This morning I woke to the sound of the herring fishery outside my window. Year to year I never know where the herring will choose to spawn or why, but this year they've again chosen Buccaneer Beach! And this is by far the most exciting day of the year on our usually quiet little shore. The tiny parking lot at the public beach access is packed to overflowing as people come and go to take in the spectacle.
I'm suffering lense envy as I watch several photographers stealing amazing shots as I struggle with my makeshift adapter and a telescope...to no avail. The air is filled with the cries of thousands of seagulls. The sea lions are too gorged to bark as they roll around feeding and lolling in the sun. Engines hum and the net paddles clank as the herring are taken aboard the many skiffs. A DFO observer plane buzzes overhead. Fisherpersons' voices rise above the clanging and bustling noises, excited and ocassionally angry. Dozens of herring boats sit offshore in the Strait of Georgia, waiting for their skiff to come in, gorged with herring like the seagulls and sea lions.
My heart swells with pride, an ugly emotion, I know. But I feel so content, aware that my life's purpose is to protect this body of water for just this reason...for the herring, and all the creatures that depend on them; from seagulls to salmon, from killer whales to fisherpersons, and to people enjoying the wonder from shore, including myself. For this is a day for the soul...spirits lifted in celebration of life.
For a moment I feel guilty watching all the hard work from shore, but then I berate myself and sink into a blissful reverie. After all, I often work myself to the edge of burnout during the week to help preserve and protect the Strait of Georgia, so I'm justified in this contradictory moment of fervor and peace. I marvel at the milky blue of the ocean, reminding me briefly of warm tropical waters. But the air is crisp despite the sun, filled with a fishy but pleasant scent.
I watch closely from shore as a skiff not 50 yards away passes a net across it's deck. I can see the herring flashing silver in the sun, some flipping high in the air over the heads of those hard working men. But my heart sinks as I notice their net is not nearly as full as it should be. Is it just a bad set, or a sign of poor numbers? I anxiously await to hear whether the year was a success...for the fishery and the fish. This disturbs my morning of joy and reminds me that there is much more work to be done to protect this once abundant body of water.
But I will set aside the work until Monday morning. For now I will worry about moving my beach chair from a passing shadow, petting a friendly dog walking by, and observing things like the foam from the spawn starting to appear along the shore, or the eagle soaring overhead...I am alone in my thoughts, yet connected to all that surrounds me.
You can help protect the Strait of Georgia and surrounding communities. For, if you're not part of the solution, you are part of the problem. That's what Keeping Down with the Jones' is all about.
- Georgia Strait Alliance is committed to protecting the Strait of Georgia from the scourges of sewage and toxic chemicals, shipping and boating pollution, open net pen salmon farms, and environmental degradation. But more than that, Georgia Strait Alliance is an innovative and progressive solutions-based organization.
- GSA's Green Boating Program has won several awards with worthwhile projects such as the Guide to Green Boating, new Clean Marine environmental marina certification program, and Ocean Solutions project for boat sewage pumpout stations.
- GSA's Salmon Farming Campaign works to protect the marine environment and wild salmon from the devastating impacts of open net pen salmon farming, but goes one step further to explore the alternative of closed containment systems.
- The Clean Air and Water Program of GSA includes many innovative solutions-oriented projects, such as the ToxicSmart program aimed at keeping our homes, gardens and workshops toxic-free, and the Victoria and Vancouver Sewage campaigns, to not only ensure proper sewage treatment for our communities, but to look towards resource recovery from sewer.
- GSA is part of an LNG Alliance fighting the proposed LNG terminal and power plant on Texada Island.
- Other issues addressed by GSA include: Marine Habitat and Wildlife Protection, the Climate Crisis, Cruise Ships, Ship Pollution and Marine Safety, Military Impacts, Artificial Reefs, and Shellfish Farming.
- You can help the Strait of Georgia in many ways. Consider becoming a member of Georgia Strait Alliance by donation. Sign an Urgent Action Alert. And most importantly get out and enjoy the great outdoors and appreciate all mother nature has to offer.


