Fishing illegally

At 0840hrs PDT a floatplane flew low from W to E over the south side of the Reserve.

At 0930hrs PDT a OBMG rental boat was spotted maneuvering carelessly near the SW side of Great Race.

At 1000hrs PDT the United States Coast Guard Cutter Swordfish entered the E side of the Reserve and approached Great Race. A launch boat with three persons on board was deployed and began to maneuver carelessly and at excessive speed along the E and SE side of Great Race and over Rosedale Reef. VHF contact with the captain of the USCG Cutter Swordfish was made and the vessel left shortly thereafter.

At 1030hrs PDT a recreational vessel was spotted fishing near North Race. The license number 13K115028 was recorded and reported to DFO. The station vessel was launched and the violators were spoken to.

At ~1400hrs PDT a vessel was observed speeding through the channel between North Race and Middle Rock.

In the late afternoon a vessel drifted in and out of the Reserve on the current while fishing. The incident was reported to DFO.

adamjuly162011Pam Birley took this photo on remote control camera 1 of Adam and an assistant pouring concrete to reinforce the base for the boat rail while the tide was out.

Race Rocks (XwaYeN) Proposed Marine Protected Area Ecosystem Overview and Assessment Report

Correct citation for this publication: Backe, N., S. Davies, K. Conley, G. Kosmider, G. Rasmussen, H. Ibey and K. Ladell.2011. Race rocks (XwaYeN) proposed marine protected area ecosystem overview and assessment report. Can. Manuscr. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 2949: ii + 30
Executive Summary
Background
Race Rocks (XwaYeN), located 17 km southwest of Victoria in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, consists of nine islets, including the large main island, Great Race. Named for its strong tidal currents and rocky reefs, the waters surrounding Race Rocks (XwaYeN) are a showcase for Pacific marine life. This marine life is the result of oceanographic conditions supplying the Race Rocks (XwaYeN) area with a generous stream of nutrients and high levels of dissolved oxygen. These factors contribute to the creation of an ecosystem of high biodiversity and biological productivity.In 1980, the province of British Columbia, under the authority of the provincial Ecological Reserves Act , established the Race Rocks Ecological Reserve. This provided protection of the terrestrial natural and cultural heritage values (nine islets) and of the ocean seabed (to the 20 fathoms/36.6 meter contour line). Ocean dumping, dredging and the extraction of non-renewable resources are not permitted within the boundaries of the Ecological Reserve. However, the Ecological Reserve cannot provide for the conservation and protection of the water column or for the living resources inhabiting the coastal waters surrounding Race Rocks (Xwa YeN) as these resources are under the jurisdiction of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO). The federal government, through the authority of theOceans Act (1997), has established an Oceans Strategy, based on the principles of sustainable development, integrated management and the precautionary approach. Part II of the Oceans Act also provides authority for the development of tools nece ssary to carry out the Oceans Strategy, tools such as the establishment of Marine Protecte d Areas (MPA). This federal authority will complement the previously established protection to the area as an Ecological Reserve, by affording protection and conservation measures to the living marine resources. Under Section 35 of the Oceans Act, the Governor in Council is authorized to designate, by regulation, Marine Protected Areas (MPA) for any of the following reasons:

  • (a) the conservation and protection of commercial and non-commercial fishery resources, including marine mammals and their habitats;
  • (b) the conservation and protection of endangered or threatened species and their habitats;
  • (c) the conservation and protection of unique habitats;
  • (d) the conservation and protection of marine areas of high biodiversity or biological productivity; and
  • (e) the conservation and protection of any other marine resource or habitat as is necessary to fulfill the mandate of the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans.

In 1998, the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans announced Race Rocks (XwaYeN) as one of four pilot Marine Protected Area (MPA) initiatives on Canada’s Pacific Coast. Race Rocks (XwaYeN) meets the criteria set out in paragraphs 35(1) (a), (b) and (d) above. Establishing a MPA within the Race Rocks (XwaYeN) area will provide for a more comprehensive level of conservation and protection for the ecosystem than can be achieved by an Ecological Reserve on its own. Designating a MPA within the area encompassing the Ecological Reserve will facilitate the integration of conservation, protection and management initiatives under the respective authorities of the two governments.

physical and biological systems of Race Rocks (XwaYeN) was completed by Wright and Pringle (2001). The 2001 report provides an extensive ecological overview describing the geological, physical oceanographic and biological components of
Race Rocks (XwaYeN) and the surrounding waters of the Strait of Juan de Fuca at the time. Natural history observations and some traditional knowledge were also included. The following report is a brief update to summarize new information that has been collected in the Race Rocks (XwaYeN) area since that time and describe any changes
to trends in species distributions and oceanographic conditions. This work is meant to supplement the existing ecological overview (Wright and Pringle 2001).

