Category Archives: Admin

Telus Crew Installs Microwave tower- Feb.22, 2000

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The TELUS Crew Installs the Antenna on Observatory Hill behind Pearson College.


Not only has the antenna been donated, but the costs of crew and equipment for several days of installation, and the routers for operation have been provided. Telus has also agreed to assist the college in its bandwidth requirements necessary to run the streaming video from Race Rocks . We greatly appreciate their commitment as a collaborating partner in this unique venture.
Garry Fletcher on behalf of the students and faculty of Lester B. Pearson College

CONTINUE TO DISH AND RADIO INSTALLATION AT RACE ROCKS

LGS Group goes to Race Rocks

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Scott Nichol, Western Coordinator, Creative Group of LGS Group Inc Business Unit and other members of the LGS team accompanied Garry Fletcher and Angus Matthews to Race Rocks to see the dsite they are working with for the new racerocks.com internet.

LGS Group Inc. – is one of Canada’s largest full service IT consulting firm with 2100 employees in 20 offices in Canada, Europe and the US. LGS is donating the time and resources to provide project management and web design services in the creation of racerocks.com. Along with their ability to capitalize on emerging Internet technologies to promote the project, LGS brings essential knowledge, skills, and expertise.

 

racerocks.com Project Update Feb 13, 2000

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The week of February 6 through 13, 2000 has plotted more progress for the racerocks.com project.

With only 27 days remaining until the system is scheduled to go on line, daily progress is required so we will meet the project deadlines.

On Monday, Coast Guard officials granted permission for us to temporarily install a 24 inch radio antenna atop the historic Race Rocks lighthouse tower. Required for the transmission of our Race Rocks video
and data signal, the antenna will be fastened by Coast Guard technicians to the ladder structure above the main light room on the tower. We are very grateful to Coast Guard officials Fred Stepchuck and Noelani Taylor for reviewing our request so efficiently.

Wednesday morning Lyle Kosola, the radio engineer from Comlink caught the 7:00 am BC Ferry from the mainland to Vancouver Island along with Telus antenna and microwave specialists Al Mireau, Dave Farley and Rob Robinson. These top Telus staff members pulled together to make the radio link happen. While Chris Blondeau took Lyle and Dave to Race Rocks Al and Rob drove to the top of the hill near Pearson College’s observatory. As the island crew laboured up the spiral staircase in the 140 year old light tower Dave set about the tough task of hand climbing a 200 plus year old Douglas Fir tree. At the 60 foot mark Dave thankfully and somewhat breathlessly reported seeing the top two stripes of the black and white lighthouse. With a strobe light held just in front of a mirror Dave was finally seen in his tree by Chris Blondeau from atop the lighthouse. With two towering trees framing the radio path like goal posts on a ridge Lyle collected the information he would need to determine the tower height required to make all this work. The swell from Tuesday’s storm was still throwing waves at the Race Rocks jetty despite the pleasant day causing the Pearson College workboat Second Nature to plunge on her spring lines so it was decided to evacuate the island crew as quickly as possible. At the antenna location Al determined the best lay out for the tower and Lyle scouted locations for the radio equipment and wiring. A very good day filled with promise.

On Thursday Lyle completed his calculations and determined that the tower height could be reduced to 60′ provided we shot the radio right through the middle of the Douglas Fir “goalposts” on the Rocky Point ridge. Its worth a try. The shorter tower (as opposed to the 100′ considered) will have much less aesthetic impact at the college site, protect a clear sky view for the College’s telescope and, we hope, save Telus a bit of money. The antenna tower was a late addition to the Telus contribution.

