Bere Point Research 2021
Collecting vital data from Troy's research station is now at risk as a result of a freak accident during which Troy had a close call with his life, and lost various important research gear, in August 2020. With this GoFundMe, Troy is seeking support for new and updated equipment, to continue to increase and share his knowledge and passion for the orca off of Vancouver Island.
When Troy Bright was in his 20’s he read a book about the orca on the west coast of Canada, called Orca the Whale Called Killer. Ever since for the past 24 years Troy has been studying the orca from the rubbing beach at Bere Point every summer without fail. Over the years he has built a simple research station from nothing, and has volunteered 4 months of his time non-stop every June to October to monitor Orca seen within his study area.
The data Troy collects is fed into a priceless network of researchers and together they are working to increase our understanding of orca behaviour, arguably one of the most intelligent animals on this planet.
The resident orca that inhabit the coasts of western Canada have seen various continuous threats, such as habitat destruction, human disturbance, and food source depletion. Understanding how these populations survive and thrive is key to guaranteeing their future survival. In addition, Troy's station also serves to educate the general public on these magnificent creatures, & can migrate disturbance to the animals before it occurs. With the many campers and visitors now coming to Bere Point, and more every year, his important work is now more important than ever.
This past summer, an unfortunate boat accident dumped both Troy Bright and much of his research gear into the ocean while launching close to the research station. He lost critical research equipment and his future research studies could be at stake. As this data he can collect, study and share will be much more difficult to obtain.
With this GoFundMe, Troy is raising funds to replace and update his research equipment, so that he can continue studying and monitoring the unique orca population of the west coast of Canada.
The funds will cover:
- Handheld VHF radio
essential for communication with other researchers - $300
-Canon DSLR & 400mm lense-$2,100
- Go pro camera- $500
- 4 hp Outboard engine - $2,000
- Hydrophone - $1,800
Last hydrophone damaged by rocks, replacement needed
- 8 1/2 Zodiac (Rigid Hull) boat with safety gear $3,500
A replacement boat would greatly improve his safety for on the water observation component of his research. His current Zodiac which capsized in 2020 is 20 years old and still a flat bottom.
- On-site data collection for 2021
$2,300
Analysis of data collected from 1997-2021 (25 years) on completion of the 2021 data collection this coming season. This analysis will conclude with a written report/paper of the 25 years of data collected on in particular, the North Pacific northern resident killer whales that frequent in our study area. As well as analysis of data collected observing other marine mammals observed in our study area, from 1997-2021.
Late Fall/Winter 2021
$2,500
Note: Hydrophone is added to this GoFundMe. It is an essential tool in the research project.
The total amount Troy is looking to raise is $15,000, so Bere Point Research can continue its essential role in gathering key orca data.
