Human Interaction
At 1313hrs PDT a small aluminum runabout with 3 POB was found to be approaching too close to sea lions on the NE corner, then speeding out of the Reserve.
Around 75 sea lions have hauled out today.
A pod of transient orcas was spotted passing W to E through Race Passage this afternoon.
A transient bull passed through Rosedale Reef this afternoon. I was informed by Straitwatch that 6 more transients passed by earlier.
California Sea Lion: 35
Northern Sea Lion: 5
Human Interaction:
At 1202hrs PDT a red eco-tour RHIB was spotted pulling up kelp on the W side of the South Rocks kelp bed. No kelp was cut although kelp was certainly pulled onboard the vessel for examination before being released. The license number of the vessel was CO2242BC with the name \”Kodiak\”. Photos are on file.
California Sea Lion: 14
Human Interaction
At ~1935hrs PDT a vessel was spotted fishing within the limits of the RCA in close proximity to the E. side of Rosedale Reef. The vessel eventually made its way out.
At 1245hrs PDT a vessel was spotted speeding into the Reserve from the E side. The station vessel was already on the water and advised the mariners to slow down.
At least 4 OBMG vessels were spotted this afternoon approaching close to mammals on Middle Rock and on Great Race and proceeding at a speed in excess of 7 knots.
Ocean Magic II produced a very large wake this afternoon while transiting the Middle-North Race channel against the current. This is the largest eco-tour vessel seen so far within the reserve
At 1945hrs PDT a CCG or CCGA rescue RHIB transited the South Passage E to W, then the main passage W to E. Once near the jetty end of the passage, the vessel throttled up and proceeded to power through the Middle-North Race Passage at high speed before exiting into Race Passage heading westbound.
At 2010hrs PDT a floatplane flew exceptionally low over the N side of the Reserve, E to W. No license/company name obtained.
Overall, yesterday and today were very traffic-heavy days due to whales in the area. At times 8 or more boats were in the Reserve at any single time.
Two techs arrived from Environment Canada to finish servicing the EC weather equipment at the top of the tower.
There were 2 visitors to the island today.
Vessels:
| Pleasure: 7 | Eco-Tour: 30 | Total: 37 |
At 1111hrs PDT a Prince of Whales vessel was spotted entering the Reserve at high speed in close proximity to West Race.
A CCG helicopter did a reconnaissance flight around the tower this morning.
Erik and Evgeny arrived to install the cable for the new underwater camera. Two techs from Environment Canada arrived to work on their weather equipment.
There were 4 visitors to the island today
California Sea Lion: 8
| California Sea Lion: 7 # of sealions at the NE haul out (first of a series of daily reports). |
Saw an abalone for the first time in 3 years while on a dive today. |
Human Interaction
At 0829hrs PDT a floatplane flew under 1000 ft from E to W over Rosedale Reef.
A pod of orcas passed through Race Passage (W to E) this afternoon. At one point, at least 15 whale watching vessels were in pursuit. Subsequently, heavy eco-tour traffic was experienced in the Reserve this afternoon. Most vessels respected established guidelines, but there were a few notable exceptions:
1. Birds of a Feather approached within 100 metres of California sea lions hauled out near the jetty. The sealions did not upset as there was already activity on the jetty.
2. A vessel from Seaquest based out of Sidney was observed speeding into the east side of the Reserve, well within the limits of the 7 knot speed restriction, then later observed speeding out in the same direction.
3. Several other vessel were observed speeding within the boundaries of the Reserve, either to obtain a better vantage point for viewing whales or to shorten travel time to the whales once the whales had moved well past Race Rocks.
Luke came out to RR to dive this afternoon with Adam to help take measurements of the materials testing platform and for pleasure. Erik and Hao also arrived as did a contact from \”The Big Blue Technologies\” of Victoria and his two young kids.
There were 6 visitors to the island today.
California Sea Lion: 1
Human Interaction
At 0952hrs PDT a Prince of Whales vessel was spotted ripping out of the main channel heading westbound into the Strait.
At 1130hrs PDT a small, white, fibreglass vessel was spotted entering the west side of the Reserve and transiting at high speed around West Race before leaving the Reserve and heading in the direction of Pedder Bay.
