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 The University of Northern BC has marked the conclusion of the Northern Coastal Information and Research Program with the release of the final two publications in the research series, UNBC Community-Collaborative Studies on Offshore Oil and Gas. The sixth publication in the series, Voices From The Coast: The Collected Stories of Coastal BC Community Members Involved in the Research and Discussion of Oil and Gas, is a collection of interviews with local citizens on their experiences with the oil and gas issue. The seventh and last publication, undercurrents2: A Citizens’ Guide to the Projects, Publications and Outcomes of the Northern Coastal Information and Research Program, provides an overview of NCIRP.
 In "Understanding the Effects of Offshore Oil and Gas on Queen Charlotte Basin Communities", the fifth in a series of publications about BC offshore oil and gas, report author Norman Dale takes a unique approach to socioeconomic analysis by looking at what is understood about potential impacts of offshore oil and gas development on the human communities of the Queen Charlotte Basin. Based on field work, interviews, and a thorough literature review, the report focuses on soundly and thoroughly identifying and considering all the prevalent questions and views of people of the region.
 A Strategy for a Community Information, Knowledge and Learning System is the fourth in a series of publications about BC offshore oil and gas. The unique strategy, developed in partnership with Jacqueline Booth and Associates, proposes a user-friendly system to help citizens gather information and learn about the issues surrounding offshore oil and gas. It is meant to encourage public participation in the discussion about offshore oil and gas in a way that is meaningful to local community members.
 In cooperation with Northwest Community College, UNBC’s Northern Coastal Information and Research Program has now released "An Education and Training Needs Assessment for the Oil and Gas Sector." This is the third in the series, Community Collaborative Studies on British Columbia Offshore Oil and Gas and was prepared by ECOS Environmental Consulting Inc. of Smithers, B.C. A copy can be downloaded by clicking here. The work includes an extensive review of global trends in offshore oil and gas activity and the implications for labour demand. The analysis focuses on how Northwest Community College can respond to the training needs associated with the potential lifting of the current moratoria on offshore oil and gas activities. The document should also be useful to other educational institutions planning curricula about oil and gas.
 The second report from UNBC’s series, Community Collaborative Studies on British Columbia Offshore Oil and Gas was publicly released September XX, 204. The study, titled A Review of the State of Knowledge of Marine and Shoreline Areas in the Queen Charlotte Basin assessed the current level of knowledge about highly valued areas of the Queen Charlotte Basin (e.g. significant zones of use by marine life, commercial fishing, marine tourism, bird life etc.). The report, produced in partnership with LGL Ltd. and recommends ways to fill gaps in the knowledge base. "Every scientific review of BC offshore oil and gas issues has placed high priority on identifying special and sensitive areas prior to any development," noted NCIRP Program Manager, Norman Dale. "This report provides a powerful set of tools for doing this, and in a way that can integrate local and traditional information sources with scientific data."
 The final report of the Royal Society of Canada's "Expert Panel on Science Issues Related to Oil and Gas Activities, Offshore British Columbia" was released in February is one of the most important documents relating to offshore oil and gas. For many, tackling the quite technical 155-page document is a bit intimidating. As a result of suggestions from its Community Guidance Group, NCIRP has now completed a shorter, simplified guide to what's in the document. "Under Currents 1: A Citizen's Guide" has been sent to libraries, local governments, First Nations and the media within the region. Additional copies can be downloaded from NCIRP Projects and Publications, or ordered at cost ($4) from Peggy Crough: fax (250) 960-5545 email: croughp@unbc.ca.
 The Community Guidance Group, NCIRP's community-based advisers, recently met on board the Langara I near Port Clements. The challenge was to ensure communities remain engaged in the future activities surrounding offshore oil and gas. So far the group has met in Prince Rupert (October '03), Port Hardy (December '03), Terrace (February '04), Kitimat (March '04), Bella Coola (April '04), and, now, on Haida Gwaii/Queen Charlottes.
 While the short term role has been to literally guide UNBC in the Northern Coastal Information and Research Program, the membership largely foresees an ongoing role as an independent forum. Its strength lies in an approach members have called "bias balanced": it includes both well-known strong proponents and opponents of lifting the offshore moratorium.
At Port Clements, CGG used an adapted form of what is called a "Future Search" over a three day period. Hundreds of ideas and the germ of a program that goes beyond the UNBC project were developed. A report is expected in early fall.
UNBC's Northerrn Coastal Information and Research Program has worked with the North Pacific Regional Development Corporation (in association with the Community Fisheries Development Centre of Prince Rupert) to design and begin to implement a new approach to community-based learning about offshore oil and gas. UNBC supports this public education format largely because of the limitations of the more common approach of bringing lecturers into communities from "outside" for a one-time event. In contrast, the project underway in the Prince Rupert/Port Edward area will custom fit the needs of the wide array of different groups and individuals in the region. Informal group dialogues, school-designed web materials, brochures - all are possible formats for community learning. The exact methods used for delivering information will be customized to the needs and styles of different bodies.
The project is expected to be fully underway in the fall of 2004. Further information can be obtained from:
Northcoast Economic Development Corporation
138 1st Avenue W
Prince Rupert, BC V8J 4H6
Jim Rushton, Manager and Seafood Coordinator
Phone: (250) 627 5138 Ext. 28
 NCIRP has contributed funding to ongoing work by the Pacific Geoscience Centre (Natural Resources Canada) on the location and fine structure of sponge reefs in the Queen Charlotte Basin. These huge colonial forms of primitive invertebrates were thought to be extinct until the late 1980s. Now we recognize that almost all of the known reef structures in the world lie below Hecate Strait and Queen Charlotte Sound. "We were delighted to play a small role in supporting this work as part of our program" says NCIRP Program Manager, Norman Dale.  "The presence of these 'modern dinosaurs' in the Basin means that very careful planning must be used if any future development occurs."
Surveys have been conducted using a technique called "multi-beam bathymetry" that produces strong visual images of sub-sea features. Maps from these surveys conducted from the federal research vessel CCGS Vector will be publicly available by Spring 2005.
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