Welcome

World Fisheries Trust, created in 1995, is a Canadian non-profit organization dedicated to the equitable and sustainable use and conservation of aquatic biodiversity. It acts locally and globally. The approach is multidisciplinary, matching solutions to problems, not problems to solutions.

The organization is not an activist group, but rather works as an honest broker with all points of view and creditable scientific evidence.

We do scientific and social research, contribute to policy development and work on field implementation of solutions. Our particular expertise includes bridging the divide between technical solutions and societal realities, including tools for enhancing community engagement, public awareness, and societal equity.

The combination of local and international projects provides unique insights for this work, as well as providing a conduit between Canadian and international partners.

News and Events

Keep up to date with the latest information:

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Thank you to everyone who applied for our summer positions. The competition is now closed. We will be in touch soon for interviews.

Public Outreach and Education Officer

Environmental and Cultural Interpretation Officer

Environmental Assessment and Monitoring Officer

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Teacher Professional Development Day Workshop held at Lansdowne Middle School!

World Fisheries Trust and WestWind SeaLab Supplies hosted the Pro-D Day Workshop Environmental Learning Grounded in Place: Lessons if the Traditional Knowledge and Wisdom of Long-resident Peoples at Lansdowne Middle School. We were very lucky to have guests Gloria Snively, Eric Claxton Jr, and Nikki Wright join us for the day. Many thanks as well to all teachers and volunteers that participated.

Our next Pro-D Day workshop will be held on November 23, 2012

For more information, contact Mary at education@worldfish.org

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New Workshop Series at Gorge Esquimalt Nature House!

World Fisheries Trust is proud to offer a series of FREE interactive workshops and lectures at the Gorge Water Water Nature House:

Saturday, August 25, 2012 @ 2PM – “Urban Wild Foods” by Katherine Harding
Participants will learn how to identify common edible plants from the local urban landscape and how to avoid their harmful look-a-likes. Their usage as food and medicine currently and historically will be discussed. (2 hours)

Sunday, August 26, 2012 @ 2PM – “Rehabilitating Coastal Wildlife” by Cayla Naumann
Cayla Naumann is a volunteer at BC SPCA WildARC and she will discuss what happens to injured wildlife in Victoria and the special care that coastal critters require. (1 hour)

Wednesday, August 29, 2012 @ 3PM – “Life in the Gorge Waterway” by Tribesty Nguyen
Participants will explore the life that lives in the Gorge Waterway including live local marine life. An interactive watershed model of the Gorge Waterway will be used to discuss the impact of our pollution on this life and a nature walk at Gorge Creek will focus on solutions. (2 hours)

For more information, please contact:

Joachim Carolsfeld, Executive Director, World Fisheries Trust: (250) 380-7585

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Victoria students will benefit from grant to World Fisheries Trust

Roszan Holmen, Victoria News

"First, a gift of a new building will ensure the Gorge Waterway Nature House has a facility able to stay open during the winter.

Now, a grant for educational programming will help to ensure the structure, to be built in Esquimalt Gorge Park, has enough activity to warrant keeping the doors open throughout the school year..."

Read the full story here: http://www.vicnews.com/news/163936316.html

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Come Test the Waters at *Swim Fest* this Sunday, Aug. 12!

Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/gorgeswimfest

Facebook event: http://www.facebook.com/events/106420802834842/

Website: http://www.gorgewaterway.ca/gorgeswimfest.htm

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Spotlight on Olympia Oysters!

Oak Bay News highlighted WFT's Olympia Oyster moniroting projects, lead by Nicole Barrette, Environmental Assessment and Monitoring Officer at WFT. Good work Nicole!

Read full story here: http://www.oakbaynews.com/news/162738296.html

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Gorge Waterway Nature House Renovations in Victoria News!

Gorge Waterway Nature House won the Vancouver Island Construction Association's Centennial Legacy Project grant. "The group chose this project from many proposals because the centre’s education programs reach so many people", said Chris Lyons, part of the Association's Young Contruction Leadership group, who implement a Legacy project every year.

