UBC's Ocean Pollution Research Unit - OPRU

03/26/2026

Farewell, Dr. Birute Galdikas. As an alumnus of Simon Fraser University (SFU) and current Adjunct Professor at the School of Resource and Environmental Management, Dr. Juan José Alava (Founder of OPRU) had the humble opportunity and honour to meet her and attend one of her lectures almost two decades ago at SFU, when she was championing and advocating for the conservation and protection of endangered orangutans and their habitats from the rainforests of Borneo. She was a member of the Leakey's Angels or Sisters, including Dr. Jane Goodall, Dr. Dian Fossey, and Dr. Birutė Galdikas, known as the Trimates, stemming from the legacy of the famous palaeoanthropologist and archaeologist, Dr. Louis Leakey. Dr. Birute's legacy to conserving Borneo's orangutans and their rainforest will be remembered by generations to come...

The Department of Archaeology at Simon Fraser University mourns the passing of Dr. Biruté Mary Galdikas, a cherished colleague, professor, and one of the world’s foremost authorities on primate behaviour.

03/13/2026

Dredging Burrard Inlet could put the environment at risk.

The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority is looking to dredge part of the Burrard Inlet to allow tankers going through it to carry more oil. But Juan José Alava from SFU's School of Resource and Environmental Management says the operation could damage the ecosystem and hurt wildlife.

https://lnkd.in/gd-EzxeG

03/12/2026

Vancouver Fraser Port Authority is looking to dredge part of Burrard Inlet (Vancouver, BC, Canada) to allow more trade for Canadian products and maximize oil tanker capacity.

Via an interview with CBC's LISTEN Live Radio (The Early Edition Show hosted by Stephen Quinn), Dr. Juan José Alava, adjunct professor with SFU's School of Resource and Environmental Management and founder of UBC's Ocean Pollution Research Unit (OPRU), says there needs to be thorough environmental assessments done throughout the process if the project moves forward.

03/11/2026

New and troubling evidence of a growing amount of contaminants in the Cowichan Estuary, Vancouver Island, BC, Canada.

Researchers from Simon Fraser University (REM School and Biological Sciences Department) and a conservation group, the Cowichan Estuary Restoration and Conservation Association (CERCA), are sounding the alarm over new and troubling evidence of a growing amount of fiberglass and how the overlooked contaminant may be affecting aquatic birds, marine life, and coastal communities in the future if preventive measures to mitigate and eliminate fiberglass pollution are not implemented.

A BC University and conservation group say there is new and troubling evidence of a growing amount of forever contaminants in a vital island estuary. Researc...

02/24/2026

We are pleased to share the SFU science communication and news story coverage of our paper on Assessing fiberglass particles in intertidal biofilm and sediments at an anthropogenically impacted estuary on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada led by Dr. Juan Jose Alava.

The new ‘forever’ contaminant? Study raises alarm on marine fiberglass pollution in the Cowichan Estuary on Canada's west coast.

Alava, J. J., Zoveidadianpour, Z., Kazmiruk, T. N., Douglas, T., Schuerholz, G., Calle, N., Juurlink, B. H., Heath, W. A., Drever, M. C., & Bendell, L. (2026). Assessing fiberglass particles in intertidal biofilm and sediments at an anthropogenically impacted estuary in Canada's west coast. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 224, 119187.

Simon Fraser University researchers have uncovered concerning fibreglass contamination in a key estuary on Vancouver Island, raising concerns about how an as-yet overlooked contaminant could affect aquatic birds, marine life and coastal communities that rely on shellfish and seafood.

02/11/2026

What do whales and trees have in common? Like trees in a rainforest, whales capture and store atmospheric carbon—directly in their large bodies—throughout their long lives. In fact, whales are even more efficient at capturing carbon than trees are! https://bit.ly/3SCblGW

Whales store lots of carbon in their large bodies, like trees store carbon in their trunks. They also capture carbon indirectly by providing nutrient-rich waste to phytoplankton, which absorb large amounts of carbon dioxide. Whales even continue to trap carbon after they die and sink to the seafloor in a phenomenon known as a "whale fall." Conserving whale populations can remove carbon from the atmosphere that would otherwise trap heat and increase temperatures.

