T.Buck Suzuki Environmental Foundation

07/29/2026

Final Call: $1,000 T. Buck Suzuki Legacy Bursary

Time is running out to apply for our annual student award! Applications close this Friday, July 31, 2026.

The T. Buck Suzuki Legacy Bursary provides $1,000 to a student enrolled in marine-related studies in Canada, including fisheries science, marine biology, marine trades, technology, and chef training.

Learn more and submit your application by July 31: bucksuzuki.org/bursary

07/24/2026

Catch of the Quarter - What’s in Season This Summer!

Eating alongside the B.C. harvest cycle is a simple but great way to support sustainable local economies. Choosing wild-caught seafood from independent, small-scale harvesters keeps the economic benefits of our fisheries right on our docks and in our coastal communities.

Featured Summer Seafood: • Halibut • Dungeness Crab • Salmon • Albacore Tuna

Three Ways to Buy Local Seafood This Summer:
1. Community Supported Fisheries (CSFs) - Secure your share early with networks like Skipper Otto or Michelle Rose CSF.
2. Direct Dock & Vessel Sales: Head directly to the waterfront at Comox Harbour or Steveston Spot Prawns & Seafood.
3. Independent Fish Markets: Support community hubs across the province, from Finest at Sea (Victoria) and Seadrift Seafood (Nanaimo) to Naas Foods (Tofino), 1 Fish 2 Fish (Langley), Codfather's Seafood Market (Kelowna), and Dolly’s Fish Market (Prince Rupert).

🔗 Check out our online new B.C. Local Seafood Buying Guide to see what seafood buying options are near you!: https://www.bucksuzuki.org/bc-seafood-buying-guide
(best viewed on desktop)

07/15/2026

We just launched our new B.C. Local Seafood Buying Guide!

If you want to support independent harvesters this summer but are not sure where to start, this guide makes it easy.

How it works: select your community and your choice of catch from the dropdown menus to see available vendors, products, and sales types. You will get information including business names, addresses, website and/or phone numbers, and specific seafood availability, from fresh Dungeness crab and prawns to wild salmon and halibut. Note that this guide works best on a desktop.

🔗 Explore the guide and find a vendor in your area: https://www.bucksuzuki.org/bc-seafood-buying-guide

07/14/2026

The summer fishing season is officially underway along the BC coast. As crews mobilize, we want to wish everyone a safe and rewarding time on the water. Fair winds and heavy nets to all the young harvesters and multi-generational crews heading out or already on the water!

If you are finalizing your gear, running through safety checks, or looking for local suppliers, we have organized a hub of regional contacts, safety courses, and business links to help you navigate the season. If you notice any information is missing or outdated from this don’t hesitate to reach out!

Check out our Harvester Resources directory here: https://www.bucksuzuki.org/harvester-resources

07/03/2026

We are incredibly grateful to see the federal North Coast oil tanker moratorium being upheld!

Hi everyone,

By now, you’ve probably heard yesterday’s news: the federal government will uphold the Oil Tanker Moratorium!!!

We’re deeply grateful to Coastal First Nations for their unwavering strength and leadership on this issue from the very beginning.

We’re also grateful to the hundreds of people across the Northwest and beyond who reached out ready to defend our precious coast.

And finally, to give credit where credit is due, Premier David Eby stood up for the North Coast despite immense pressure from Alberta. Thank you.

Of course, yesterday’s news was a mixed bag. Canada is going all in on yet another oil pipeline to B.C.'s south coast, increasing the risk of oil spills near the mouth of Canada's greatest wild salmon river. We stand in solidarity with our southern neighbours who will continue to work to defend vital ecosystems and coastal economies.

We’re taking the weekend to enjoy the beautiful Skeena, then we’ll get back at it Monday, working on positive solutions for a better future here in our home watershed.

