SOINTULA, B.C. ─ The Conservative government is using Canada’s struggling economy as an excuse to put our environment at risk, claims Living Oceans Society, a marine conservation organization based in British Columbia. Regulations that are currently proposed for inclusion in next week’s federal budget will exempt all projects valued at less than 10 million dollars from the Environmental Assessment process.

VANCOUVER: The 2009 federal budget ignores recommendations of many Canadians to conserve and improve the management of our oceans and the industries that operate in Canada’s ocean environments said a group of environmental organizations today.



The environmental groups, which include the David Suzuki Foundation, Living Oceans Society and the Sierra Club of BC, were looking for investments to help protect critical ocean resources, like fish stocks, and to improve management of the full range of industries that use our oceans. 

SOINTULA, B.C. — On the eve of the 20th anniversary of the Exxon Valdez oil spill, Living Oceans Society is calling on the Government of Canada to make sure that British Columbia is not the site of the world’s next shipping disaster. The B.C. coast can be better protected by permanently banning oil tankers, improving oil spill response capabilities and strengthening shipping regulations.

VANCOUVER -- Delegates to one of the largest ocean management planning events in Canadian history are sending a clear message to the federal government that it’s time to take action to improve the conservation of British Columbia’s coastal waters.



VANCOUVER – Living Oceans Society, the Pembina Institute, and ForestEthics are calling on the federal government to significantly strengthen the proposed environmental assessment for the proposed Enbridge Gateway Pipeline. If built, the dual pipelines would extend from the Alberta tar sands to the British Columbia coast, requiring tankers to ship both crude oil to markets in Asia and the US, and condensate, a product used in tar sands production, to Alberta.

SOINTULA, B.C. -  At 3:00 p.m. yesterday, the fuel truck potentially loaded with approximately 10,000 litres of diesel was successfully recovered from Robson Bight Ecological Reserve. In August 2007 the fuel truck, along with 10 other pieces of equipment, tipped from a barge being towed through Robson Bight which is critical habitat for orca whales.

VANCOUVER – A two week scientific expedition led by Living Oceans Society to explore the deep ocean off the Pacific Coast of Canada departs from North Vancouver, B.C. on World Oceans Day (June 8th). The Finding Coral Expedition will search for deep sea corals using single person submarines that can dive to depths of 600 meters. A team of scientists will pilot the subs and gather information critical to increasing our understanding of the role that deep sea corals play in our ocean ecosystem.

VANCOUVER – A new collaboration between the Overwaitea Food Group and SeaChoice, Canada’s national seafood program, is making it easier for Canadians to buy seafood that promotes healthy oceans.



Renowned environmentalist David Suzuki appeared at the partnership’s unveiling today at a Save-On-Foods store in Vancouver.

Vancouver, B.C. – Five open net-cage salmon farms must be permanently removed from a salmon migration route in the northern Georgia Strait in order to protect thousands of juvenile salmon from sea lice and other potentially fatal diseases, the Coastal Alliance for Aquaculture Reform said Tuesday.

“The Wild Salmon Narrows, along the east and north side of Quadra Island, is a significant migration route for juvenile wild salmon from local rivers, the Fraser River, and in all likelihood, Washington and Oregon runs as well,” says Ruby Berry of Georgia Strait Alliance.

Vancouver -- Living Oceans Society’s Finding Coral Expedition arrived back in Vancouver on June 22 after a successful two week study of deep sea corals off the coast of British Columbia. The research team of international scientists dove in single person submarines at six different dive sites in Queen Charlotte Sound, Hecate Strait, and Dixon Entrance. At five of the sites the team identified deep sea corals and many other creatures.