British engineer-turned-photographer-and-environmental-activist Andrew Wright brought a large and attentive crowd along on his "schizophrenic journey" through the Great Bear Rainforest as part of Quest University's Fall Public Lecture Series on Monday (Nov. 16).
With a goal of bringing awareness to the threats facing the "spirit bears" of the coast between Haida Gwaii and Vancouver Island, as well as the Northwest Pacific salmon runs the bears depend upon, Wright first used his experience as a photographer to awe the 50-plus students and community members in attendance.
Spirit bears are more scientifically known as kermode bears, a fact that made Wright's presentation appropriate to Quest, since the Quest Kermodes athletic teams take their names from the bears.
The mesmerizing photos were selections from his new book, Emeralds at the Edge, the proceeds of which benefit the Sierra Club of Canada.
Wright explained the fundamental connection between the health of the salmon stocks and the bears both the "spirit" and grizzly populations that inhabit the region.
"It is not two eco-systems, it's one connected eco-system, not terrestrial and marine."
Later on in the evening, Wright used his engineering education and experience to demonstrate how closed-containment fish farms can be a viable alternative to open ocean fish farms.
Open-net-cage aquaculture, the conventional method of farming salmon, is associated with various negative environmental impacts such as sea lice and the transmission of other diseases to already-dwindling wild fish stocks.
Wright's current broad range of skills is exactly what Quest emphasizes in its academic approach, and Wright said he believes Quest is on the right path.
"People who can think broad as well as deep are critical to the future of Canada."
Wright was unmistakably moved by his experiences, and it was evident that he had been touched by the many threats to this pristine ecosystem.
"[The Great Bear Rainforest] took me right back to my childhood and National Geographic photos," he said.
In addition to conventional fish farming methods, Wright addressed the problems presented by the grizzly bear hunt and potential pipelines from the tar sands in Alberta to Kitimat. Such a pipeline would bring unprecedented oil tanker traffic to the 小蓝视频 coast.
"The health of these places is inextricably linked to your own health If you value your children, you should equally value these places."
However, it was the plight of the salmon, and the potential for 小蓝视频 to become a leader in sustainable close-containment fish farms that continued to capture Wright's attention.
"In a polarized fisheries environment, the thought of closed containment raising the plane of practice is an exciting avenue to explore," he said.
Emeralds at the Edge is available from Wright's website at www.cold-coast.com.
