Jan 5: HELIT TŦE SȽOṈ,ET (Let the Herring Live)

In November 2019 First Nations and environmental organizations from around the Salish Sea met in Saanichton to discuss the restoration of the Sea’s distinct herring populations, and to collaborate on strategies to bring vitality back to communities for whom herring was a foundational species. The Bowen Island Conservancy was represented by our Board Member, Bob Turner (Bob has made another on of his beautiful videos about the herring spawning off Hornby Island).

Background information

Over the coming months, efforts will continue to oppose commercial herring fisheries in the Strait of Georgia. You can learn more about why this is the case by reading the notes from the event, and by watching this YouTube video. A Press Release was issued in mid-December which provides additional information.

As well, you may read the letter that’s been sent, signed by 70 conservation and marine tourism organizations, to the Federal Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, Bernadette Jordan, asking for the commercial herring fishery to be suspended.

What can you do?

Please sign Gord John’s e-petition. As Member of Parliament for Courtney Alberni and NDP Fisheries Critic, he is championing herring in the House of Commons. For every 25 signatures, Gord Johns can challenge the destructive herring fishery in Canadian parliament.