Doug at sea

Riverkeeper Doug left Friday, August 14 from Port McNeill on Vancouver Island to make a multi-day investigatory trip looking at water pollution and other problems, such as fish farms. He headed south from the port, with board member Kari Siirala (whose boat they took) and volunteer Jim Christoff, and spent about a week on the water. The length of their trip, number of stops, and exact route was dependent on winds, spontaneity, and leads along the way.

Several islands dot the way, one group of islands being the Broughton Archipelago, in which there are numerous fish farms. This was one of Doug’s planned stops. The archipelago is traditional territory of the Kwicksutaineuk-ah-kwa-mish and Tsawataineuk, part of the Kwakwaka’wakw nations. Fish farms have been controversial in recent years due to the relationship between the farms and outbreaks of sea lice in wild species. Doug set out a few years ago to look for evidence of these lice during the stage at which the lice were swimming freely through water. Doug had no luck getting close enough to view the lice at that time, but since then, several studies have come out about sea lice and fish farms, and the topic remains controversial today along the Fraser and nearby waters.

As Doug says, this was not a strictly a patrol trip. They just wanted to get out and do what they love, sailing. But every time he and his fellow sailors are out on the water, they are looking for pollution and other threats.

Photo Updates:

Saturday, August 16