Friday was a very positive day for the development of the project. Work on wiring Great Race Island for the network that system designer Ken Dunham has prescribed is 75% installed. Al Mireau from Telus reports that antenna installation will begin on Tuesday February 15. Our ever watchful professional worry specialist Aengus MacIntosh will review the critical time paths at this stage. Unlike the picture 10 days ago this looks like it can actually happen! We have a few wrinkles in our server delivery plans. We meet with Ian Scott our guardian angel at Telus to devise final plans for delivery of the signal to the internet. Ian as always has some creative solutions. We also have a good conversation with Richard Catinus our contact at Apple. We are very keen on using Apple’s remarkable QuickTime software to stream our video on the net. This will of course also commit us to Apple’s computer equipment. Garry Fletcher has lusted for Apple’s new G4 computer. We are very close to a decision. Mid afternoon we meet with John Nightingale, Director of the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre and his senior science and external relations staff. Their enthusiastic support backed by a significant financial contribution is greatly appreciated. At the end of a network planning discussion with Ken Dunham it suddenly dawns on me that we have spoken with every one of our sponsors and suppliers today and they are all doing their very best for us.

Saturday, members of the public and various interested groups joined DFO and BC Parks staff to review the status of the Race Rocks Marine Protected Area plans. Marc Pakenham the DFO coordinator has lead an exhaustive series of community consultations on the plan along with Jim Morris from BC Parks. Brian Smiley, a DFO scientist gave a compelling presentation about the ecological values of Race Rocks. There appears to be real enthusiasm for the protection of the Race Rocks area and many creative ideas of how the opportunities for public access and educational uses could be accommodated were suggested. The last public presentation on the MPA plan will be at the Olympic View Golf Club on Wednesday February 16, 2000 at 19:00 hrs.

PROCEED TO NEXT UPDATE- FEB 22/2000
Thank you for your interest.
Angus Matthews

racerocks.com Project Update, Feb 6 2000

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We have made very significant advances towards our goal of initiating Phase 1 on March 11, 2000. This is especially true in the week of January 31, 2000 thanks to an extraordinary effort from our lead partners at Telus and LGS.

NEWS FROM LGS
LGS Project Manager Aengus McIntosh has proven himself to be a stern task master and gifted conductor as he coordinates the various aspects of the project. We have ordered the radio equipment needed to beam the heavy bandwidth of streaming video from Race Rocks to Pearson College and our entry point into “mainland” fiber and the internet. With advice from the specialists at Telus we have selected Tsunami Radio, 5.8 GHz spread spectrum 4Mb equipment to deliver the signal from Race Rocks. This equipment has been ordered from Glentel in Edmonton. Web specialist Scott Nicholl at LGS is working with Garry Fletcher and his students from Pearson College to develop the new racerocks.com web page for the March 11 launch. Scott has sourced our first camera, a SiteZap from Reardon Technology which is on the way to us from California. Aengus McIntosh continues to track our activities to make sure we apply foresight in our design, maximize the value of our purchases and work together to meet the complex and interconnected deadlines.

TELUS TO THE RESCUE
At Telus, effective support from Ian Scott, has mobilized a dedicated group of specialists in various Telus departments. Telus provided the solution to our biggest challenge when they agreed to provide the tower required to mount the radio antenna at the Pearson College end of our radio link. This was a turning point for the whole project and we are all very grateful to Telus. Staff in their Advanced Communication division are working on the issues around delivering the streaming video out of Pearson College and onto the Internet through the Telus server farm. Tim will have more details on this in the near future.

AT PEARSON COLLEGE
With a red balloon tethered high above the College’s observatory it is obvious something is happening. Garry Fletcher and a group of students in the know are aware of the work being done by Tom Bates of Telus to find the site for a radio link to the Pearson College campus. Less obvious are the preliminary web activities and documenting of the project that Garry’s students are working on. As the educational leader | and Director of the project, Garry is researching the various needs and options of the project design. We are very grateful to Tom Sampson for his advice on First Nation’s aspects of the educational program. Throughout this time the public consultations onthe establishment of the Race Rocks Marine Protected Area are also proceeding. Garry and several students are very much involved in this process as well. Garry also finds time to teach as well!

MORE RESOURCES
We welcome more supporters to the project. Ken Dunham, a Pearson College graduate and the principal of Symmetrical Systems Consulting is a born again partner in the project. It was Ken Dunham and Garry Fletcher that first developed the idea of a virtual Race Rocks web site in 1996 (when the costs were prohibitive). Ken is donating his network design expertise to design and build the local area network on Great Race Island and across the campus of Pearson College to Telus fiber. It is amazing how much today’s design looks like Ken’s 1996 radical version! Vancouver Aquarium and Marine Science Centre have confirmed significant financial support for the project and we look forward to the benefits of the Centre’s extensive experience in delivering marine education programs as we move into subsequent phases of the project.