“Our main challenge is a lack of space,” says Joachim Carolsfeld, World Fisheris Trust Executive Director. As such, the main goal of the renovation will be to expand the Nature House, as Todd Carnahan of Habitat Aquisition Trust put it: "into the kind of facility where people will want to come and learn".

Read the full story here: http://www.vicnews.com/news/160464995.html

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Great job Cathy Carolsfeld and Mary Vasey!

Earlier this week Cathy and Mary presented their poster: "Evaluating the Successes and Challenges of Integrating Marine Education into the BC Classroom Curriculum: A Seaquaria in Schools Case Study" at the 2012 National Marine Educators Conference North to Alaska's Seas: A Confluence of Science and Culture.

The conference website is: http://www.pacname.org/conf.shtml and a poster description can be found here:http://www.pacname.org/2012-AK/2012_poster.shtml

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Congratulations to Cathy Carolsfeld for her Honourable Mention at the 2012 Saanich Environmental Awards!

"Cathy Carolsfeld is receiving an honorable mention for her achievements creating the ‘Seaquaria in Schools’ program and her dedication and enthusiasm while bringing the wonders of the marine world to both to schools and at community events."

http://www.saanich.ca/living/natural/enviro_awards.html

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Thank you to everyone who came out for World Ocean's Day at Esquimalt Gorge Park! We look forward to seeing you next year!

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Protecting Canada's fisheries: an open letter to Stephen Harper

TOM SIDDON, DAVID ANDERSON, JOHN FRASER AND HERB DHALIWAL

From Friday, June 1st's Globe and Mail

Dear Prime Minister Harper:

As privy councillors from British Columbia who have served as ministers of Fisheries and Oceans in past federal governments, we wish to inform you of our serious concern regarding the content of Bill C-38 and the process being used to bring it into force.

We have had lengthy and varied political experience and collectively have served in cabinet in Progressive Conservative and Liberal governments alike. We believe we have a fair understanding of the views of Canadians. Moreover, we believe there is genuine public concern over the perceived threat this legislation poses to the health of Canada's environment and in particular to the well-being of its fisheries resources. We are especially alarmed about any possible diminution of the statutory protection of fish habitat, which we feel could result if the provisions of Bill C-38 are brought into force. Migratory salmon and steelhead are icons of our home province. Our experience convinces us that their continued survival would be endangered without adequate federal regulation and enforcement, particularly in the area of habitat protection.

With respect to process, we find it troubling that the government is proposing to amend the Fisheries Act via omnibus budget legislation in a manner that we believe will inevitably reduce and weaken the habitat-protection provisions. Regrettably, despite the significance of the legislation, to date the responsible ministers have provided no plausible, let alone convincing, rationale for proceeding with the unusual process that has been adopted. Quite frankly, Canadians are entitled to know whether these changes were written, or insisted upon, by the Minister of Fisheries or by interest groups outside the government. If the latter is true, who are they?

This country's fisheries are vital to our coastal communities, particularly first nations communities, and a strong and effective Fisheries Act, supported by a robust scientific research capacity and enforcement personnel, is critical to maintaining healthy fish stocks. Major changes to such critical legislation warrant extensive and factual discussion and a broad consultation process. We therefore strongly recommend a full examination of the proposed Fisheries Act amendments, and of the proposed staff reductions, by the standing committee on fisheries and oceans (not the finance committee) of the House of Commons. That examination must include appropriate testimony from industry and first nations representatives, academic experts and present and past personnel of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans.

Furthermore, greater clarification of the purpose of the proposed changes is needed from the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans and the Environment Minister. To date, they have provided only vague and general descriptions of the problems that they wish to address through these amendments. This lack of information has made it impossible for us to determine whether or not their concerns are well founded and whether the proposed changes will have any appreciable beneficial effect. Without such information, we can only judge from our own experience, which suggests that the shortcomings of the existing legislation have been greatly overstated and that the remedial action proposed is vastly out of proportion to the issues they have referred to, but only vaguely. In short, we have the impression that the ministers are using a sledgehammer to swat a fly.

