The Saturna Island Marine Research & Education Society (SIMRES) is hosting a Herring School presentation on Saturday, March 14, 2026 at the Saturna Community Hall.  

Briony Penn and Connie Crocker (Xqulsiim) will share the latest scientific findings are on herring; how these findings line up with traditional ecological knowledge; and why the WSÁNEĆ Hereditary Chiefs (WHC) are taking these findings to court to argue how their vision of rebuilding herring populations will bring ecological and cultural health back to the Salish Sea.

Briony Penn is a writer, naturalist, illustrator and educator whose family have lived on unceded WSÁNEĆ territory Fulford Harbour/WENNANEC for five generations. She is an adjunct professor at the University of Victoria Environmental Studies and is a cofounder of the Herring Conservation and Restoration Society that is supporting the legal challenge of the WHC.

Connie Crocker (Xqulsiim) is an elder from the Pune’luxutth Tribe and brings a love for the culture and traditions of all first peoples. With more than 20 years of commercial fishing she supports coastal communities and restoring a healthy ocean. Connie currently works for the Kelp Rescue Initiative and strongly believes that kelp and herring are foundational for the health and abundance of so many species.

This SeaTalk will be recorded and available on YouTube. Contact SIMRES for viewing details.