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Seaquaria Ocean Education - Peter McCully Interview

2/28/2021

"Peter is a fish biologist and a long time volunteer for the Goldstream Volunteer Salmonid Enhancement Association. He also had a career with the Canadian Armed Forces before he completed his university training! Peter acts as a technical advisor for the Goldstream salmonid program and for many community groups involved with salmon enhancement! Join Peter as he chat with us about what's involved in restoring, educating and protecting our local salmon. Thank you to the NSERC and Chris Spencer Foundation for sponsoring and supporting our educational series.

Seaquaria Ocean Education is an initiative of World Fisheries Trust, a registered Canadian charity dedicated to the equitable and sustainable use and conservation of aquatic biodiversity. Based in Victoria, B.C., Seaquaria delivers engaging education experiences to inspire the next generation of environmental stewards.

If you would like to support us, please follow the link - seaquaria.org/support-us "

Millstream Coho Release

2/28/2021

On February 27th, 2021, volunteering members of Goldstream Salmon Hatchery transported and released 2500 coho smolts into Millstream Lake, which feeds and flows into Victoria's Esquimalt Harbor.

Thank you to our great volunteers and supporters for making this release a success!

Click on images to enlarge

The Water Ship News - February

2/14/2021

Please see the latest addition of The Water Ship News for your viewing pleasure!
Downloadable PDF link below!

the_water_ship_news_february_2021.pdf
File Size:	553 kb
File Type:	pdf

<< View previous issues here >>

Goldstream News Gazette - 8-year-old sworn in as member of Goldstream Hatchery

1/4/2021

"Julia Jupp’s dream of becoming a marine biologist began a few years ago when she took a liking to prodding washed up fish with a stick during her walks along the beach shore.

Now, eight years old and three years the wiser, she’s far closer to her dream than most kids her age..."

>> CLICK HERE TO READ
THE FULL ARTICLE!

The Globe And Mail: On the run with Vancouver Island’s salmon - Nov 29th 2020

1/4/2021

Salmon rest in an eddy of Vancouver Island's Goldstream River during the fall run. Volunteers have come here to count the fish as they return to the river to spawn.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JAMES MACDONALD/THE GLOBE AND MAIL

>> CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE!

The Future Of Salmon Stewardship: Goldstream Hatchery welcomes its youngest GVSEA member and volunteer!

11/16/2020

"I wanted to let everyone know about an initiative that a young lady has undertaken to help support our efforts at the hatchery. Some of you were helping in the river when Julia and her Mom came down to provide encouragement to those in the cold water and she had made up a poster to show her appreciation.

It turns out that this young lady with the support of her Mom, Joscilyn, is fascinated by the natural world around her and, in particular, the importance of our beloved salmon in that world. We invited them to join us at the hatchery and that seemed to further encourage her."

(Click on picture to enlarge.)

"On November 14th, she presented us with $450.00 that she had raised by selling salmon keychains in her neighbourhood that she and her Mom manufactured themselves. It is this sort of thing that energizes me and gives me hope that, in spite of all the depressing news we receive daily, there is hope for the future. On our volunteers' behalf, I've suggested that Julia and Joscilyn might be interested in a membership because Julia is not yet old enough to be up here on her own yet."

~ Peter McCully

These hand-drawn, handmade keychains by Julia (age 8) will be available when in stock at the hatchery for $5 each. They also may become available at Island Outfitters and other local spots. Stay tuned!

From all of us here at Goldstream Hatchery, and on behalf of our Pacific Salmon,
Thank you so much for your support and interest in salmon enhancement Julia!

Goldstream River 2020 Salmon Run

11/6/2020

Day by day and week by week, the salmon are slowly arriving at Goldstream.

Thank you to our dedicated volunteers for "wadering up", getting cold and sometimes rather wet in the process of netting these fish for Goldstream Hatcheries' brood stock. So far we have had some beautiful chum, and the odd coho. We still anticipate more fish over the next few weeks.

A special thank you to Scotty Fishing & Outdoor Products for also supplying our volunteers with face shields to be worn during this process and while at the hatchery to follow current "Covid protocols" at this time.

Stay tuned for a great video being done up over the next few months, documenting this years brood stock collection, including great underwater footage of these magnificent fish.

GVSEA and The Rocky Point Bird Observatory

10/21/2020

Photo Credit: Alison Moran

Below is a forwarded email newsletter from our friends at Rocky Point Bird Observatory. GVSEA has enjoyed helping this group perform data collection with the annual hummingbird banding project that took place at our hatchery. However, due to COVID-19 protocols, we will be unable to have this team perform the banding project at our facility this year. Please see how you can still help with this project and additional details below!

"In 2019, you made it possible for the
Rocky Point Bird Observatory to have a very successful year.

In addition to banding over 2000 hummingbirds at 37 locations across BC,
RPBO hosted a well attended hummingbird symposium in Chilliwack, published
research on the diet of Rufous Hummingbird nestings, and used eDNA analysis of faecal samples to provide the first insight into what these warm-blooded pollinators
need to rear the next generation successfully.

Our star recapture was a Rufous hummingbird over nine years old!
This longevity is rarely seen and is especially rare among males.

Your support allows us to look forward to making
an even greater impact in the future.

Thank you for being a part of the Rocky Point Bird Observatory!"

"From the leader of our Hummingbird project...

Alison Moran

"Birds provide many essential ecosystem services free of charge,
from controlling pests to pollination and seed dispersal. We need to understand
how they are doing and how our activities affect them.

My focus is RPBO's Hummingbird Project.
Our team engages in a range of research projects, from monitoring
populations changes, to examining diet and habitat use, and looking at the
effects of pesticide use on hummingbirds in agricultural areas. These data are
important for decision making by land managers.

Public understanding and interest in the well being of wildlife is vital for
protection of ecosystems. When people develop an interest in birds, they build an
emotional connection with nature. For example, feeding a hummingbird at your
window, you will see details in behaviour, care about an individual of another species
and feel a deep responsibility for their well being. This means that conversations
between hummingbird enthusiasts and knowledgable volunteers can become valuable opportunities for spreading accurate information.

As volunteers, we develop an intimate understanding of the birds we study.
We dedicate our time and energy to vital citizen science work and we share our in depth knowledge widely. Your support makes a huge difference to what we can do."

Thank you,

Alison Moran, PhD.
Hummingbird Project, RPBO"

<< Click HERE to help Rocky Point Bird Observatory >>

Fence Checks 2020

10/14/2020

After this weekends' Thanksgiving rains, we anticipate seeing some salmon at our fence very soon! However We wanted to take a minute to point out the countless other trips to the fence to simply clean and check the status!

Every fall, the installation, mending and cleaning of our Goldstream Fence takes place and often the "chores" like this go un-noticed. So thank you to all of our great volunteer's for rolling up their sleeves, dawning their waders and doing the hard work; this all takes place before we get to have fun and net salmon for our brood stock collection.

We hope everyone had a lovely, safe and pleasant Thanksgiving long weekend! Stay tuned for videos and pictures when we collect our Goldstream Salmon!

Fall 2020 Salmon Fence Installation

9/28/2020

Fall salmon runs quickly approach, and with the tree's changing leaves dually comes the installation of our Goldstream fence to collect this years brood stock.

Thank you to the countless volunteers who have helped make this day a success. Every year we wrangle our valued volunteer crew to help with this important task at hand. Now we patiently wait for salmon.

(Click on the two photos collages below to enlarge.)