https://thenarwhal.ca Deep Dives, Cold Facts, & Pointed Commentary en-US Copyright 2026 The Narwhal hourly 1 https://thenarwhal.ca/arctic-ocean-dna-genomics-science/ Tue, 09 Dec 2025 13:00:00 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=150464 Researchers mapping and digitizing Arctic Ocean DNA believe it may offer a new, better way to detect changes in local wildlife populations, Arctic diseases and marine die-offs Meral Jamal In-Depth arctic climate change Oceans solutions Spirits of Place Photo: Gavin John / The Narwhal An aerial view of a team of researchers works on Arctic sea ice. https://thenarwhal.ca/american-eel-canada-trade-vote/ Fri, 05 Dec 2025 13:00:00 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=150358 Illegal fishing and trade of American eel is rampant, but the federal government says Fisheries Act protects species and economy Moira Donovan News Atlantic Canada Oceans wildlife Photo: Robert F. Bukaty / Associated Press Two hands holding a palmful of slippery baby eels https://thenarwhal.ca/offshore-wind-nova-scotia/ Mon, 17 Nov 2025 15:00:00 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=149031 As the federal government considers fast-tracking Wind West Atlantic Energy, residents hope for economic transformation, while some worry about impacts to seafood industry and marine ecosystems Moira Donovan In-Depth On the ground Atlantic Canada electricity federal politics Major projects Oceans renewable energy Photo: Keith Levit / The Canadian Press https://thenarwhal.ca/canada-high-seas-treaty/ Fri, 26 Sep 2025 19:08:23 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=145879 Canada played an ‘instrumental’ role in the High Seas Treaty, but until it ratifies the agreement its role in big ocean conservation decisions will be limited Ainslie Cruickshank News biodiversity environmental law federal politics Oceans Photo: Shane Gross A large tripletail is seen swimming in the blue sea with a big floating mass of orangey-yellow sargassum seaweed behind it and other smaller fish in the background https://thenarwhal.ca/vancouver-aquarium-marine-mammal-rescue/ Fri, 22 Aug 2025 12:00:00 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=143353 Dozens of harbour seals, many less than five days old, are rehabilitated at the Vancouver Marine Mammal Rescue centre each year Ainslie Cruickshank and Jesse Winter Photo Essay B.C. biodiversity Oceans wildlife a close up of a baby seal and a hand in a blue glove offering it a small fish https://thenarwhal.ca/bc-fraser-river-salmon-habitat-restoration/ Mon, 18 Aug 2025 12:34:34 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=142934 A human-constructed marsh in B.C.’s Fraser River was meant to mimic natural feeding and breeding grounds. Offset projects can succeed — if someone sticks around to care for them Ainslie Cruickshank In-Depth B.C. biodiversity freshwater Oceans salmon solutions Two salmon conservation technicians in hip waders and life jackets drag a wide seine net through the Fraser River https://thenarwhal.ca/deep-sea-mining-the-metals-company/ Wed, 18 Jun 2025 11:00:00 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=138843 The bottom of the ocean is rich with minerals — as well as life forms scientists haven’t even named yet. Vancouver-based The Metals Company is asking for American permission to mine in international waters Elyse Hauser Explainer biodiversity environmental law mining Oceans transboundary Photo: DeepCCZ expedition / National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Ocean Exploration. Illustration: Shawn Parkinson / The Narwhal A stylized underwater photo of a robotic claw collecting a 40-centimetre elasipod sea cucumber in the Pacific Ocean's Clarion-Clipperton Zone. It is cylindrical, with multiple spikes sticking out of it. It had 92 feet and seven lips and was found 3,500 metres deep. https://thenarwhal.ca/feds-refuse-endangered-orcas-emergency-order/ Mon, 10 Mar 2025 17:35:41 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=133133 Conservation groups say Ottawa’s decision puts southern resident killer whales at greater risk of extinction Ainslie Cruickshank News B.C. biodiversity Endangered Species Oceans A photo of whales, with one black-and-white orca jumping out of the water. https://thenarwhal.ca/georgia-strait-herring-fisheries-wsanec/ Mon, 10 Mar 2025 15:00:00 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=132783 First Nations say herring are disappearing. Fisheries and Oceans Canada says they’re stable. So what’s really going on? Steph Kwetásel’wet Wood Explainer B.C. climate change Oceans wildlife Photo: Taylor Roades / The Narwhal WSANEC Chief Vern Jacks looks off camera to the right, sun glowing on his face, wearing white and brown wool regalia, with a blue sky behind him https://thenarwhal.ca/great-bear-rainforest-contamination/ Wed, 22 Jan 2025 14:00:00 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=129659 Heiltsuk Nation has a vision to revitalize Namu, an ancient village and former vibrant cannery. According to B.C., it’s Crown land — so the nation is calling on the province to clean it up Steph Kwetásel’wet Wood News B.C. Indigenous Rights Oceans Spirits of Place wildlife Photo: Supplied by Tavish Campbell / Heiltsuk Nation At Namu, in the Great Bear Rainforest, a heap of rusted metal pipes, walls and bars are in disarray, some half submerged in ocean water, and buildings are grown over with grass https://thenarwhal.ca/bc-roberts-bank-expansion-court-ruling/ Tue, 14 Jan 2025 01:57:20 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=129220 A legal challenge to block a major container terminal has been quashed, though environmental groups warn orcas are on an ‘extinction trajectory’ Steph Kwetásel’wet Wood News B.C. Endangered Species Oceans wildlife Photo: Alana Paterson / The Narwhal Deltaport in Metro Vancouver, with cranes and containers visible at the port. Mountains are in the background, and grass is blurred in the foreground. The grey-blue water in between is calm.