A double-crested cormorant was spotted on the rocks on the east side of Great Race at 2040hrs PDT.
Human Interaction:
At ~1400hrs PDT a vessel was spotted fishing on the E side of the South Rocks kelp bed. The station vessel was launched and the vessel was found to be in 106 ft. of water. The four older folks on board proved to be extremely friendly and stated that they had just purchased the boat the week before and it was their very first time on the water! We actually had a great 20 minute conversation about Race Rocks, fishing restrictions, how to distinguish between different types of salmon and general boating practices (how to use a VHF!). The folks were very happy to find out the area was protected and happily moved to deeper waters.
At ~1430hrs PDT a large aluminum vessel entered the W side of the main channel, slowed to look at sea lions on Middle Race, then sped through the main channel to North Race where they approached extremely close to seals hauled out on the rocks.
At ~1445hrs PDT a small aluminum vessel was spotted fishing on the W corner of the North Race kelp bed.
There was 1 visitors to the island today.
Human Interaction
At 0845hrs PDT a vessel was spotted speeding through the SW side of the Reserve in the fog.
At 0958hrs PDT a vessel was spotted speeding W to E over Rosedale Reef.
At ~1100hrs PDT two vessels were spotted fishing at North Race. By the time the station vessel was launched and on scene, the vessels had departed.
At ~1120hrs PDT a vessel was spotted entering the Reserve from the NW at high speed. It slowed as it passed the station vessel.
At ~1130hrs PDT a vessel was spotted entering the main channel from the E. It slowed while it transited the passage then sped up as it exited the Reserve.
At 1214hrs PDT a vessel passed from E to W through the passage between North Race and Middle race at a speed capable of producing significant wake.
At 1215hrs PDT a vessel passed W to E over Rosedale Reef at very high speed.
At ~1400hrs PDT a small aluminum vessel was spotted speeding out of the Reserve. The station vessel, already on the water nearby, chased the vessel down and asked the mariners to slow down. They were friendly and complied.
At 1709hrs PDT an OBMG vessel was spotted speeding into the Reserve near North Race. The vessel transited the main passage slowly then provided to speed up and circle West Race before heading back to PB.
At 1746hrs PDT a large fibreglass cabin cruiser was spotted trolling in close proximity to West Race within the limits of the RCA and pulling up fish. The station vessel was launched and the friendly persons on board happily agreed to move their fishing activities elsewhere.
At 1845hrs PDT two vessels travelling side by side passed at high speed from SE to NW over Rosedale Reef.
There were 4 visitors to the island today.
At 0742hrs PDT a vessel passed at very high speed from W to E over Rosedale Reef.
Human Interaction
At 0835hrs PDT a floatplane flew W to E over the south side of the Reserve under 1000 ft.
At 1035hrs PDT a small RHIB entered the east side of the Reserve near North Race at high speed. The vessel proceeded to transit the main passage to the south side of Middle Race where they approached within 30 metres of harbour seals on the Rocks. At least 25 seals took flight to the water.
At ~1100hrs PDT a vessel was spotted entering the Reserve from the east at high speed.
At ~1330hrs PDT a vessel was spotted transiting the main passage at very high speed. Communication was made with the vessel and it slowed.
At 1510hrs PDT an Oak Bay Marine Group vessel was spotted fishing within the limits of the Reserve. Pedder Bay Marina was alerted. The vessel was halted by another recreational fishermen before PBM staff could respond.
At 1515hrs PDT an OBMG vessel was spotted speeding in the waters west of Great Race. The vessel eventually departed.
At 1515hrs PDT a recreational vessel was spotted fishing near West Race. The station vessel was launched to intercept the violators and they departed shortly thereafter.
At ~1900hrs PDT a recreational vessel was spotted speeding into the eastern portion of the Reserve in the direction of the North Race-Middle Race channel. The vessel slowed before entering the channel.
Divers from Ocean Educations arrived in the afternoon to dive off the front side of the island.
There were 18 visitors to the island today.
Pleasure: 10 Eco-Tour: 5