Brilliant bubblegum blue: Eye-catching herring spawn filmed off B.C. coast

Geoff Johnson, a photographer in Ucluelet, B.C., off the coast of Vancouver Island, had always wanted to capture the herring spawn and this year was his chance.

A video capturing a natural phenomenon off the Vancouver Island coast is generating interest worldwide.

Every year, when the herring spawn, the water turns turquoise like a bubblegum or cotton candy blue.

Geoff Johnson, a photographer in Ucluelet who runs the channel UkeeTube, had always wanted to capture the herring spawn and this year was his chance.

“This year, the planets aligned, it was a beautiful sunny day, I got the heads up, in time,” he said.

According to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), herring plays an important role in B.C.’s rich ecosystem but their numbers have been declining over the years.

“DFO is committed to managing Pacific herring fisheries to ensure that there are enough herring to spawn and sustain the stock into the future and support its role in the ecosystem,” the organization said in a statement.

“This year’s total allowable catch (TAC) for Pacific herring (is) 9,251 metric tonnes, slightly higher than the TAC in 2022-23 of 7,044 metric tonnes.”

In addition, for the 2023-24 season, closures are in place for commercial fisheries in Haida Gwaii, the west coast of Vancouver Island and Area 10 (Smith Inlet). Limited commercial fishing and harvesting will be available in some other areas.