Nominate a Role Model for The Bras d’Or Lakes’ Golden Award
The Bras d’Or Lakes Collaborative Environmental Planning Initiative (CEPI) has launched the Golden Award for the Bras d’Or Lakes. The Golden Award award recognizes role models who, through their deeds and actions, help ensure the spirit of the Bras d’Or Lakes speaks today and for future generations. “The Bras d’Or Lakes is a unique environment...
The Spirit of the Lakes Speaks launched
As the chant of the Friendship song drifted across the Bras d’Or Lakes on a rare sunny July afternoon, people shook hands in congratulations on the release of The Spirit of the Lakes Speaks, a document created by the Bras d’Or Lakes Collaborative Environmental Planning Initiative (CEPI). With a vision for the protection and sustainability...
A day on a river
What better way to spend a summer day?! In hip waders and with pens and paper in hand, Mi’kmaq technicians and scientists from Eskasoni, Membertou and Potlotek received Canadian Aquatic Biomonitoring Network (CABIN) training and certification by Environment Canada this summer. CABIN assesses the condition of rivers. It is a national program for determining the...
Making a difference
Making a difference Another St. Anne’s Mission has come and gone and, thanks to the dedication of the teams of workers organized by the Pitu’paq partnership, it was cleaner both during the Mission and afterwards. Once again, students from the Nova Scotia Youth Corps were involved in the recycling and waste disposal program. They worked...
Unama’KIDS shoreline cleanup
Unama’KIDS shoreline cleanup Unama’KIDS got off to a productive start this year participating in the TD Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup. They joined nearly 60,000 volunteers from across the country who helped clean up almost 1,600 different sites. While picking up debris and garbage along the Whycocomagh shoreline, they counted every piece of garbage and catalogued...
First CAMP in region
First CAMP in region Community Aquatic Monitoring Program– CAMP is a project where communities monitor the health and marine productivity of their local aquatic ecosystem. From May–September, we monitored six sites around the Bras d’ Or Lakes using protocols developed by Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Long-term monitoring of fish and crustacean species, water temperature, salinity...
We’re on a mission!
We’re on a mission! Take thousands of people, put them on an island for four days with no sewage system and no where to dispose of their garbage and you can imagine what is left behind. This was the scene every year at the annual Chapel Island Mission in the small community of Potlotek. Back...
What do YOU think?
UINR has received funding for habitat enhancement in the Bras d’Or Lakes. Habitat enhancement is any change that we can make to improve the habitat’s value and its ability to meet the needs of one or more species. For example, we have been involved in placing artificial lobster reefs to provide new habitats for lobster....
This squirt is NOT welcome!
The Golden Star Tunicate…sounds harmless enough but this is an invasive species that has been found in the Bras d’Or Lakes on eel grass, shellfish and just about anywhere it can attach itself, smothering its host. An aquatic invasive species is an organism that has extended its traditional range either naturally, or brought to new...
There goes Mala…
Banks along the shores of Malagawatch are eroding at an alarming rate. UINR has taken action to address the problem by erecting a barrier and signs warning of the erosion. We strongly recommend that people keep their distance from the banks to prevent injury. In an effort to help, UINR laid geotextile fabric over the...
Oysters hit again
Still reeling from the MSX virus in Bras d’Or Lakes oysters, the species has received another blow with the discovery of Malpeque disease in the waters of St. Ann’s Harbour and Orangedale. There are no human health concerns related to Malepeque but, since 1915 when the first symptoms were recorded, there have been significant losses...
How the Lakes are doing
Malfunctioning private septic systems, inadequate community sewage systems, pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, boating sewage, and dangerous chemicals all contribute to problems with water quality in the Bras d’Or Lakes. UINR, along with the Bras d’Or Lakes Collaborative Environmental Planning Initiative, have published The State of the Bras d’Or Marine Environmental Water Quality Background Report. The Report...