Peace Arch border crossing 1921

Nov. 17, 2025

Feeding Frenzy

White Rock is known for its historic pier, the giant granite boulder and fish & chips.  Well you can drop the chips but the fish have certainly been the story for the past few weeks.  Once again, huge schools of northern anchovies have formed in the relatively shallow water of Semiahmoo Bay across the front of White Rock.  The last time this happened was in late December of 2019 when hundreds of thousands of these small silvery fish washed up on the shore.  This created a three day feeding frenzy where shorebirds gorged on their dead carcasses and completely cleaned up the beach.  At that time it was believed that the sheer number of anchovies in the bay absorbed all of the oxygen out of the water causing asphyxiation and a mass die-off, which the waves then washed ashore.

Here we are six years later and the northern anchovies are again back in huge numbers.  I first noticed large schools of them boiling the water off Crescent Rock beach when the water was like glass three weeks ago.  Since that time their numbers have grown noticeably and the area around the pier seems to be the epicenter of their massive schools.  This has not gone unnoticed by the gulls, ducks and shorebirds who have flown into the region to feed on nature's bounty.  There have been some scenes off the pier that were reminiscent of Alfred Hitchcock's movie The Birds with hundreds of them diving into the water at once, churning up the ocean up like it was a stormy day.  As word got out on social media, people also flocked to the pier and there are now hundreds of pictures of the mass of anchovies and birds posted on local community Facebook pages.

You might see the occasional harbour seal around the shores of the Semiahmoo peninsula but they tend to be few and far between.  With the massive schools of anchovies that have appeared, somehow the seals have also figured out that there is a bountiful banquet waiting for them off of the White Rock beach.  While these animals are usually solitary, a group of over 150 animals arrived at the bay over the past week with these seals creating quite the stir of excitement for naturalists and nature lovers.  It did not take long for TV stations to get alerted to the scene and there is plenty of footage of the seals next to the pier with a large group counted as 95 individual seals.  This behaviour has never been documented by scientists and they are very interested in what the seals are doing and if they are working together to feed in unison.  You can check out the City TV story on these seals posted at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zEcXge5suAE

In the past few days even larger sea mammals have moved into our area to join in the buffet.  A group of a half dozen sea lions have also joined the fray and been seen feeding in front of White Rock along with the harbour seals.  There are also reports that they have been offshore near Blackie Spit in Crescent Beach at the mouth of the Nicomekl river.   If you hear what sounds like barking coming from the beach, it is likely sea lions and not dogs.  With all of these seals and sea lions, you have to wonder how long it will be before Orcas arrive to try and thin out the herd sort of speak.  Three Orcas were spotted last year near Blackie Spit in September, likely feeding on spawning salmon.  When the tide is in the water generally peaks at over 4 metres with it quickly getting deeper far away from shore.  It has not become uncommon to see grey whales in Semiahmoo and Boundary Bay and recently it is believed that a relatively rare fin whale was feeding offshore between White Rock and Blaine. 

It is nice when the waters off the Semiahmoo Peninsula become our very own Jacques Cousteau special.  As long as the water is not too choppy, this is a great time to get on a paddle-board or kayak to check out the action in the water.  If you do decide to venture out, please remember to keep a healthy distance away from actively feeding wildlife and stay 50 metres away from seals and sea lions, 100 metres away from whales, dolphins and porpoises and 200 metres away from whales, dolphins or porpoises that are resting or with calves.  An exception is for killer whales; keep 200 metres away and 400 metres away off northern Vancouver Island.   The Marine Mammal Regulations under the Fisheries Act provide protection for marine mammals including Canada’s at-risk whales.  You can view these regulations at https://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/species-especes/mammals-mammiferes/watching-observation/index-eng.html

Naturally yours,

Don Pitcairn

I wish to acknowledge we live work and play on the traditional lands of the Semiahmoo People

Buena Vista Avenue Active Transportation Project

The City of White Rock is upgrading a stretch of Buena Vista Avenue, from Johnston Road to Best Street, to improve safety, accessibility, and infrastructure reliability for all ages and abilities.

The project includes:

• Utility upgrades to renew aging sewer and drainage systems

• Street-level improvements to make walking, rolling, and cycling safer and more accessible

• Coordinated construction to minimize disruption and maximize value

Community feedback will help shape the above-ground design. Depending on input, improvements may include:

• New sidewalks, crosswalks, and curb extensions

• Accessible features and landscaping

• Either a multi-use path (shared space to facilitate walking, cycling and rolling) or a dedicated two-way bike lane with a sidewalk

Example rendering of a multi-use path

Example rendering of a two-way bike lane and sidewalk

(have your say - take the survey)

Community Events