MILLENNIUM BUREAU
The Federal Millennium Partnership Bureau has made this project possible. We have been in extensive communication with Bureau staff in recent weeks and they have been of great assistance in developing our contract and accounting systems. Though detailed and precise the systems are efficiently expedited. The good news is that at this point we are exactly on budget.

On a personal note… it is a great experience to work on this project. I have never worked with a group of such eager problem solvers. Thank you to all those mentioned here and to the many others working on specific elements of racerocks.com who will I am sure be recognised as their particular component comes on line.

UPCOMING EVENTS
If you are interested in the Race Rocks Marine Protected Area plan you are welcome to attend a Department of Fisheries and Oceans and BC Parks open house on the plan at Royal Roads on Saturday February 12, 2000 from 9:00 to 15:00hrs or at the Olympic View Golf Club on Wednesday February 16, 2000 from 19:00 to 21:30hrs. Garry and some of our students will be there to discuss the issues and present information about Race Rocks from our existing web site at http://www.racerocks.com

please e-mail Marc Pakenham at DFO if you plan to attend.

Angus Matthews

PROCEED TO NEXT UPDATE- FEB 13/2000

RRAB Meeting # 3 January, 2000

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RACE ROCKS ADVISORY BOARD MEETING # 3
DRAFT MINUTES
12h00 — 16h00, JANUARY 26, 2000
LESTER B. PEARSON COLLEGE, VICTORIA
 

Regrets: Duane Freeman — Department of National Defence

Observers: Judith Burke — South Islands Aquatic Stewardship Society

***************************************
INTRODUCTION

  • Nancy Holman DFO Communications and Judith Burke from South Islands Aquatic Society were introduced. Judith will be assisting 2WE Associates with the public meetings.

TERMS OF REFERENCE REVIEW

  • Roundtable discussion and revision of Terms of Reference.

ACTION ITEM: Marc Pakenham to circulate revised Terms of Reference.

