Conservation First
“Our most deeply held value is that conservation concerns come first. We cannot, as a species, achieve anything approaching sustainability while continuing to degrade our natural environment. At the same time, we view people and their communities as a part of the ecosystem and we consider their impact in our solutions.”
— Living Oceans
Founded in Sointula, British Columbia in 1998, Living Oceans Society has worked to protect Canada’s oceans and coastal communities. They advocate for sustainable ocean management, conservation, and changes in policies to protect the future and to support the resilience of Canada’s ocean and shoreline environments.
The Living Oceans Mission
Their vision is for Canada’s oceans to be sustainably managed, the ecosystems to be thriving with biodiversity, and for the ecological services to be protected - to support resilient coastal communities! This is achieved through research, mapping, reports, promotion of sound policies, and corporate/social responsibilities.
Living Oceans Society Initiatives
Living Oceans Society advocates for the management of oceans, which benefits the greater good of all, and helps reduce human impact on the ocean and coastal communities around Canada. The organization has various ongoing initiatives related to ocean sustainability.
The group works with the government, industry, and citizens along the coast to create solutions and help Canadian coastal communities protect essential ocean resources.
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The team works to remove marine debris (derelict boats and ghost gear), from coastal communities to restore harbours and other coastal areas.
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Ocean Planning Initiative
This project gives stakeholders the opportunity to share experiences and collaborate to create sustainable solution plans, to mitigate issues faced by oceans and coastal communities throughout Canada. -
Energy and Climate Change Initiative
The group has been working for the past twenty years to help protect British Columbia’s coast from the development and transportation of fossil fuels. Their work has been specifically surrounding the Enbridge Northern Gateway and the Kinder Morgan’s TransMountain Expansion Pipeline.
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An average open-net salmon farm contains half a million penned salmon. Salmon farms risk coastal ecosystems and wild salmon as parasites, disease, and pollutants make their way through the mesh and into the surrounding water. Living Oceans conducts research and creates reports/maps to inform the public and stakeholders.
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This project works to ensure a healthy ocean by protecting the four pillars of ocean ecosystems: habitat, biodiversity, food webs, and water quality. Check out their page on creating an ecosystem-based management plan
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Sustainable Seafood Initiative
Oceans and fisheries are faced with various issues - overfished stocks, damaging gears, bycatch, chemical use, and the spread of disease. Living Oceans works to support and promote the ocean-friendly seafood movement through various sustainable seafood projects.
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Ocean Acidification Initiative
Reliance on fossil fuels and industrialization has lead to an increase of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and in so, it has changed the chemistry of ocean water. Living oceans created an information campaign on ocean acidification
Ocean Exposures Photo Contest 2021
Living Ocean’s Society holds an annual ocean photography contest. The 2021 Ocean Exposures Photo Contest ran from June 22nd, 2021 until August 31st, 2021, and winners were announced in September.
See the winning photographs below.
2021 First Prize - Kim Silvey's Below the Surface photo 'New Life'
2021's Second Prize - Below the Surface went to Charlotte Philp for Anemones.
2021's Third Prize - Below the Surface went to Sharon Yon for Under Sea Garden.
2021's First Prize - Coastal Wildlife went to Kim Silvey for Hitching A Ride.
2021's Second Prize - Coastal Wildlife went to Dan Hillert for After the Fog Lifted.
2021's Third Prize - Coastal Wildlife went to Zack Qiu for Time to act cute!
2021's First Prize - Working or Playing on the Ocean went to Kim Silvey for Three Working Cranes.
2021's Second Prize - Working or Playing on the Ocean went to Sharon Yon for The Arne A.
2021's Third Prize - Working or Playing on the Ocean went to Jan Heerwagen for Low Tide Curves.
2021's Sea Huggers' Choice Award went to Tammy Tait for While they work above we play below.
“Hear from Karen Wristen, Executive Director of Living Oceans Society, on the critical need to protect wild Pacific salmon and their importance to the entire West Coast ecosystem” Video by Wild First.
“With the help of dedicated volunteers, the Living Oceans' Clear the Coast campaign has removed over 53 tonnes of plastic debris from northwest Vancouver Island shores since 2014.”