-the SkeenaWild team

(photo: Colby Brokvist, Colbyoutdoors)

06/25/2026

Every seasoned harvester knows that even with the best skills, the ocean's unpredictable weather and hidden seafloor snags can lead to lost gear. When commercial fishing equipment is lost at sea, it becomes "ghost gear" (also known as abandoned, lost or otherwise discarded fishing gear (ALDFG)). For harvesters, lost gear is a lose-lose situation. Commercial fishing gear is highly specialized and expensive, making gear loss both a financial, and operational setback, as well as a significant environmental concern. Once lost this gear may continue to "ghost fish", trapping fish, crabs, and other marine life without anyone ever harvesting them.

To build a proactive roadmap for prevention and recovery, T. Buck Suzuki collaborated with the University of Victoria on a Master’s study mapping exactly why and where gear is lost along the BC coast. By combining academic predictive modeling with the lived experience of harvesters, we discovered that seafloor snagging is the primary cause of gear loss along BC's nearshore waters. This insight allows us to drive highly targeted retrieval plans, preventing ghost fishing and protecting critical marine habitats.

Fisher involvement is at the heart of this work. From sharing maintenance tips to leading retrieval programs, the fleet’s expertise is what keeps our marine environments resilient.

Check out the full Ghost Gear Article in our library: https://www.bucksuzuki.org/post/why-and-where-fishing-gear-lost-on-the-bc-coast

06/21/2026

Today, we honour by celebrating the diverse cultures, heritage, and voices of Indigenous peoples. We recognize the generational leadership of Indigenous stewards in caring for the coastal waters we all call home.

06/19/2026

There is a quiet crisis unfolding on the West Coast of Canada. While our oceans remain productive, the communities that rely on them are being hollowed out. The reason isn't a lack of fish, it’s a policy gap that has transformed the B.C. fishery from a community-based food system into a speculative financial market.

Who owns and controls commercial fishing licences in B.C.? Our NEW blog post, "B.C. Fisheries: Public Resource or Private Market?" breaks down this structural policy gap.

We must move the focus away from boardrooms and put the boots back on the boats, before it is too late.

👉 Check out the full article on our website now: https://www.bucksuzuki.org/post/the-boots-on-the-boat-crisis-the-urgent-case-for-policy-reform-on-the-b-c-coast

There is a quiet crisis unfolding on the West Coast of Canada. While our oceans remain productive, the communities that rely on them are being hollowed out. The reason isn't a 'lack of fish, it’s a policy gap that has transformed the B.C. fishery from a community-based food system into a speculati...

06/10/2026

Applications are now open for the T. Buck Suzuki Legacy Bursary!

To support students dedicated to the future of our oceans and coastal communities, we award a $1,000 bursary to an individual pursuing marine-related studies in Canada. Eligible programs span a wide range of fields, including marine biology, fisheries science, marine trades, and chef training.

If you or a student you know is looking to make a wave of difference in the marine sector, check out the application guidelines today.

Applications close on July 31, 2026.
👉 Learn more about how to apply here: https://www.bucksuzuki.org/bursary

06/08/2026

Happy World Oceans Day! 🌊

We believe that the best path forward for our oceans involves the people who know them best. This World Oceans Day, we are celebrating the commercial harvesters who are the backbone of our coastal communities and the eyes on the water every single day.

We are proud of our recent collaborative research, which brings the lived experiences and voices of harvesters to the forefront of marine planning. Understanding how spatial closures impact the economic, cultural, and social wellbeing of fishing families is essential for building a sustainable future. Commercial harvesters have a deep-rooted interest in the long-term health of our coastal waters as their livelihoods, and the futures of their coastal communities, depend on a thriving ocean. Our hopes moving forward are to secure a seat at the table for local harvesters in marine governance, amplify community voices, and pursue holistic conservation goals that integrate the health and safety of our coastal communities.

Read the Research: Read our blog “Understanding the Compounding Impacts of MPAs on Commercial Harvesters in BC” on our website: https://www.bucksuzuki.org/post/understanding-the-compounding-impacts-of-mpas-on-commercial-harvesters-in-bc