BOUNDARIES

  • Marc Pakenham described the results of various information sessions and outcomes to date including: Sports Fishing Advisory Board’s endorsement of the bathymetric model; the diving community’s support of the bathymetric model with an extension to the 50 metre depth contour. The greatest amount of support was for the angularized version (Option 2.)
  • Keith Symington inquired where would 50 metre contour be on the map. Marc Pakenham indicated that he would produce another map showing the 50-metre contour line.
  • Marc Pakenham discussed the option of cutting off the western fingers and extending northern boundaries of the ER.
  • Keith Symington suggested that we need to discuss what is important at the end of the day (e.g. the establishment of the first MPA in Canada).
  • Garry Fletcher suggested that northern point of Option 2 does not need to go further than northern boundary of the ER. Race Passage falls well below the “protection unit” and protection of that area would not provide any added value to the core area.
  • Angus Matthews indicated that the major users of Race Rocks from an operational perspective are one — the sports fishing community, two — the eco-tourism community and three – the dive community. We need to focus on those that are going to be using the area. The existing problems with Option 2 are: 1) the northern point in Race Passage, and 2) western fingers are prime halibut areas.
  • Sean Moore indicated that he needs to have information to hand out regarding boundaries. His experience indicates that the numbers of people that fish in area has been dropping since the inception of the ER and that many people know and recognize the existing footprint.
  • Sean Moore indicated that SFAB totally supports no-take of resident species but is still looking for fishing opportunities for transient species.
  • Howard Breen agreed with Angus Matthews’ remark that boundaries are a “maker or breaker” issue. What is important is getting task completed. He suggested that existing boundaries won’t reach conservation goal, but future network of MPAs will add to biomass for all users.
  • Kelly Francis re-iterated that during consultation or information sessions we are referring to Race Rocks and not all future MPAs. This process may be used as a template but the outcomes may not necessarily be the same.
  • Cheryl Borris felt that the College is the primary constituent at Race Rocks and not fish harvesters. The ER is the land and the seabed and the MPA is water column. There are separate goals for each, but we need to keep them joined. The issue of the MPA is whether it is going to be a no-take or not. First Nations have suggested that they would suspend harvesting for 5 years. Is SFAB willing to do that?
  • Tom Sampson expressed his concern that if this process was to establish a protected area than it should be protected in its entirety. He felt that a larger area would be better because there are other areas for all fishermen to go to. He suggested that First Nations would be looking to look at this project for 4 to 5 years to see if MPAs work. He indicated that the RRAB is too concerned with excluding people out of the area and out of the process, and the focus should be on the fact that we are already out of and not recognizing the natural process.
  • Keith Symington indicated that to facilitate completion of the process he would rather support going back to Option 1 with a no-take provision and that changing the ER boundaries would be viewed negatively by the conservation community.
  • Garry Fletcher indicated that the 20-fathom line boundary of the ER was not based on science but on limit of scuba diving. In 1990, fisheries regulations were put in place to address impact on the ecosystem from harvesting. The RRAB has to come to terms with the fact that this area is not a scientifically defensible in terms of conservation and protection but that there is an urgency to move forward. Future MPAs may need a 20-year study to determine where to put boundaries, but until that time use existing boundaries i.e.. the Ecological Reserve.
  • Jim Morris indicated that the problems lie with compliance, enforcement and education. He suggested a 5-year study plan to examine options of a larger area.
  • Howard Breen suggested that we need a mechanism to ensure that users know when they are in or out of the ER/MPA. The RRAB should not be hung up on boundaries – education /enforcement is the greater issue.
  • Angus Matthews suggested that the essence of problem is compliance and education and that it is very hard to inform people of fishing rules when the rules are not straightforward. He felt that it was critical to collect data as to why people are at Race Rocks and what they are doing.
  • Angus Matthews suggested that with the addition of a radar system they would be able to overlay boundaries on radar screen. He also indicated that they may be able to use strobe lights to signal people when they are in or out of the boundaries
  • Jenny Sparkes suggested that until the objectives of the MPA are defined it is not possible to make a decision on boundaries.
  • Anita Voss inquired when would the boundary questions be decided. Kelly Francis indicated that we have to finish public consultations before boundary decision can be made.
  • Cheryl Borris suggested that maybe step one is to accept the existing ER boundaries as the MPA for now and plan for an incremental approach to addressing changes.

DRAFT MANAGEMENT PLAN

  • Marc Pakenham distributed a copy of an example of a provincial management plan and asked for the RRAB to review it.
  • Marc Pakenham indicated that the current draft management plan does not discuss governance or fiscal/financial implications and discussed ideas of an annual report as a reporting tool.
  • Jim Morris described the province’s requirement for a certain format and management plan specifically for the ER.
  • Angus Matthews indicated that the governments have to work together in the development of a unified management plan. Keith Symington and Tom Sampson both agreed to this point.
  • Cheryl Borris inquired if the Province had a problem going forward with a joint plan.
  • Jim Morris indicated that the only problem is question of format. He indicated that he would go back to his managers to let them to know that the RRAB wants a joint plan.
  • Howard Breen indicated that the one of the reason he was here is to ensure that the governments work together on this pilot.

SCIENCE MEMBERSHIP

  • Marc Pakenham thanked Dr. Voss for her attendance and participation. He informed the board that Scott Wallace has been unable to participate to-date because of workload and remote location. Marc asked for suggestions for another Science representative.
  • Keith Symington suggested Bill Austin from the Cowichan Marine Centre.
  • Gary Fletcher suggested someone from the University of Victoria would be preferable, as they would be able to generate future interest for graduate students.
  • Anita Voss suggested that Bill Cosgrove or Phil Lambert from the Royal BC Museum might be good candidate.
  • Gary Fletcher suggested that Norm Healy from Royal Roads may be interested.

PRESENTATION

  • Gary Fletcher gave a progress report on the www.racerocks.com project.

PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS

  • Marc Pakenham discussed the DND site tour and thanked Bill Laing for hosting the event.
  • Marc Pakenham informed the board of the latest information sessions including the session with dive community who expressed interested in a volunteer warden program. The dive community may develop a code of conduct for divers in the ER/MPA as well as regulations regarding speed limits. Erin Bradley suggested that it was a very useful discussion about compliance and volunteer policing of the area by the people who are using the area.
  • Howard Breen inquired if there was any expression of interest from the divers about sinking a wreck in the MPA. Marc Pakenham indicated there was not.
  • Angus Matthews indicated that there were opportunities for local divers to participate in research at Race Rocks that require a relatively low science background (e.g. through Reefkeepers).
  • Jim Morris indicated he was enthusiastic with the meeting with local divers. He felt that divers do not want anchorage in MPA and may want to include an environmental component in their training.
  • Marc Pakenham discussed the presentation to the Metchosin Regional District and indicated that they will be sending a motion of support for the project.
  • Marc Pakenham discussed the upcoming public consultation sessions and the possible contracting of 2WE Consultants. The target date for these sessions is the second to third week of February.
  • Angus Matthews inquired as to what sort of forum would be used to inform the public of the sessions. Marc Pakenham and Nancy Holman suggested that it would be a combination of radio, and daily and weekly newspapers. Angus Matthews suggested using a Western Community site as well as in Victoria.
  • Angus Matthews suggested also advertising the information on the Internet and that the presentation could use an open house type format.
  • Howard Breen inquired what would be the end date for information sessions. Angus Matthews suggested that it should coincide with last public presentation.
  • After a roundtable discussion around time and location Marc Pakenham indicated that February the 12th from 0930-1530 in Victoria and the 16th in Metchosin from 1930-2130 would be planned for.

OTHER BUSINESS

  • Marc Pakenham discussed the opportunity to use a video teleconference facility to communicate with New Zealand sports fishers and their experience with the establishment of MPAs. Rupert Gale suggested although that was an interesting idea he cautioned that the issues are different in New Zealand than here in terms of target species and the establishment of MPAs.

Next meeting date: Feb 23 2000 1200-1600

Location: 1st Floor Parks Board Room, 800 Johnson St. Victoria

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Millenium Partners, LGS and Telus visit Race Rocks with Pearson College

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Photos by Victor Rakou, PC student (Russia) —–Text by Peter Seem, PC student ( US)

On January 14th, 2000, Tom Bates, Paul Longley, and a Telus representative, along with Angus Macintosh and Scott Nichol, from LGS, came out to Pearson College. After a whirlwind tour of campus from Garry Fletcher, Biology and Marine Science teacher, and Angus Matthews, administration and finance director,  the group headed out to Race Rocks along with several Pearson Students.The group’s main goal for the day was to find sites for the radio or microwave transceivers that would transmit data between the college and Race Rocks.

The transmission of data will be Telus’ contribution to the project. Paul Longley, from pre-sales technical support, and Tom Bates, with microwave engineering, were there to lend their expertise.   LGS’ Aengus Macintosh was acting as project manager, and Scott Nichol was recording the work for the web page the IT firm would be helping to create.

Other options, the tops of local mountains, would require running a ground cable from the site to the college, which would be both time consuming and costly. Clearly, the best option present was to aim for a site just behind Pearson College’s observatory, which was relatively clear of trees and already connected to the internet by a high speed line.

While the group also needed to deal with finding sites and running power to all of the equipment on Race Rocks, their primary concern was the data transmission. In order to get undisturbed transmission they needed a clear line of sight between two stable sites. Any trees, foliage, or other obstructions, or small movements at either end, would break up the transmission. Indeed, even being too close to the water would generate refraction that could disturb data flow.The best solution found was to start from the highest point on Race Rocks, and aim up. From the top of the lighthouse, with the aid of a sighting scope, they took stock of the options: William Head, the closest point to the island, was deemed too low to the water to allow for a clean shot.

 

examining the tide pool on the west side

Garry took the group over to the tidepool that has been constructed on the West side of the island.
Plans were to install one small camera underwater in this pool to provide a window to view the emerging life and the frequent surge action .

This tidepool was rearranged and no longer functioning after the hurricane of 2006. Fortunately the underwater camera had not been installed!

