Breaking News: Glass Sponge Reefs protected thanks to fishing closure!

Conservation groups welcome protection for Strait of Georgia’s unique glass sponge reefs

Vancouver BC – 5 June 2015 – Local and national conservation groups are welcoming today’s announcement by the federal government of fishing closures for the Strait of Georgia’s glass sponge reefs – a global treasure found nowhere else in the world.

The SCCA has joined in efforts over the past six years with a coalition of conservation groups lead by the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society to convince Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) to protect these reefs.  “They are a global treasure found no-where else in the world. The reefs are thousands of years old and they are incredibly fragile,” said Sabine Jessen, National Oceans Program Director at CPAWS.

The fishing closures will prohibit all bottom contact fishing over the reefs themselves and 150 metre wide buffer around them, to ensure that the reefs are not accidentally damaged by fishing gear and to protect them from sedimentation. DFO established voluntary closures last year in order to protect the reefs while consultation was underway. The closures come after months of consultation and discussions among DFO, the conservation groups, the commercial and recreational fishing sectors, and First Nations. The conservation sector was represented by CPAWS, David Suzuki Foundation, Marine Life Sanctuaries Society, Sunshine Coast Conservation Association, and the Vancouver Aquarium.

Read the full press release here.

Glass Sponge Reefs map.

Pictures:  Texada glass sponge.   GSR:  Dr. Sally Leys credit.  Trawling damage to reef: Jackson Chu credit.  Dr. Sally Leys in CPAWS sub:  Bruce Kirkby credit.  GSR: Neil McDaniel credit.  Diver & Reef: Neil McDaniel credit. 

Details

Last Updated: Monday, 08 June 2015 06:51

Annual General Meeting 2015

The SCCA's Annual General Meeting will be held on Monday, June 22nd from 7-9 pm at the Sunshine Coast Arts Centre in Sechelt.

We're excited to announce that our guest speaker will be Ruth Simons, the Executive Director of the Future of Howe Sound Society.

Memberships can be renewed at the AGM or you can join or renew online. You must be a paid-up member in order to vote.

As per SCCA policy, nominations for the Board of Directors should be forwarded to the chair of our nomination committee. If you are passionate about the environment of the Sunshine Coast and would like to contribute some time and energy, please consider a two-year term as a director. We have monthly board meetings and directors are encouraged to take on a role or an issue.

Details

Last Updated: Thursday, 18 June 2015 01:04

Water Pump for Chapman Lake Raises Concerns

The Sunshine Coast Conservation Association and the Tetrahedron Alliance are concerned that potential alterations to the Chapman Lake water storage system will have serious deleterious impacts on the Tetrahedron Park ecosystem, yet will not solve the Coast's summer water supply problems. 

The SCCA has submitted a Backgrounder on Chapman Lake water storage management and is asking members to attend the next meeting of the Sunshine Coast Regional District's Infrastructure Services Committee on Thursday, September 4 at 1:30 pm. (see agenda)

We wish to explore with the SCRD directors more effective alternative means of fixing our water supply system rather than installing either floating pumps, siphons, tunnels, dredging or other changes that would have the effect of drawing down Chapman Lake a further 10 feet and threatening the surrounding plant structures. 

Details

Last Updated: Thursday, 21 August 2014 00:05