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Our planet is changing. So is our journalism. This is part of the story. Our changing planeta CBC News initiative to show and explain the impact of climate change and what’s being done about it.
The First Nation is working with a BC technology company to learn more about how climate change will affect the water it collects food from.
To understand more, the Tisso-K First Nation on southern Vancouver Island turned to Victoria-based MarineLabs, which collects real-time data about the ocean, about 18 months ago. What is being done in the shop catchment and other areas it uses.
A number of issues have been raised in the Suk Basin – a reserve about 20 kilometers west of Victoria – that could affect how the Tiso-K Nation uses its water.
Climate change has wreaked havoc in the region: rising temperatures in both the air and sea have killed marine life, including important traditional food sources for the nation. As severe storms become more frequent, the country’s leaders want the public to be better prepared.
In addition, abandoned ships, mine waste and ship traffic have polluted the water in recent decades, affecting shellfish production, a 2019 report from BC’s Ministry of Environment urged the need to regularly monitor the basin’s waters due to rapid development in the area.
MarineLabs now hopes to use smart buoys with sensors to detect wind speed, wave size, number of boats or ships passing by, water temperature and water salinity to get information on the environment.
“Science is key,” said T’Sou-ke Nation Chief Gordon Plans. “Knowing the history of what has happened in the past few years can tell us exactly where we are and lay the foundation for the future.”
He said he hopes the flights at Hykwacha will help the buoys detect increased shipping, determine what environmental threats are and what First Nations can do to address and adapt to climate change.
An increase in extreme temperature events, for example, can change the water chemistry, which in turn affects the marine ecosystem and the organisms that have historically been harvested for food at T’Sou-ke.
“It could have a negative impact on who we are and our way of life on this coast,” Plans said.
MarineLabs CEO Scott Beaty says there are currently 41 sensors similar to his company’s, but generally older, on Canadian beaches — but he thinks communities, private organizations and the government need thousands more to understand the impact of climate change.
“Ocean statistics are changing and climate change will make that worse,” Beatty said.
Beatty said the operators of the container ship Zim Kingston Containers, which lost dozens of containers and caught fire in late 2021, could have avoided the disaster if they had access to this type of information. .
“It’s about being proactive, getting more information when a spill happens,” he said.
T’Sou-ke Nation marine manager Ryan Chamberland said he would like to see other communities and government branches invest in similar projects.
“This long-term investment will help protect these fisheries and the supply of food and ecological fisheries,” he said.
“This is another tool for coastal communities that First Nations can use to do the preventative maintenance that needs to happen on our beaches.”
7:02Climate Changers: The Importance of Accurate Ocean Data
MarineLabs uses smart buoys to provide real-time ocean information to those who need it. Its clients range from the Port of Vancouver to BC Boats and the Canadian Coast Guard. They have been working with the TPLF nation for the past year and a half. Rohit Joseph heads to a dock in the nation’s traditional territory for more information.
Climate change is one of the most pressing issues of our time. We’ve seen the effects in BC with deadly heat waves, devastating floods, and massive wildfires. But there are people determined to take meaningful action, big or small, to build a better future for our planet. Those people are featured in the CBC series. Climate changersProduced by CBC Science Correspondent and Meteorologist. Johanna Wagstaff and associate editor Rohit JosephIt will be released on Wednesday All points west, On the beach And Radio West With features on CBC Radio One and CBC Vancouver News cbc.ca/bc.
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