Collectively, we have spent many years in government attempting to maintain fish stocks and protect fish habitat. A strong Fisheries Act, a competent science establishment and vigorous enforcement programs are essential to protect fish stocks and the habitat on which they depend.

The authors are former federal ministers of Fisheries and Oceans.

To view the original article, go to: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/opinion/protecting-canadas-fisheries-an-open-letter-to-stephen-harper/article2448734/

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Two World Fisheries Trust board members speak out about potential changes to the Fisheries Act.

Read the full article HERE!

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Mobile Seaquarium visits families at Jeneece Place

Jeneece Place resident Breanna and JP House Coordinator Christina explore the mobile seaquarium that was set up in the living room. The interactive mobile unit was used for a Seaquaria in Schools project through the World Fisheries Trust. It has proven to be a great educational tool and has had a calming and therapeutic effect on the families and staff at Jeneece Place.

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Annual Report 2011

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The Eco Learning Hive is unveiled at the 2011 Conservation Connection.

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The Department of Fisheries and Oceans published our research papers on the Impacts of Longline and Gillnet Fisheries on Aquatic Biodiversity and Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems (which can be found by clicking HERE) and the Impacts of Fishing Gears other than Bottom Trawls, Dredges, Gillnets and Longlines on Aquatic Biodiversity and Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems (which can be found by clicking HERE)

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MLA Rob Fleming speaks to the Legislative Assembly about World Fisheries Trust's kick off event to National Environmental Education Week

Monday, April 12, 2010

Afternoon Sitting

Volume 13, Number 7

National Environmental Education Week

R. Fleming: National Environmental Education Week takes place this week from April 11 to 17. This year's theme is "Be water and energy wise," which speaks to our need for greater conservation in our lives, in our homes, in our places of work and in our businesses.

This is the largest organized environmental education event in North America.

Environmental Education Week increases the educational impact of Earth Day later this month by creating a full week of educational preparation, learning and activities in K-to-12 classrooms and in places like nature centres and zoos, museums and aquariums.

By participating in Environmental Education Week, students in my constituency and elsewhere across this province are being encouraged to make a difference in their schools and communities. World Fisheries Trust, which is a local non-profit education organization in my community, hosted the kickoff event at the Gorge Waterway Education Centre yesterday on Sunday, April 11, from 1 to 3 p.m., to begin National Environmental Education Week in Victoria.

Along with the Galiano Conservancy, the Sierra Club and the Greater Victoria Compost Education Centre, this week they will be showcasing hands-on education programs and displays that will be available in a variety of public locations and in our schools. The event is designed to celebrate and build awareness about the many opportunities for our citizens to be part of environmental education and stewardship in the capital region.

With very limited funding, the Gorge Waterway Education Centre has seen over 5500 people volunteer their time and come through their doors in less than two years. The centre has delivered over 40 different programs to nearly a thousand students and community members who are now trained, knowledgable and skilled in environmental stewardship. They're aware that we live in a time of climate change and adaptation.

Mr. Speaker, I invite all members of this House to join me in applauding the grass-roots organization, the sponsors and the many volunteers who put the 2010 event together. I also want to take this opportunity in the House today to express my support for the great work that the Gorge Waterway Education Centre has been doing.

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World Fisheries Trust in the Victoria News: Click the link for the full article: Explore local waters with the Gorge Waterway Discovery Centre

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Co-op Student Lia Chalifour featured in the Victoria News.

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World Fisheries Trust was a finalist at the 2008 Canadian Awards for International Cooperation. Alison Macnaughton (far right) accepted the recognition from Hon. Beverly Oda, Minister of International Cooperation. The nomination was for the Brazil Inland Fisheries Project (2003-2007) in the category for the Sustainable Development of Natural Resources or Protection of the Environment.