Harry Corro

JOURNALIST

Science, Technology & Environment

Victoria News •

Sidney-based company aims to uplift 'she-weed' farmers in Kenya - Victoria News

A company based in Sidney is working on a project aimed at significantly improving the livelihoods of seaweed farmers in Kwale County, Kenya.
Cascadia Seaweed, the largest commercial producer of regenerative agricultural products derived from cultivated kelp in North America, is working on the Conservation and Sustainable Management of Coastal and Marine Ecosystems (COSME) project.
The four-year project, funded by Global Affairs Canada, is implemented by Plan International Canada in collaboratio...
Surrey Now-Leader •

Crash course: BC professor takes closer look at asteroid threats - Surrey Now-Leader

Earthlings can breathe a sigh of relief as the chances of an asteroid hitting Earth in the next eight years has gone from 3.1 per cent to zero, according to an update from NASA that was published on Monday (Feb. 24). 
The impact risk of the asteroid named 2024 YR4 has been fluctuating since it was first discovered late last year. It was predicted to collide with Earth on Dec. 22, 2032. 
Over several weeks, NASA has released updates on its impact risk. Just last week it went from 2.6 per cent on...
Surrey Now-Leader •

Canada’s newest 'droid of the deep' ready for its first underwater expedition - Surrey Now-Leader

When Ocean Networks Canada (ONC) and Canpac Marine head down to Clayoquot on Saturday, Oct. 5, they will dive in with a brand new remotely operated vehicle (ROV).
The ROV will go on an eight-day expedition aboard the Canpac Valour, where it will complete maintenance on ONC’s Neptune (North-East Pacific Time-series Undersea Networked Experiments) observatory, an 800-kilometer loop off the west coast of Vancouver Island.
The expedition is the first trial in the deep ocean for Canpac Marine’s new p...
Oak Bay News •

Tsawout Nation goes high tech to safeguard historic waters of Saanichton Bay - Oak Bay News

The waters of Tsawout First Nation in Saanichton Bay are now under closer watch thanks to the deployment of a state-of-the-art marine monitoring buoy.
The bright yellow, 1.7-metre Watchkeeper buoy, dubbed "QEN’T Junior," represents a significant step towards enhanced marine stewardship and the safeguarding of culturally significant ocean spaces.
Developed in partnership with AXYS Technologies, the buoy was deployed on July 4 after months of meticulous planning and coordination with agencies such...
Sooke News Mirror •

Parks foundation secures land to protect North Saanich old-growth forest - Sooke News Mirror

The largest remaining tract of old-growth and mature Douglas-fir forest on the Saanich Peninsula is in the beautiful LAU,WELNEW/John Dean Provincial Park in North Saanich.
It sits next to six hectares of land which is now designated as a protected extension of the park.
On Tuesday (Nov. 26), BC Parks Foundation announced the purchase of three parcels of land that run along the park's edge which will now protect one of the last stands of old-growth Douglas fir and Garry oak on the Saanich Peninsu...
Nanaimo News Bulletin •

Early birds: Photographer spots Brant geese down-Island ahead of usual PQB return - Nanaimo News Bulletin

North Saanich photographer Christy Grinton was surprised to see a few black Brant geese on Jan. 6 while she was at Island View Beach. 
“At first there were just three or four of them and then came more,” Grinton said. “I have photographed them here before and up in Parksville.” 
Brant can be distinguished from Canada geese by their smaller size, black head with jet-black eyes, white collar on their short necks, brown body, white patterns on their wings and a white triangle lining their tails.
As...
Chemainus Valley Courier •

VIDEO: Tsawout First Nation rids Vancouver Island bay of derelict boat - Chemainus Valley Courier

A derelict 37-foot boat that has been an eyesore and a source of frustration for over six months on the edge of Saanichton Bay at James Island Wharf was finally removed from the water on Friday, July 4, thanks to the initiative of the Tsawout Nation.
The removal of the boat 'Waterfront' was spearheaded by Tsawout Nation Fisheries manager and principal negotiator Chrissy Chen, who seized the opportunity while coordinating the deployment of a crucial marine resource management buoy.
"The nation me...
Comox Valley Record •

PHOTOS: Island volunteers forming a bond with birds one band at a time - Comox Valley Record

Every bird caught gets a ring.
Unless of course, they already have one. In which case, the bird banders from Rocky Point Bird Observatory (RPBO) in Metchosin will be delighted to see them return because it means nothing has drastically changed in that bird's life. 
"That's exactly how I got hooked in bird banding," says Ann Nightingale, migration project coordinator. "I was visiting the banding station and they took a bird out of the bag and it already had a band on it. It was a fox sparrow and...
Saanich News •

Park society volunteer shortage threatens Saanich Peninsula's 'hidden gem' - Saanich News

The Friends of Dominion Brook Park Society is issuing a desperate plea for volunteers to help maintain the historic 11-acre park in North Saanich.
With dwindling numbers and the peak growing season underway, the society fears that the park, a cherished local landmark, could revert to its former neglected state.
Nancy Johnson, president of the society, explained they are currently relying on a dedicated but small group of approximately 11 active volunteers to manage the park’s extensive needs, in...
Hope Standard •

Young cougar snoozing in B.C. backyard safely captured and relocated - Hope Standard

Cougar sightings in residential areas often stir fear for the safety of humans and pets, but in this case in Sidney, residents were just as concerned for the big cat itself.
On Thursday, May 22 a juvenile female cougar was spotted at a cul-de-sac in southern Vancouver Island community, then safely captured and relocated.
Jodie Siverns first spotted the cub from her kitchen window at 4:45 p.m.
"I was just standing in my kitchen eating a snack and I looked out on my driveway and saw a huge cat wal...