Latest news with #Nuu-chah-nulthFirstNations
National Geographic
4 days ago
- National Geographic
Is this Canadian festival the best place to see grey whales?
This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller (UK). Stand on the western shores of Vancouver Island in March and you'll spot some of British Columbia's most famous visitors. Each spring, thousands of grey whales glide past this stretch of coast on their journey from the warm breeding waters of Mexico to the nutrient-rich waters of Alaska — a round trip of up to 15,000 miles, making it the longest mammal migration on Earth. In the mid-1980s, Brian Congdon, a resident of Ucluelet on the west coast of Vancouver Island, had an idea. He wanted to celebrate this natural spectacle with a home-grown festival, much like those he'd seen in California. Drawing on his experience running a whale-watching tour company, he brought together volunteers and local authorities, devised an events programme and the Pacific Rim Whale Festival was born. Taking place in the coastal towns of Tofino and Ucluelet, as well as throughout the Pacific Rim Reserve, the festival runs for a week at the height of the whale migration (around March every year), with ample opportunity to spot these graceful giants. A busy calendar of events includes panel discussions, wildlife-watching trips and hands-on workshops honouring the traditions of the Nuu-chah-nulth First Nations, for whom the grey whale has long held cultural significance. Though the festival has evolved since Brian first envisioned it more than 30 years ago, its mission remains unchanged: to raise awareness of grey whales and support their long-term protection. The Huu-ay-aht First Nation Community offers village tours for visitors to the Pacific Rim Whale Festival; Photograph by Mark McKeough Festival highlights Naturally, the wonders of the ocean take centre stage. At the Whale Spotting from Shore session at Amphitrite Point Lighthouse, naturalists and marine biologists will be on hand to explain the fascinating behaviour of grey whales, which — with a dash of luck — can be spotted from the coast. But getting out on the open water is the most exhilarating way to see these majestic beasts in action. Local operators offer boat and sea kayak trips off the coast, and whale-watching company Subtidal Adventures runs three-hour Marine Mammal Research Days as part of the festival. On rigid inflatable boat excursions into Barkley Sound, experts will share tips on identifying individual whales and unpick some of the animals' unique behaviours, from lobbing and fluking to breaching — a breathtaking sight on any whale-watching cruise. Spring also marks the herring spawn season, when countless herring lay their eggs off the coast, turning the shallows into a cloudy swirl of turquoise. The spawning is doubly spectacular for the wealth of wildlife it attracts, from hungry seabirds and eagles swooping overhead to seals, sea lions and even black bears, which have been known to graze on the eggs at low tide. Visitors can learn even more about local marine life at the Beach Seine with Ucluelet Aquarium, on Terrace Beach. Using a seine net, aquarium staff carefully catch (and then release) an array of ocean critters — from shallow-dwelling crustaceans to Pacific Ocean perch — demonstrating how the underwater ecosystems connect them. There's plenty on land to enjoy, too. Tofino comes alive with music for the Parade of Whales and Wonder, where local community groups display imaginative ocean-themed floats, while the Maritime Kids Day in Tofino and Ucluelet promise plenty of interactive craft and science sessions for a fun-filled introduction to marine biology. On the final day, Wick Beach in Ucluelet will play host to a morning of family-friendly fun, including the ever-popular Tug-O-Whale challenge, as well as the Nuu-chah-nulth storytelling session, which brings First Nations traditions to life. The Surfrider Foundation Pacific Rim joined the Pacific Rim Whale Festival and organised Coastal Canada Whales Festival beach clean-ups around the shore. Photograph by Andi Wardrop Get involved The Pacific Rim Whale Festival runs two types of event: button events, all of which guests access by purchasing a badge (with a suggested donation for each one), and events that require the purchase of a ticket to attend, which are available from the website under each specific event. These are run on a first come, first served basis, and some — particularly the Marine Mammal Research days — are very popular, so book well in advance. Those keen on helping to organise, marshal or meet-and-greet during the festival can find out more on the 'Volunteering' page. The action mostly takes place between the surfing hotspot of Tofino and laid-back Ucluelet, which are around half-an-hour's drive apart. Most accommodation options can be found in and around each town; try 1970s-inspired Hotel Zed Tofino, or Ucluelet's Snug Harbour Inn, whose fresh and breezy rooms overlook the ocean. When it comes to the weather, March on Vancouver Island can be chilly, with highs of around 12C, and rain showers are common. Events are held in a variety of indoor and outdoor venues, so pack accordingly. Of course, the festival is only part of the appeal in this rugged corner of Vancouver Island. Strike out on the Wild Pacific Trail, a five-mile walking route that twists along the coast around Ucluelet, through craggy cedar forests and around storm-battered lighthouses, or sea kayak around the Broken Group Islands, scattered through Barkley Sound. For a true sense of adventure, escape to Hot Springs Cove — accessible only by boat or floatplane — and swim beneath geothermal waterfalls as they tumble down to the sea. Published in the Coastal Collection 2025 by National Geographic Traveller (UK). To subscribe to National Geographic Traveller (UK) magazine click here. (Available in select countries only).
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Yahoo
Paddleboarder ordered to pay $2,500 for getting too close to orcas near Ucluelet, B.C.
