When we kayak through the waters of northern Vancouver Island, we are not simply visitors. We have a responsibility to look after the incredible coastlines and marine ecosystems we are fortunate enough to explore every day. One of the ways our North Island Kayak guides put this into practice is through Sentinel Actions.
What is a Sentinel Action?
A Sentinel Action is a small, positive action taken while we are already out exploring the environment. For our guides, this can be as simple as spotting a piece of floating plastic or abandoned fishing gear during a kayaking trip, safely collecting it, and bringing it back to shore for proper disposal. Our guides spend countless hours on the water each season, putting them in a unique position to notice and respond to marine debris that might otherwise remain in the environment.
Why do we do it?
Because small actions add up. Marine debris can travel enormous distances and remain in the ocean for years, so removing even one piece before it moves farther along the coastline or encounters wildlife makes a difference. Sentinel Actions also allow us to incorporate environmental stewardship naturally into our trips. When guests see their guide stop to collect debris, it creates an opportunity to talk about ocean pollution, conservation, and the role we can all play in protecting the places we explore.
For us, caring for the coast is part of kayaking it, and we truly believe kayaking is the best way to sustainably experience our environment.
Why are ghost gear and plastics dangerous for wildlife?
Ghost gear refers to fishing equipment that has been lost, abandoned, or discarded in the marine environment. Nets, ropes, lines, and traps can continue catching or entangling animals long after they have been lost. Whales, sea lions, seals, seabirds, fish, and other wildlife can become entangled, potentially causing serious injury, restricting movement and feeding, or leading to death.
Plastic creates another long-lasting problem. Larger pieces can be swallowed or cause entanglement, while plastics gradually break into increasingly smaller fragments rather than simply disappearing. These microplastics can persist throughout marine environments and enter food webs.
Every piece of debris safely removed from the water is one less piece that can threaten wildlife. Through Sentinel Actions, our guides and guests can leave the coast a little cleaner than we found it and help protect the wild places that make kayaking northern Vancouver Island so extraordinary. Read more about what we do for our planet here:
