Be on the lookout for a boat called Wilbur this summer.
The Wilbur, a 16-foot research boat belonging to the Pacific Salmon Foundation (PSF), is sailing along Vancouver Island's eastern coast, mapping the shoreline, using 260-degree video footage and high-resolution photos. The footage will help determine where the shoreline is natural and where it is modified by structures such as seawalls. This will help identify the extent of coastal hard-armouring and shoreline modifications to help coastal communities adapt to climate change. It will also help locate areas where salmon habitats suffer from human-made coastal modifications.
“The goal of the Resilient Coasts for Salmon program is to help Pacific salmon and other species adapt to climate change by preserving and restoring their natural habitat, while at the same time, protecting coastal infrastructure including shoreline homes,” says Kyla Sheehan, program manager.
PSF's Resilient Coasts for Salmon team started the five-year plan in 2021 and recorded footage of 238 kilometres between Victoria and Comox from 2021 to 2024. This summer, they will be mapping from Comox to Port McNeill.
The Wilbur has a tripod mounted on the top with an Insta360 Pro2 camera. The camera records 360-degree video in 8K. Another camera, a Canon R5, a still camera mounted on a tripod, sits on the boat's deck. The Wilbur produces a still image every three seconds.
Wilbur’s data on coastal modifications will be publicly available in the Strait of Georgia Marine Reference Guide once the researchers have analyzed the data. The final product will show where the coastline is natural and where it is modified with features such as sea walls, boat ramps, docks, and materials like concrete or creosote wood.
PSF will host two workshops in the North Island region this September for local communities to learn about shoreline habitat, sea level rise and coastal squeeze, and discuss options for coastline adaptation. The team will be in Port McNeill on Sep. 4 and Campbell River on Sep. 5. Follow this link to register, and subscribe here to the Resilient Coasts for Salmon e-news.
Follow the Pacific Salmon Foundation on Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok, and LinkedIn for the latest updates on Wilbur.
Click here for photos and video clips of Wilbur.