=============================================

The observatory could be seen from the top of the lighthouse through a gap in the trees. The next question that had to be dealt with was whether any of the taller trees in between would provide an obstruction, and need to be topped. The prospect of gaining permission from the DND to take the tops off of one or two old growth trees on their property was frowned on because of the delays that would undoubtedly ensue. To get an answer, the team decided to take a look at the situation from the other end. A boat ride later, things weren’t much clearer. From within the dome of the observatory, it was very difficult to catch site of Race Rocks, or more importantly, the lighthouse. Despite Garry’s excited, “I see red! ” the mood was skeptical. Stripped black and white, with a red cap, the lighthouse should have stood out, if it was visible. The difficulty catching sight of it suggested that they would either need to be higher up or that a clean shot wasn’t going to be possible.

No one was willing to go ahead with any other part of the project, trying to secure donors and expensive equipment, without being sure that this most fundamental requirement could be met. It was resolved that they would try a test the next day to find out just how high an observatory side tower would need to be, if indeed it was possible at all.

On January 15th, at noon at Pearson College there happened a strange sight. A giant red helium balloon flew high over the college, dancing in the breeze on a long tether tied to a banister at the observatory. While one part of the group headed out to Race Rocks, the other sent up the helium filled balloon.The helium filled balloon. Over radio from the lighthouse, they directed the balloon to be raised higher until they could see it, unmistakably and comfortably above any surrounding trees. The length of the tether, still well within the achievable height for a tower, was proof that a clear line for transmission had been found.

The project is ready to move into actually constructing the tower, setting up the transmission equipment, and obtaining the cameras and sensors. They hope to have transmission established and two cameras up and running by March 11, 2000.

PROCEED TO NEXT UPDATE- FEB 6/2000

LGS Project Management of the Millennium Project

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This Project Management was a donation of the LGS group the following .PDF files represent the valuable contribution that this group contributed to ensuring the successful completion of the Project.

 

 

1. Project Definition Statement
ganttreportfeb112000

2. January 6, 2000 Gantt Report
PDS01

3. LGS Project Management Methodology
PDS02

4.January 11 Gantt Report
PDS03

Agenda for the RR MPA Advisory Board Meeting, January 5, 2000

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Purpose:

Second meeting of the Race Rocks Advisory Board.

Participants:

Doug Biffard – BC ParksCheryl Borris – Friends of Ecological Reserves

Erin Bradley — Dive Community

Howard Breen – Georgia Strait Alliance

Garry Fletcher – Lester B. Pearson College

Kelly Francis – Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Duane Freeman – Department of National Defence

Gordon Hanson – Coast Salish Sea Council

Dan Kukat — Sport Fish Advisory Board

Lieutenant Commander Bill Laing – Department of National Defence (DND)

Angus Matthews -Lester B. Pearson College

Sean Moore – Marina Operators

Jim Morris – BC Parks

Marc Pakenham – Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Dr. John Pringle – Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Tom Sampson – Coast Salish Sea Council

Keith Symington – Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS)

Dr. Anita Voss

Kevin Walker?- Northwest Whale Watchers Association

Scott Wallace

Observers

Sean MacConnachie – Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Paul Preston – Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Jenny Sparkes – Parks Canada

Wendy Szanislow – Parks Canada

*************************************************************

Agenda

  1. Purpose of Meeting
  2. Draft Terms of Reference
  3. Consensus decision making
  4. MPA boundaries
  5. Draft Management Plans
  6. Updates from meetings/consultations
  7. Other business

STAKEHOLDER GROUPS to be consulted Fos MPA Advisory Board

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WHO WILL BE CONSULTED??

The following list is subject to revision but identifies most stakeholder groups at this time (06.12.99).

Amalgamated Conservation Society

Aquarius Dive Club — DND

BC Shorekeepers/Reefkeepers Assoc.

