The North Coast Ecology Center is open for the first full season this year.

Karina Dracott, vice-chair of the ecology center, spoke with CFNR and talks about the initial planning that started in 2017, the first pop-up location opened in the cruse ship terminal in Prince Rupert in 2021.

North Coast Ecology Center is now at the semi-permanent location in The Lax Süülda Container Market, located on the Prince Rupert water front.

The Ecology Center in the north coast showcases the marine life of the coastal waters, specifically those of Prince Rupert.

The center consists of a group of volunteers that enjoy marine life and are eager to share their knowledge to locals, visitors from other areas of BC and, especially, visitors from cruse ships from around the world.

Earlier this spring, once they obtained the required permits, the group of volunteers went out to gather the different specimens of plants and marine life. It is a catch and release system, Dracott explained, where the specimens will be released back to where they came from after the season.

A major highlight of the ecology center is the "touch tank" at the end, where visitors are able to get up close to the tank and marine life.

Tn the future, the centre hopes to have a more permanent location, but for now they are looking forward to when the school season starts when they can host class tours in the fall.

Listen to the CFNR interview with Karina Dracott below: