takes one to mess that up.

Read more about the motion to ban oil tankers on our coast here.

2) Yesterday, the Sierra Club of BC and other conservation groups won a landmark federal court decision aimed at protecting endangered orca whales.

In June 2010 Ecojustice, representing the Sierra Club of BC and other interested groups, made the argument to federal courts that by failing to protect important aspects of northern and southern resident orca habitat - such as salmon prey availability and unpolluted water - the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) was failing to protect these species at risk.

This court case win means that "the government must now take immediate action to ensure that DFO obeys the law" (Susan Howatt, Sierra Club BC campaign director) and makes steps toward protecting not only the orca, but also their habitat.

Bluewater guests often have the opportunity to view the southern and northern resident orca on many of our trips, especially around Northern Vancouver Island. We know how important a healthy habitat is and we are thrilled with this victory.

That being said, this victory is not just a victory for orca - it is a triumph for other species that've also been listed as At-Risk, many of who we see on Bluewater trips, such as sea otters, fin whales, humpback whales, grizzly bears, ancient murrelets and great blue heron.

Read more about the courts decision here.

Salmon are Sacred...

2010-10-26T09:37:00.000-07:00

One of the hot topics in BC this past week has been pacific salmon, specifically Fraser River sockeye salmon.

With the Fraser River run being so large this year - estimates range between 34 and 36 million sockeye salmon returned to their home rivers - it's easy to forget that the 2009 run was one of the worst Fraser River sockeye returns remembered; only 1.5 million salmon returned, versus the 11 million expected.

Lucky for us who worry about the future of our Pacific Salmon, Alexandra Morten will not forget.

This past Sunday, October 24 2010, Alexandra and a group of paddlers and rafters paddled from Musqeum to Vanier Park, the final leg of a long journey down the Fraser River from Hell's Gate. The Island Odyssey was there to support this final leg, even bringing some of the younger paddlers aboard during a particular tough section.

The journey represented a portion of the long journey our sockeye salmon make every year and was timed with the start of the Cohen Commision. On Monday the group marched into town and presented a Salmon Are Sacred scroll to Justice Cohen to show support for his inquiry into the collapse of the 2009 sockeye return.

Yes, it will be hard to ignore the large numbers of salmon that we had this year but some scientists are wondering if there is another explanation for the 2010 anomaly... an Alaskan volcano. Its eruption in 2008 lead to huge blooms of plankton, which in turn would have increased the food resources for Pacific Salmon.

We won't know if the 2011 Fraser River sockeye run will also benefit from this algal bloom or if there will be another collapse. Our hope is that the Cohen Commission will shed light on the reason for the low salmon return numbers in 2009, including the effects of sea lice and disease, thought to originate from open pen salmon farms that litter our coastline.

In the end we can't afford to forget the run of 2009, nor the previous 3 years that also had lower than expected return numbers.

We must be cautious when it comes to managing our pacific salmon, the link to our animals - marine and terrestrial - our forests, and our people.

Our salmon are sacred...period.

Boatloads of Education

2010-09-02T15:12:00.000-07:00

One of the things that we pride ourselves on at Bluewater Adventures is that we are actively involved with the education of future generations. Each spring and fall we host secondary students for 4-5 day educational trips in the Canadian Gulf Islands - last spring we hosted over 250 students!

The focus on these trips is to give students an opportunity to explore the incredible biodiversity found in the Canadian Gulf Islands. Another educational component is student participation in the operation of the boat, including environmental stewardship, navigation, sailing, meal preparation and everyday chores. These trips are both a fun adventure for students and a rewarding experience for crew and teachers.

Several of our crew extend this passion - for sharing the BC coastline with youth - into impressive careers in environmental education. Take for example Rod MacVicar, a former Bluewater skipper, who has been educating youth for 40 years. Some of Rod’s most notable achievements are the founding of the Mossom Creek Hatchery in Port Moody and the Reed Point Marine Education Centre. Most recently he was also awarded the 2010 Blanch Hornbeck Award for Excellence in Nature Education by the Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History.

Congratulations Rod! We’ve been fortunate to have your involvement in Bluewater – you’ve been an inspiration to both students and crew.

Read more about Rod’s achievement here.

To learn more about Bluewater school trips, visit our website.

25 year old Moratorium on Whaling Remains!

2010-07-15T12:06:00.000-07:00

Our 2010 season has been great for whale sightings – Humpback whales, several species of Porpoises, Orcas and even the 2nd largest animal in the world, the Fin Whale.

It’s hard to imagine but the areas we visit were historically were even greater in numbers, and would be still today, if it were not for the whaling industry which greatly decreased global whale populations, sometimes to critically low numbers.

For example, the global population of Humpback Whales – one of the whales we frequently cross paths with – was reduced to 90% in the 20th century and was put on the endangered species list. In response to these critically low numbers, the International Whaling Commission put a moratorium on hunting them in 1966.

Since then the northern pacific population has risen from 1,400 to almost 20,000 in number!

