03/11/2026
Every spring in the Salish Sea, Pacific herring return to the sheltered bays, releasing billions of eggs that turn the shoreline a pale turquoise. It’s one of the most important ecological events of the year, a pulse of life that feeds everything from seabirds and salmon to seals, whales, wolves, bears and even coastal forests. When herring thrive, the whole coast benefits from these keystone species of the Pacific Northwest.
These images from the Hornby Island spawn capture just a small glimpse of this incredible annual event in the Salish Sea.
📷 Photos by our friend and colleague , whose work continues to document the wild rhythms of our coast.