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by Kelly Poirier
Uu-a-thluk Outreach Coordinator
Dec. 1, 2005

On Monday November 21st through Wednesday November 23rd, Nuu-chah-nulth and west coast residents: Sarah Tyne and Kay Hind of the Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre, Philip Edgar of Ditidaht, Jamie James Fisheries Manager for Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nation, Leonard John Fisheries Manager of Ka:'yuck't'h/Che:k'tles7et'h' First Nation, and Lesley Cook Jr. of Huu-ay-aht along with Uu-a-thluk biologists Jim Lane and Roger Dunlop participated in 3.5 days of Oil Spill Response and safe boating training. Instructors were Harry Johnston and Mark West from Burrard Clean Operations.

The first day took place in the Tseshaht Treaty Boardroom discussing procedures, safety issues and methods. One of the days training was spent out on the water practicing putting out the absorbent floats used in oil spill and industrial spill clean ups.

Burrard Clean Operations (www.burrardclean.com) was contracted by the Westcoast Aquatic Management Association to conduct this training as part of WAMA's WCVI Sea Otter Recovery project that is funded by the Habitat Stewardship Program.

The main purpose of the training is to give Nuu-chah-nulth and WCVI residents the skillls they need to respond to an oil spill crisis situation. Oil spills are considered the number one threat to sea otter recovery because sea otters are very vulnerable to this particular type of pollution. Sea otters do not have blubber like other marine mammals but instead use air trapped in their fur for flotation and insulation. Oil destroys the insulation and flotation of their fur. Oil spills have the potential to wipe out a part of the WCVI sea otter population.

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