Another familiar whale to Bluewater is the Fin Whale, an enormous baleen whale, known for its speed relative to its size. This animal was also hunted to near extinction, but hasn’t had the recovery in the same numbers that the humpback has. This may be that despite a moratorium on whaling, a few countries are still hunting fin whales today.

A few weeks ago the International Whaling Commission met in Morocco to revisit the 25 year moratorium on hunting whales. Fortunately there was a huge global outcry and the proposal to lift the moratorium was shut down. Unfortunately, there are still countries that are hunting these whales under the guise of ‘scientific research’ and sometimes regardless of the moratorium.

Luckily for the whales that migrate to – and live around – the waters of coastal BC and SE Alaska, they are safe from the harpoon.

Some researchers even wonder if our waters are becoming the ‘retirement homes’ for whales that no longer need to migrate for breeding purposes.

If location is everything, these whales have chosen a great place to stay, with good food resources and friendly neighbours. We look forward to viewing these whales for years to come – shooting them only with the camera.

To find out how you can join us on a trip to see whales in friendly waters, visit us at our website.

Federal Support for the Ban on Oil Tanker Traffic in the Great Bear Rainforest!

2010-06-24T14:11:00.000-07:00

June 21st marked a big step towards a legislative ban on oil tanker traffic along BC's coast.

On Monday, Micheal Ignatieff and the Liberal Part of Canada announced that they would make a commitment to formalize the oil tanker ban in British Columbia. This ban would prevent crude oil tankers from using BC's Central and North Coast as the 'water highway' for Enbridge's crude oil tankers.

The proposed Northern Gateway Pipeline, ending in Kitimat, would result in an average of 225 oil tankers per year travelling up and down the BC north-central coastline, known to many Bluewater passengers as the Great Bear Rainforest.

That's 225 chances that one of these tankers could leak crude oil into this lush area, home to animals such as Humpback Whales, Orcas, Fin Whales, five Pacific Salmon species, Grizzly Bears and the rare genetic variation of the Black Bear, otherwise know as the Spirit or Kermode Bear.

Being an area that we frequent during our season, Bluewater has long been a supporter of the ban on oil tankers in the Great Bear Rainforest. On March 23 Bluewater was a part of an unprecedented grouping of 150 First Nations groups, businesses, environmental organizations, and prominent Canadians who ran a full-page ad in the Globe and Mail, with the headline "This was Exxon's gift to Alaska. B.C. Can Expect the same from Enbridge".

Over our several decades of travelling in this area we've already seen evidence of increasing pressure on this precious ecosystems -- oil tanker traffic would certainly increase that pressure.

Monday's announcement is a step towards the eventual goal of a legislated ban on oil tankers. We know the animals of the Great Bear Rainforest would approve...

To read more about this exciting development and see the proposed route for these oil tankers at the Living Oceans website.

Want to get involved in this campaign? Why not write a letter to Stephen Harper to tell him what you think of Enbridge's pipeline application.

Protection for BC marine waters on World Ocean Day

2010-06-08T08:43:00.000-07:00

It's official.

Haida Gwaii will be home to Canada's first park protected marine area.

Yesterday the Gwaii Haanas marine conservation area was established under the Canadian National Marine Conservation Areas Act. The area extends 10 kilometres offshore from the already existing Gwaii Haanas park reserve and will serve to protect the homes of numerous whales, pinnipeds, seabirds, fish, and possibly even coral. Read more about this exciting legislation.

And speaking of corals and protection, environmentalist are excited about an announcement today for a new "Area of Interest" in Hecate Strait, meant to protect the recently discovered, thought to be exinct, glass sponge reefs. Read more about glass sponge reefs.

Oil and water still don't mix

2010-05-19T14:20:00.000-07:00

Since the recent oil spill in the gulf of Mexico, off shore drilling and oil tanker traffic have been hot topics for environmental conversations -- and with good reason. Several Florida counties have declared a state of emergency and marine wildlife are starting to feel the effect of this devasting spill, a spill which continues to flow out into the Gulf.

Oil drilling, oil tankers, and their possible effects on local communities, flora and fauna have also been a concern for the coast of Northern BC, especially as oil company Enbridge continues to try and open an oil tanker route through the Great Bear Rainforest.

Some locals are starting take action. For example, in order to raise awareness of the potential impacts of oil tanker traffic in this incredible lush area of our coast, Norm Haan has set out to paddleboard the prospective tanker route from Kitamaat to Bella Bella -- 385 km.
Read more about his journey here.

To see the possible effect of an oil spill off BC's coast, check out this oil spill model put out by the Living Oceans Society.

Distinct Species of Orca Identified off BC Coast

2010-04-27T09:48:00.000-07:00

Transient whales aren't outcasts -- just a different gene pool

Photograph by: Dave Ellifrit

A threatened population of killer whales that spends much of the year hunting seals off the British Columbia coast has been identified by an international team of scientists as a distinct species, separated from its fellow orcas in Canada and elsewhere about 700,000 years ago.

The whales, known as the North Pacific Transients, have long been understood to have a different prey preference than their fish-eating cousins, as well as subtle physical anomalies, such as a more pointed dorsal fin.

For more in this story click here

-Randy Bowsell, Canwest News Service