CHASING THE PACIFIC

HERRING SPAWN

VANCOUVER ISLAND, BC

Each spring, the Pacific Herring return to the shores of Vancouver Island. They move in the millions and, as they spawn, turn the water a cloudy turquoise. It’s a signal for a great wildlife gathering. Eagles and gulls swarm from above. Sea lions bellow. Bigg’s killer whales patrol the coast. Even humpbacks return early from the South Pacific, drawn by the promise of food.

In March 2025, I set out with my business partner, JJ Sereday, to document this phenomenon for the Parksville Qualicum Beach Tourism Board. For a week, we tracked the spawn from Nanaimo to Comox. With the support of Haida Gold Ocean Adventures in Nanoose Bay and Wildwaterways Adventures in Comox, we got on the water and got close to the action.

What began as a commissioned assignment has continued beyond that initial project, as I keep returning to the herring spawn each year to better understand its importance, not only as a natural event, but as a thread connecting the island’s Indigenous history, local economy, and ongoing conservation efforts.

Client - Parksville Qualicum Beach Tourism

Production - Wild Journey Media

Role - Filmmaker & Photographer

Location - Vancouver Island, BC, Canada