Vancouver Island Marine Biology
Pacific Rim National Park, Long Beach, Botanical Bay, Nanaimo
From Nanaimo it is possible to arrange day visits to look at unspoilt shores. Here are a few suggestions for places to visit, how to get to them, and what equipment to take.
Pacific Rim
Driving across to Ucluelet, and then north to Tofino, takes in all of Long Beach. Pick up "Exploring The National Park" en route, and/or visit the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve of Canada website and/or the Clayoquot Biosphere Reserve website and plan your itinerary well in advance. There will probably only be time to do one or two things each day, and three possibilities are suggested below:
Whale Watching Excursions
Tofino and Ucluelet both offer the opportunity to go out to sea and watch whales in the wild. They can also be seen from many of the trails on the coast. Binoculars or a telescope will help identification.
Wickaninnish Interpretive Centre
Exhibits and displays put your visit into perspective, in terms of both the natural and cultural history of the park. There is also a restaurant, so this might be a good place to visit around midday.
The Sea Shore near Wickaninnish
Before, or after visiting the centre a stroll on the beach is highly recommended. Marine Biologists (amateur or professional) visiting from Europe will quickly notice that while many species found on the rocks are similar, they are also a bit different. There are good examples of convergent evolution to be seen.
Botanical Beach
From Nanaimo drive to, and then past Port Renfrew to the car park for Botanical Beach. A short walk through the forest (watch out for bears!) takes you to one of the most interesting rocky shores in British Columbia. This is a protected habitat, so avoid causing any damage. Take nothing away, and leave no rubbish behind.
Pacific Biological Station Nanaimo
It might be possible to arrange a visit to the PBS, where most of the marine research for the Canada’s Pacific Ocean is carried out. This would be of particular interest to marine biologists visiting Vancouver Island from other parts of the world.
What Equipment to Take?
A good pair of binoculars is almost essential, not only for watching the whales, but also for the other wildlife that will be encountered. A camera with good ‘macro’ capabilities is also highly recommended, and since it is going to be taken on the beach some sort of waterproof carrier is also a good idea. Finally a low powered hand lens should be in every marine biologist’s pocket!
