Herring Habitat Pilot Project

It was a cold and rainy evening when ten CERCA volunteers met at the Fisherman's Wharf in Cowichan Bay on January 3 to initiate CERCA's herring recovery project aimed to restore herring habitat in this part of the Salish Sea. The work was timed to take advantage of a very low tide of 0.4 meters at 9:30 pm chosen to wrap a whopping total of 28 pilings under the sheltered wharf.CERCA is grateful to Sidney Anglers Association for their financial support. If the Fisherman's Wharf trial proves to be successful the project will be expanded to other sites within the Salish Sea, jointly with Sidney Anglers.The recovery of herring populations is considered key to the rebound of local salmon populations which in turn will encourage marine mammals such as dolphins and whales to return as has happened already in Howe Sound’s similar project.A wet but content crew celebrated the successful completion of the work shortly before midnight with a warm drink. 

  Goetz