BC MELP

BC MOF

Canadian Coast Guard – DFO

Canadian Wildlife Service

Capital Regional District – Roundtable on the Environment,- Environment Committee

Department of National Defence – CFB Esquimalt

District of Metchosin

Environmental Risk Management – CFB Esquimalt

Environmental Youth Alliance

First Nations – Beecher Bay, Esquimalt, Songhees, T’sartlip, T’souke

Frank White’s Scuba Shop

Friends of Ecological Reserves

Georgia Strait Alliance

Greater Victoria Natural History Society

Green/Blue Belt Conservancy Society

Habitat Acquisition Trust

Juan de Fuca Economic Development Commission

Lester B. Pearson College

Local marinas

Ogden Point Dive Centre

Ocean Centre

Parks Canada PMHL

Pedder Bay Marina

Royal BC Museum

Saanich Inlet Protection Committee

Sierra Club of British Columbia

Society for the Protection of Ayum Creek

South Island Aquatic Stewardship Society

Sports Fish Advisory Board – Race Rocks Sub-Committee

Tourism Victoria – Environment Committee

University of Victoria

Veins of Life Watershed Society

Victoria Golden Rods and Reels

Victoria Natural History Society

Victoria Marine Adventure Centre

Victoria Marine Advisory Council

Whale Watch Operators Association NW?

World Fisheries Trust

Return to RRAB Index
Racerocks.com Pearson College website Sitemap Contact
webmaster:
Garry Fletcher
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Terms of Reference for the Race Rocks MPS Advisory Board

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Race Rocks Advisory BoardTerms of Reference

1. Introduction:

The Oceans Act provides the authority for the nomination or recommendation and establishment of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs).The Race Rocks area has been recommended as a pilot Marine Protected Area for a number of reasons. As a transition zone between the Pacific Ocean and coastal waters, the area is renowned for its exceptional diversity of marine life.

From a First Nation’s perspective the area has cultural significance with respect to traditional use and management of the area’s resources. There is recognition that, should a Marine Protected Area be established, it will not infringe on First Nations’ existing Treaty rights, traditional, food, ceremonial interests or relationship with the area; and allow for cooperative management opportunities.

Race Rocks was designated as an Ecological Reserve in 1980 under the province of British Columbia’s authority and a cooperative management relationship has been developed with Lester B. Pearson College of the Pacific. Fisheries and Oceans Canada and BC Parks, in collaboration with First Nations, stakeholders and the public, are aiming to develop further management strategies to support protection and conservation objectives for the area. The Race Rocks Advisory Board (RRAB) has been convened with representation from a number of stakeholder groups and levels of government.

2. Purpose:

The Race Rocks Advisory Board has been established to enable a Marine Protected Area designation under the Oceans Act at Race Rocks. The terms of reference have been developed to clarify the objectives, process, role and conduct of the Advisory Board.

 

  1. Objectives:

The Race Rocks Advisory Board will:

  • represent key constituent groups or stakeholders
  • provide advice to Fisheries and Oceans Canada and B.C. Parks on the consultation process
  • collate and analyze feedback from consultations
  • make interim management recommendations to Fisheries and Oceans Canada

and B.C. Parks for the establishment of a marine protected area at Race Rocks

  • ensure community involvement in the establishment and on-going management of Race Rocks MPA

4. Participation, Roles and Responsibilities:

Participants:

The Race Rocks area is of interest to a wide range of constituents representing a broad spectrum of activities. The RRAB represents a reasonably comprehensive cross-section of interest groups and activities. The RRAB shall be comprised of, but not limited to, representatives from the following groups:

    • Fisheries and Oceans Canada
    • BC Parks
    • First Nations Council of the Salish Sea
    • Lester B. Pearson College
    • Department of National Defense
    • Sports Fishery Advisory Board
    • Whale Watchers Operators Association – North West
    • Scientific Community
    • Dive Community
    • Georgia Strait Alliance
    • Friends of Ecological Reserves
    • Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society
    • Local Marina Operators
  • Parks Canada (Advisor/Observer Status)
  • Underwater Harvesters of BC

If a member/participant is unable to attend a scheduled Board meeting, they may invite an alternate from their constituency. Participants are encouraged to invite other members of their groups to attend RRAB meetings, with prior notification of the Chair and subject to space limitations.

