Working with the K’ómoks Nation towards Q’waq’wala7owkw on their unceded territory.
As we look back at last year, we’re pleased to share an update on our local projects and their impact on ecological restoration, research, and youth education in the Comox Valley and other areas of coastal Vancouver Island.
Pacific sand lance are small, silvery fish with a big job. Think of them as the “energy bars” of the Salish Sea as they fuel salmon, seabirds, and even whales. But before they can fuel the marine food web, they need the right shoreline to lay their eggs. So, what kind of beaches do they prefer?
Spring and summer forage fish sampling is starting back up again in May!
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.
Want to contribute to community science while walking the beach? Simply snap a photo of Pacific herring eggs or milt (milky-white water) when you come across them and upload your observations to iNaturalist! Keep reading for instructions.
Have you wondered what happens at Project Watershed in the winter? Plants may go dormant at this time of year, but Pacific sand lance are busy spawning – and that means our four-person forage fish team and 32 community volunteers are also busy!
Meet our new Forage Fish Lead Biologist!
Meet our new Forage Fish Technician!
We’re gearing up for the fall/winter season of forage fish sampling!
Project Watershed and the Coastal Forage Fish Network (CFFN) are celebrating Surf Smet Day on October 25th! This adds another day on which to celebrate and raise awareness about beach spawning forage fish as Pacific sand lance are celebrated on a day in December.
The Coastal Forage Fish Network (CFFN) is hosting two one-day workshops to introduce development considerations and methods to survey for beach spawning forage fish for projects that may impact beach spawning forage fish.
Over the summer the Project Watershed Forage Fish Monitoring Team have been busy with data analysis, project planning, collaborating with the Coastal Forage Fish Network and field sampling in the Comox Valley and Campbell River area. To date we have had 21 volunteers contribute 97.5 hours to our forage fish monitoring efforts!