The Discovery Sealife Society will be hosting Prof. Jane Watson from Vancouver Island for a colourful talk on BC’s iconic sea otters, Thursday, Oct. 29. Jane will share first hand stories from decades of field research on the west coast of Vancouver Island. The once abundant sea otters were hunted to local extinction from our waters for their extraordinary fur for a trade that lasted for less than 50 years. However, from 1969 to 1972, 89 Alaska sea otters were reintroduced to Checleset Bay on the northwest coast of Vancouver Island. Ever since, the sea otter population has increased in size and spread along our coast, with remarkable ecological consequences.
Mark your calendar for Thursday, Oct. 29, 7 p.m. Maritime Heritage Centre. Admission is by donation. For more information on their public science speaker series, visit discoverypassageaquarium.ca. This talk will be followed by Dr. Dick Beamish talking about the health of the Strait of Georgia on Nov. 12, same place and time.