A paddleboarder who got too close to a pod of orcas near Tofino, B.C., has been found guilty of unlawfully disturbing killer whales, a breach of the Federal Fisheries Act. Christie Jamieson, 40, was fined $2,500 earlier this month following the incident in Ucluelet Harbour, off the west coast of Vancouver Island, in January 2021. Jamieson testified she did not know the rules around distance limits. But provincial court Judge Alexander Wolf said in his ruling that it didn't matter — even if a person has never heard of Canada's Marine Mammal Regulations, they are still bound to them by law, he said. "If you fish, learn the regulations. If you hunt, learn the regulations. If you want to be around whales or other marine mammals, learn the regulations," Wolf said in his judgment. It is prohibited to approach marine mammals on a boat, paddleboard, or other vessel to interact, feed or swim with them, according to the Fisheries Act. Wolf — a member of the Kwikwasut'inuxw Haxwa'mis First Nation, located on Gilford Island — said in his judgment that according to the Nuu-chah-nulth First Nations teachings, orcas are considered guardians of the sea, and it is forbidden to disturb them. Guardians of the sea The guilty verdict was delivered Tuesday in Ucluelet, B.C., a town of about 2,000 people, 35 kilometres southeast of Tofino. Among the evidence against Jamieson was a video posted to YouTube of her approaching the pod. The video shows a person with long blond hair out on a paddleboard while killer whales come to the surface near her. According to the judge, there were hundreds of people lined up around the harbour to watch orcas that day. The video was used as evidence in court. WATCH | Woman gets close to orca pod near Ucluelet, B.C.: Wolf said at times, it appears as though she's about 50 metres away from the pod — well within the 200-metre buffer zone required by law. Multiple witnesses also confirmed seeing Jamieson put her paddleboard in the water, the judgment says, and paddle toward the orcas. Jamieson agreed but testified that she thought as the creatures were leaving the harbour, they turned back and swam toward her. She said she was not comfortable paddling away. It would have been different, the judge said, if she had already been out on her paddleboard and minding her own business when the killer whales happened to swim by. In that case, there wouldn't have been a charge, he said. In a statement after the ruling, Fisheries and Oceans said, "the illegal activity, plus social media posts of the incident, and images captured on personal cameras and devices" were reported to its observation and reporting system. "These reports helped lead to the successful conviction of this incident," it said. Detering others The Crown sought a $10,000 fine, but the judge took into account Jamieson's financial situation and the fact that she did not have a criminal record or a history of breaching fisheries regulations. The judge said the $2,500 fine should serve as a deterrent for others who might consider approaching a pod of whales too closely. "The lesson for all of us is sometimes we make mistakes. Sometimes those mistakes mean committing an offence," the judge said. "When we commit an offence, there will be penalties."
CBC
11-02-2025
- CBC
Paddleboarder ordered to pay $2,500 for getting too close to orcas near Ucluelet, B.C.
Social Sharing A paddleboarder who got too close to a pod of orcas near Tofino, B.C., has been found guilty of unlawfully disturbing killer whales, a breach of the Federal Fisheries Act. Christie Jamieson, 40, was fined $2,500 earlier this month following the incident in Ucluelet Harbour, off the west coast of Vancouver Island, in January 2021. Jamieson testified she did not know the rules around distance limits. But provincial court Judge Alexander Wolf said in his ruling that it didn't matter — even if a person has never heard of Canada's Marine Mammal Regulations, they are still bound to them by law, he said. "If you fish, learn the regulations. If you hunt, learn the regulations. If you want to be around whales or other marine mammals, learn the regulations," Wolf said in his judgment. It is prohibited to approach marine mammals on a boat, paddleboard, or other vessel to interact, feed or swim with them, according to the Fisheries Act. Wolf — a member of the Kwikwasut'inuxw Haxwa'mis First Nation, located on Gilford Island — said in his judgment that according to the Nuu-chah-nulth First Nations teachings, orcas are considered guardians of the sea, and it is forbidden to disturb them. Guardians of the sea The guilty verdict was delivered Tuesday in Ucluelet, B.C., a town of about 2,000 people, 35 kilometres southeast of Tofino. Among the evidence against Jamieson was a video posted to YouTube of her approaching the pod. The video shows a person with long blond hair out on a paddleboard while killer whales come to the surface near her. According to the judge, there were hundreds of people lined up around the harbour to watch orcas that day. The video was used as evidence in court. WATCH | Woman gets close to orca pod near Ucluelet, B.C.: Wolf said at times, it appears as though she's about 50 metres away from the pod — well within the 200-metre buffer zone required by law. Multiple witnesses also confirmed seeing Jamieson put her paddleboard in the water, the judgment says, and paddle toward the orcas. B.C. film company fined for flying drone too close to orcas Jamieson agreed but testified that she thought as the creatures were leaving the harbour, they turned back and swam toward her. She said she was not comfortable paddling away. It would have been different, the judge said, if she had already been out on her paddleboard and minding her own business when the killer whales happened to swim by. In that case, there wouldn't have been a charge, he said. In a statement after the ruling, Fisheries and Oceans said, "the illegal activity, plus social media posts of the incident, and images captured on personal cameras and devices" were reported to its observation and reporting system. "These reports helped lead to the successful conviction of this incident," it said. Detering others The Crown sought a $10,000 fine, but the judge took into account Jamieson's financial situation and the fact that she did not have a criminal record or a history of breaching fisheries regulations. The judge said the $2,500 fine should serve as a deterrent for others who might consider approaching a pod of whales too closely.
