Page 1
Page 2
Page 3
Page 4
Page 5
Page 6
Page 7
Page 8
Page 9
Page 10
Page 11
Page 12
Page 13
Page 14
Page 15
Page 16
Page 17
Page 18
Page 19
Page 20
Page 21
Page 22
Page 23
Page 24
Page 25
Page 26
Page 27
Page 28
Page 29
Page 30
Page 31
Page 32
Page 33
Page 34
Page 35
Page 36
Page 37
Page 38
Page 39
Page 40
Page 41
Page 42
Page 43
Page 44
22SUMMER2014BCFerriesonBoardInDeepBaythefilmmakerswrangledaboatjauntoutintothestraitwheretheherringroefisheryhappenedtobeinthemidstofoneofitsultra-briefopeningsafrenzythatinmostrecentyearshasruntomerehours.Duringthosefuriousfewmin-utestheboatspulledintensofthousandsoftonnesoffishallthewhilesurroundedbyanear-biblicalplagueofseagulls.ThesightsandsoundswereimpressivebutwhattrulyamazedMcKinlayweretheCaliforniasealionsthatfloppedintothenetsinhaledtheirfillofwrigglingfishthenwallumpedrightoutagain.WhileMcKinlaydescribesthescenetheever-amiableButlersmiles.Asarecentlyretired27-yearveteranoftheCanadianWildlifeServiceaPh.D.biologistandthepresidentofthePacificWildlifeFounda-tionhehasseenthissortofthingmanytimes.HeexplainsthatPacificherringareakeystonespeciesandastheygomosteverythingelseintheSalishSeawillfollow.AndinfactbeginningsometimeinApriltheherringwillgo.BeckonedbybloomsoftheplanktonthatformabigpartoftheirdietmostwilldepartforthewestcoastofVancouverIslanddeplet-ingtheislandseastcoastofmanyofitsmarineanimalswhichtrailrightaftertheirdinner.Ofcoursethisspringasinmanyoth-erstherewascontroversyaroundtheherringroefisheryshortasitis.Someworrythatstocksofthefishcrucialafteralltotheentiremarineecosystemaretoolowandthefisheryshouldbesuspendedcompletely.Butlersharestheworriesabouttheoceanshealththatspracticallyhisjob.ButtheworrieswontshowupinthefilmthatheandMcKinlayaremakingatleastnotexplicitly.InsteadThreeWaterswasenvisionedasbeingcelebratoryratherthancautionarytransformativeratherthanreproving.ButlerexplainsByadoptingnatureintoourcultureweestablishaneedtosustainit.Forexamplewhenaregionalfoodbecomespartofaculturethentheliveli-hoodsandthelandthatprovideitwillbesustained.SoyestheremaybeconcernsaboutherringoraboutwaterqualityandoceanacidificationthatimpactshellfishgrowersinDeepBay.Butifthefilmcanhelppeoplefeelastrongerconnectiontothenaturalenvironmentthenthereisabetterchancethattheenvironmentwillbecherishedandprotected.ItdoesnthurtatallthatourareaisjustplainbeautifulsaysButler.Thatssomethingthatalotoftheearlyexplorerscommentedon.Itsabigpartofthefilm.Thisisnotthefirstcollaborationbe-tweenButlerandMcKinlayafilmmakerwhobringsadifferentlookandfeeltona-turefilmsmaybebecauseheisequallyathomeshootingcommercialsforskateboardcompanies.Othershortfilmshavefocusedonspecificbirdsormarinelifethough.Nonehavebeenofthisscope.ButlerdescribessomeofthescenesthathavegoneintomakingwhattheyexpectOnyournextferryridebringalongbinocularssuggestsmarinebiologistandfilmmakerRobButler.MarinelifeisprolificsouthofNa-naimo.AndfromPortHardynorththelistbroadenstoincludeorcashumpbackwhalesandwhite-sideddolphinsallseasonlong.Everywhereandatalltimesoftheyearharboursealscanbeseenbobbinginthewaternearmostter-minalswhileflocksofbirdsareanindicationthatmarinemammalsmightsurfacenearby.APRILRouteToDenmanandHornbyislandsWhatHerringsealionsandbirdsWhyHundredsofmillionsofher-ringspawnfromFebruarytoAprilattractingsealionsandbirds.APRILRouteTsawwassentoDukePointWhatStellersealionsonEntranceIslandDallsporpoiseneartheGulfIslandsWhyHundredsofsealionsdigestfishcaughtinnearbywatersDallsporpoisesarefast.Watchforsmallblackandwhitedorsalfins.JUNERouteHorseshoeBaytoNanaimoWhatPacificwhite-sideddolphinsandharbourporpoisesWhyLookforwhite-sideddolphinsridingtheferrywakenearthebow.Harbourporpoisesareshy.WatchforthemsurfacingwhentheferryisafewminutesoutofHorseshoeBay.JULY-AUGUSTRouteNearTsawwassenterminalWhatOrcasWhySalmonheadingtowardtheFraserRivertospawnpasscloseby.Alsowatchforhundredsofgreatblueheronsonthebeaches.PHOTOSGEORGEFAULKNERClockwisefromtopleftUnwindingoncalmseassomewhereinbetweenSavaryIslandandPenderHarbourCormorantsontherockybluffsatMitlenatchIslandvolunteerparkwardenhutonMitlenatchIsland.Seethis