Category Archives: News

9 divers rescued after boat capsized

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The boat was sighted overturned, approximately 300 meters south of the main island. 9 divers were clinging onto their boat for over an hour. Victoria Coast Guard responded promptly as did a tour boat in the area (Springtide). Eventually the 9 were reached to safety, with one in hypothermic state.

See TC Article: Nine DIvers rescued after boat capsizes near Race Rocks http://www.timescolonist.com/news/local/nine-scuba-divers-rescued-in-rough-seas-off-race-rocks-1.2111723

Ecological Happenings

Rough sea conditions and winds up to 31 kts. Swells of up to 8ft @ Jordan River

Marine Vessels

One tour boat (Springtide) and one dive boat. Eventually the tour boat was involved in the rescue of the dive boat and its 9 divers.

Visitors

9 passengers from the tour boat Springtide were offloaded at RR docks, to make room for Springtide’s rescue attempt. The passengers were on the island for approximately 1 hour before returning to the boat.

Fishers and Hunters : Stewards of the Environment?

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We received a copy of this article from a Sooke newspaper in July. It never ceases to amaze me how some people can be so out of touch about conservation and species and ecosystems at risk. It seems that some think that as long as “humans have it all ” then it doesn’t matter about others with whom we share the resources of this planet.

sookenewspaperarticle

Click to enlarge

Two missing divers found- Times Colonist June 6, 2015

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Two divers have been found safe after their failure to surface sparked an extensive rescue operation on Saturday.

The divers — one experienced and one inexperienced — went into the water about 11:10 a.m. and were expected to surface near Race Rocks at noon.

At 12:30 p.m., the Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre alerted search-and-rescue crews from Sooke and Victoria, a Royal Canadian Air Force Cormorant, the Canadian Coast Guard and West Shore RCMP to the incident.

Hoping the divers had drifted, the Sooke crew searched an area 0.5 nautical miles west of Race Rocks, according to a post on the Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue – Station 37 Sooke’s Facebook page.

“One of our spotters who was using binoculars noticed something black and shiny at the surface of the water south-east of our position. We navigated the vessel towards the area and realized that we were spotting some harbour porpoises,” the post said.

While awaiting direction from the Coast Guard regarding which area to search next, the team once again spotted something in the distance.

“This time, it was a much larger object in the water. We quickly navigated to that area and located the two missing divers who were very happy to see us.”

The crew gave them a quick medical check and notified the rescue centre, the post said.

“Tired and relieved, they both appeared to be fine. … The other divers and their vessel met us on-scene and we passed the two individuals over to them.”

– See more at: http://www.timescolonist.com/news/local/missing-divers-found-safe-near-race-rocks-1.1960756#sthash.4k5v3Rgd.dpuf

Video: Elephant seal pup born on Vancouver island is an online star : Global TV

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(Global TV  toured the waters of Race Rocks and did an Interview with the Ecological Reserve Warden Garry Fletcher on January15: Click on the image to see the article .

Global TV

An elephant seal pup is getting used to the watchful eye of the Internet.

Its every move is being broadcast by a webcam to people watching around the world.

It was born in the early morning hours of January 14 at Race Rocks Ecological Reserve in the Strait of Juan de Fuca just off the southern tip of Vancouver island.

The reserve says this is the fifth pup born to a female called Bertha since January 2009.

Race Rocks is the only place in Canada where elephant seals breed and while other baby seals have been born on the reserve’s other islands, they’ve been washed out to sea by the waves.

Elephant seals were hunted to near-extinction in the 19th century, but are now protected under the Fisheries Act.

Arrival of elephant seal pup watched around the world: Times Colonist

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Arrival of elephant seal pup watched around the world
Sandra McCulloch / Times Colonist
January 14, 2014 09:15 P

xxxelephant-seal-4-jpg

An elephant seal and her pup at Race Rocks Ecological Reserve. Photograph by: Alexander Fletcher

An elephant seal pup is nursing at its mother’s side at Race Rocks Ecological Reserve, oblivious to the fact a camera is sending its image around the world.

The pup was born Monday evening — the first birth of an elephant seal this year on the main island, said Garry Fletcher, educational director for the reserve’s website.

Another elephant seal was born last week on one of the smaller islands but rough weather washed it into the sea where it perished.

“All the ones that are born on the outer islands get washed off,” Fletcher said Tuesday. “This one is from a mother that’s had young ones there four or five times before.”

Race Rocks is the only spot in Canada where elephant seals breed, Fletcher said. Normally, elephant seals choose breeding colonies in Oregon or northern California.

There are usually a few elephant seals hanging out at Race Rocks throughout the year, Fletcher said. Last June, a record high of 15 elephant seals were counted on the reef.

Elephant seals are far out-numbered at Race Rocks by their cousins, California sea lions and northern sea lions. Males can grow to four metres in length and weigh 2.3 tonnes, more than a average car, and are often twice as big as male California sea lions.

Harbour seals, which are smaller and much more commonly seen along the coast, also use Race Rocks to breed.

The numbers of elephant sea lions are rebounding after being hunted to near extinction by the end of the 19th century. Elephant seals are now protected under the Fisheries Act.

To see live images of the baby elephant seal, go to the Race Rocks website.

© Copyright Times Colonist

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Job Posting: Ecoguardian at Race Rocks

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This position has now been filled:

Victoria July 15/13

UWC Pearson College currently has an exciting, interesting and unconventional position to fill as part of its environmental stewardship and educational programming at Race Rocks Ecological Reserve.
If you:

  • Enjoy being immersed in, and observing nature.
  • Are self-motivated; like to work as part of a team and larger cause, but also independently for extended periods.
  • Enjoy working with your hands.
  • Enjoy Living a low footprint/ low consumption lifestyle.
  • Enjoy your own company but also occasional interactions with others.
  • Are trustworthy and values driven.
  • A bit of a techie/geek at heart.
  • Need something different and out of the ordinary.

Then this may be just the job for you. Continue reading →