Roles:

  1. The RRAB shall provide advice to BC Parks, Fisheries and Oceans Canada and First Nations regarding the development of a management plan for the MPA.
  2. The RRAB shall act solely as an advisory body to BC Parks and Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Nothing in these terms of reference constitutes authority to perform operational or management functions, or to represent or make decisions on behalf of BC Parks and/or Fisheries and Oceans Canada and/or First Nations.
  3. The RRAB shall draw on the expertise of its members and other sources in order to provide advice to BC Parks and Fisheries and Oceans Canada.
  4. The RRAB may serve as a forum for consultation and deliberation among its participants and as a source of consensus-based advice to BC Parks and Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Such consensus advice shall fairly represent the collective and individual views of the RRAB members and the constituencies they represent.

 

Responsibility of Advisory Board Participants:

Participants on the Race Rocks Advisory Board are encouraged to:

  • provide advice and information on their activities within and surrounding Race Rocks
  • actively participate in discussions
  • share airtime with others
  • offer respect for different viewpoints and attention when others are speaking
  • ask questions for clarification and mutual understanding
  • verify assumptions
  • deal with differences as problems to be discussed, not battles to be won
  • refrain from distracting others through side conversations, cell phones off
  • make a best faith effort to work toward an agreement at the table
  • represent the perspectives, concerns and interest of respective agencies or constituencies wherever possible to ensure that agreements developed are acceptable to the organizations, agencies or constituents that you represent
  • maintain dialogue with your constituency regarding the activities and discussions of the Race Rocks Advisory Board
  • refer media contacts regarding the activities of the Board to the Chair/facilitator. Board members can speak on behalf of the Board not on the behalf of individual members.
  1. Process:

Recommendations by the RRAB will be made through a consensus-based process. The intent of this process is to provide the opportunity for all parties to participate in a manner which responds to their interests If issues arise, whenever possible, final decisions will be made on the basis of recommendations supported by consensus as opposed to being unilaterally imposed.

Consensus shall mean the “general agreement of all participants on a package of decisions or recommendations” and shall embody the following concepts:

  1. Consensus does not mean total concurrence on every aspect of a decision, but all participants must be willing to accept the overall decision package.
  2. If a participant withholds agreement on an issue(s), that participant is responsible for explaining how their interests are adversely affected or how the proposed agreement fails to meet its interests. The participant withholding agreement must propose alternatives and other participants must consider how all interests may be met.
  3. Once consensus is reached on the overall package, it is assumed to be binding (Cormick et al. 1996).

All participants to a recommendation on which consensus had been achieved agree to exercise their rights, mandates, and responsibilities consistent with that recommendation and to take such further steps as may be necessary to give it effect.

If consensus is not achieved through this process, each participant will exercise their rights, responsibilities, and mandates as they see fit — unfettered as to statutory decision-making responsibilities and without prejudice to their rights and obligations by reason of having participated in the process.

6. Meetings:

Meetings will be held periodically to assess and evaluate RRAB’s activities and input. The chair / facilitator will be responsible to call meetings as interest or issues develop. RRAB members are also able to call a meeting if a topic has to be addressed.

7. Deliverables:

The RRAB will deliver recommendations on levels of protection, goals and objectives to BC Parks, Fisheries and Oceans Canada and First Nations on the establishment of a MPA at Race Rocks. The Federal and Provincial Government in accordance with the joint MPA strategy for Canada’s Pacific Coast will determine the final recommendations for a MPA at Race Rocks.

8. Timeline:

It is expected that the Race Rocks Advisory Board, as outlined by these terms of reference, will complete the tasks described by 31 March, 2000.

9. Responsibilities of Fisheries and Oceans Canada and B.C. Parks:

Fisheries and Oceans Canada and B.C. Parks support the sharing of all information and dialogue from the consultative process. Representatives from the respective departments on the Race Rocks Advisory Board will endeavour to fairly represent the interim management recommendations developed by the Race Rocks Advisory Board. B.C. Parks and Fisheries and Oceans Canada will review the recommendations of the Advisory Board and consider those recommendations when developing criteria for the designation, management and regulation of Race Rocks Marine Protected Area and future MPA strategies.