Working on the unceded territory of the K’ómoks First Nation .

Working with the K’ómoks Nation towards Q’waq’wala7owkw on their unceded territory.

PSL – the Debate is Out and Volunteers are Needed

PSL? ~ Maryam Samadi from Pexels and V. East

Beach sampling

Vortexing ~ J. Lund

Microscope egg hunting

PSL - a Pumpkin Spice Latté or a Pacific sand lance? To some people, a PSL is both. Either way, PSL season is fast approaching. The leaves are changing, warm drinks are on the menu, and the liquid sunshine (rain) is welcomed after such a dry summer. Project Watershed is gearing up for our Fall/Winter sampling.

Volunteers Wanted

The Forage Fish team is looking for local volunteers to support sites in Campbell River, Quadra Island, and the Comox Valley area, as well as for blitz events in December. Typically, November and December sampling occurs about every two weeks with New Moons and Full Moons. For more details regarding blitz events, as well as lab opportunities, please contact Virginia. Volunteer opportunities include a variety of aspects of the sampling process at a variety of locations across the northern Salish Sea:

  • Regular sampling
  • Blitz sampling
  • Sieving and Vortexing
  • Microscope Egg Hunting

We hope that you can find an aspect and location that works for you!

In addition to volunteers, we are looking for stories. Local Ecological Knowledge (LEK) is an important element of Project Watershed’s BCSRIF Forage Fish Project. LEK includes stories like “going down to the beach and collecting “Grunions” (surf smelt) by the wheel burrow full in the fall”, noticing changes in the sand on a beach you walk on regularly or catching “needle fish” (Pacific sand lance) when you wanted to catch a large fish. Are you a birder who notices that at certain times of the year there are more birds on a particular beach? Do you know locations where you used to go and see Pacific sand lance or surf smelt? You can help us out by emailing your stories to Virginia or filling out the questionnaire.

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Spring is nearing its end and just like on land, this time of year is peak growth season for marine plants. With support from the Aquatic Ecosystems Restoration Fund, Project Watershed has been working on two projects to restore eelgrass habitat in Fanny Bay and kelp habitat near Cape Lazo.

Spring Invasives Removal at Kus-kus-sum

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Forage Fish Symposium and CFFN AGM

The Coastal Forage Fish Network is hosting their Annual Spring symposium via zoom on April 23, 2025, from 6:00-8:00 pm. It will be followed by an AGM. This gathering brings together researchers, experts and community science volunteers to share forage fish research highlights and from across Vancouver Island and beyond.