dump your kids on the island?

At around 1200hrs a vessel (license #25K5588) with 7 persons on board entered the Reserve and began to fish on the south side of North Race, within the limits of the RCA. The vessel was reported to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Violation Reporting Hotline. Shortly after, the vessel stopped fishing and motored towards Great Race at high speed. The vessel then slowed and approached the rocks near the sea lion haulout on the NE corner of Great Race. At this point, the Eco-Guardian had left the house and headed down to get a closer look. By the time the Eco-Guardian reached the rocks, the vessel had made contact with the rocks and deposited three young children (6-10 yrs, all female) on the rocks. The boat was floating offshore at approximately 10-15 feet from the rocks, with two adult males and an adult female holding a young child. Asked of their intentions, the folks on board said they were just letting the children play around in the intertidal. The Eco-Guardian then informed them both of the no-fishing rule at Race Rocks and that they weren’t allowed to land their boat on the rocks and walk around. The gentlemen said they were from Alberta and had no idea that these rules were in place and that they would depart immediately. The girls were plucked off the rocks and the boat departed the Reserve.

At around 1330hrs an aluminum runabout (no license number obtained) proceeded at very high speed through the main channel between Great Race and Middle Race in the direction west to east. There were 0 visitors to the island today.

human problems

The vessel “Chinook Spirit” passed at high speed through the Reserve, maneuvered unnecessarily in the main current channel and blasted its horn while in close proximity to harbour seals.

Three OBMG boats were found to be fishing in the Reserve through the day. Pedder Bay Marina was notified of each incident and sent a staff member to intercept the vessels. 

dropped a crab pot??!!

A small zodiac with two gentlemen on board was found to be fishing near West Race. The station vessel was launched and the Eco-Guardian communicated the RCA rules. The gentlemen were unaware of the rules. They also informed the Eco-Guardian that they had dropped a crab pot near West Race but had subsequently lost it as their line was too short. There were 0 visitors to the island today.

 

Posted by Adam

Pelagic Cormorants

The Reserve has had the greatest abundance of Pelagic cormorants that I [Ryan] have seen in my 3 years here. The NW corner of Great Race is coated in guano and is a very different sight and smell! From 1/3 to 1/2 of the Pelagics are adult in beautiful breeding plumage. Adam and I have noted groups of 50 or more feeding in the channel between Great Race and Middle Rocks (photos on file). Abundance peaked early this week at ~120 individuals. There are a few Brandt\’s around and equal numbers of juvenile and adult Double-crested (~20).

The vessel “Servus”, license 14K3162 passed E to W through the Reserve at high speed. There were 0 visitors to the island today.