See the full 32 page PDF  Ecosystem overview2011

DND blasting

–At 0945hrs PDT a recreational vessel with a man and a woman on board entered from the NE near North Rock at high speed and approached Great Race where they slowed down to transit the Reserve.
–DND has been blasting since 0900hrs this morning.
–A Pearson alumni arrived today to help with some projects over the next few days.

There was 1 visitor to the island today.

visitors

David and friends arrived for an overnight stay.
At 1950hrs PDT a Canadian Coast Guard chopper flew in from the west over the strait and circled the tower once before heading east in the direction of the CCG Victoria base. Suspect they were performing a quick visual inspection of their equipment while on a return trip from servicing stations up the coast.

There were 3 visitors to the island today.

Race Rocks Public Advisory Board Meeting #6 Agenda and Minutes March 30, 2011

Race Rocks Public Advisory Board Meeting #6 10:00 – 15:00, 30 March 2011

BC Ministry of Environment Jutland Road, Victoria, British Columbia

Meeting Goal:

To receive feedback and input for the Race Rocks Public Advisory Board (the Board) in order to identify any remaining issues and to conclude the public consultation phase.

Objectives:

  1. To update the Board on progress to date
  2. To receive feedback on the regulatory approach
  3. To receive feedback on all impacts resulting from the regulatory intent
  4. To identify opportunities for collaboration in management and administration with the ecological reserve
  5. To identify and discuss future MPA management measures.

Items for Discussion        (NOTE: TIME is the suggested– minutes  required for each item)

ITEM

ANIMATOR

TIME

START

1. Welcome

Glen

10:00

2. Introductions

Glen

5

10:05

3. Meeting #6 Agenda

  a. Review documents and reports to date for additional comments

Nicole

5

10:10

  b. Discuss / amend / approve

All

5

10:15

4. Meeting #5 Minutes – discuss comments / amend / approve

All

5

10:20

5. UVIC Research project on Stakeholder Interactions

Philip Akins

10

10:30

6. First Nations Update

Glen/Aaron

15

10:45

7. Regulatory Intent

Hilary/Christie

75

12:00

LUNCH – provided

60

8. Regulatory Intent continued

Hilary/Christie

15

1:00

9. Future MPA management

Glen/Doug

30

1:15

10. Next steps

Christie/Glen

30

1:45

11. Final comments and adjournment

Glen/others

2:15

 

Government of Canada
Symbol of the Government of Canada
These minutes of a  Race Rocks Public Advisory Board  meeting are from the Archives of Fisheries and Oceans Canada: http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/consultation/oceans/rocher-race-rocks/docs/min-pv/2011-03-30-eng.htm

Meeting Notes
Race Rocks Public Advisory Board Meeting #6

Archived Content
10:00 – 15:00, 30 March, 2011

B.C. Ministry of Environment, Victoria, British Columbia

Meeting Goal

To receive feedback and input from the Race Rocks Public Advisory Board (the Board) in order to move the designation process forward.

Objectives

  1. To update the Board on progress to date
  2. To receive feedback on the regulatory approach
  3. To receive feedback on all impacts resulting from the regulatory intent
  4. To identify opportunities for collaboration in management and administration with the ecological reserve
  5. To identify and discuss future MPA management measures Continue reading

Race Rocks Public Advisory Board meeting /2011-03-30

Meeting Notes
Race Rocks Public Advisory Board Meeting #6
10:00 – 15:00, 30 March, 2011
B.C. Ministry of Environment, Victoria, British Columbia

Meeting Notes Race Rocks Public Advisory Board Meeting #6
These minutes were available originally on the DFO website.
Meeting Goal

To receive feedback and input from the Race Rocks Public Advisory Board (the Board) in order to move the designation process forward.

Objectives

To update the Board on progress to date
To receive feedback on the regulatory approach
To receive feedback on all impacts resulting from the regulatory intent
To identify opportunities for collaboration in management and administration with the ecological reserve
To identify and discuss future MPA management measures Continue reading

Removal of old diesel oil tank

The oil tanks near the engine room were installed in the early 1990s. With the development of the integrated energy system, and the decrease in the demand for oil, they are now being dismantled. Erik Schauf came out today and cut the first one up. Alex and Virginee helped load the materials and with the help of the  Coastguard helicopter, it was transferred to the tennis courts at Pearson College, from where Pearson College transported it to the recycle depot.