Credit: NOAA Fisheries

02/10/2026

For the first time, the ocean is fighting back with biology.
A modified strain of Ideonella sakaiensis, engineered to consume PET plastic, has been deployed in a controlled open-ocean trial. Early sensors show a measurable drop in microplastic density within the test zone.
The bacteria breaks down plastic that would otherwise persist for centuries. If the trial succeeds at scale, it could transform how we clean the most polluted waters on Earth.
Source: Ocean Conservation Research

02/09/2026

Call for Papers (new journal 'Clean Oceans'): Micro- and Nanoplastics as Emerging Threats to Marine EcosystemHealth and Conservation
The negative impact of micro- and nanoplastics on marine ecosystem health is a critical ecotoxicological problem of global concern, as these pollutants pose significant threats to biodiversity, ecosystem balance, the ocean, and human health. Continued research in this area enhances our knowledge of how these contaminants affect marine organisms and their habitats, leading to informed conservation strategies. Recent advances, such as improved field sampling, state-of-the-art detection methods, and a better understanding of exposure pathways, including indirect and direct ingestion, and inhalation, along with potential bioaccumulation in marine species and foodwebs, have provided essential insights into the extent of the problem. This includes emerging evidence of impacts on non-faunal organisms such as phytoplankton, algae, and microbial communities. Looking ahead, potential advancements could include the development of bioremediation technologies and the innovation of more environmentally friendly and sustainable material substitutes designed to reduce plastic polymers production and mitigate plastic pollution.
By investigating the pervasive footprint and effects of micro- and nanoplastics on marine ecosystems, we contributeto a broader understanding of the implications for marine health, ultimately aiding in the preservation of marine biodiversity. We invite researchers to submit original research articles, reviews, and methodology articles.
This Collection supports and amplifies research related to
SDG 12, Responsible Consumption & Production; SDG14: Life Below Water
Edited by:
Juan José Alava (School of Resource and Environmental Management, Simon Fraser University, Canada)
https://link.springer.com/collections/jgfafheicf?utm_medium=email&utm_source=generic&utm_content=null&utm_term=null&utm_campaign=MLSR_44420_CON1_GL_PHSS_03HEP_jgfafheicf

01/26/2026

Workshop on Microplastic Pollution
February 6, 2026, 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm
Civil Engineering and Mechanical Engineering Building (CEME) 2202 | 6250 Applied Science Lane, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V6T 1Z4

How can we effectively measure, monitor, and model microplastics in our oceans?
What equitable regulations and policies are needed to limit their presence?
What limitations currently exist?

Join us for a workshop that will explore these questions and provide deeper insight into microplastic pollution in our oceans. The workshop will be facilitated by Dr. Mona Rahmani (UBC), Dr. Maite Maldonado (UBC), and Dr. Juan José Alava (SFU). It will examine the current science and pressing issues related to microplastic pollution and will focus on three key areas: research methods, policy, and ocean science.

How can we effectively measure, monitor and model microplasti

01/03/2026

Fiberglass particles as a new emerging contaminant in Canada

At OPRU and on behalf of our co-authors, Zeinab Zoveidadianpour, Tamara Kazmiruk, Tristan Douglass, Goetz Schuerholz, Nastenka Calle, Bernhard H.J. Juurlink, William A. Heath, Mark C. Drever, and Leah Bendell, we are thrilled to share our new, hot-off-the-press article (open access) on Assessing fiberglass particles in intertidal biofilm and sediments at an anthropogenically impacted estuary in Canada's west, which is the first study or among the first ones on fiberglass pollution in Canada, to the best of our knowledge. Happy New Year 2026!

Alava, J. J., Zoveidadianpour, Z., Kazmiruk, T. N., Douglas, T., Schuerholz, G., Calle, N., Juurlink, B. H., Heath, W. A., Drever, M. C., & Bendell, L. (2026). Assessing fiberglass particles in intertidal biofilm and sediments at an anthropogenically impacted estuary in Canada's west coast. Marine Pollution Bulletin 224: 119187. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2025.119187

12/24/2025

Happy Holidays and Season's Greetings! Happy New Year 2025!

Wishing you all Happy Holidays filled with joy, hope, peace, and love for our oceans and for new research and conservation efforts that will benefit generations to come.

From the OPRU team

11/24/2025

M.Sc. Thesis Defense – Dana Price
Anthropogenic contamination in British Columbia sea otters (Enhydra lutris) from polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFASs)

Date: December 2, 2025
Time: 2:00 pm
Location: AERL 218, Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries, The University of British Columbia, Aquatic Ecosystems Research Laboratory (AERL)

ABSTRACT
Sea otters in British Columbia (BC) (Enhydra lutris kenyoni) face health risks from increasing levels of contaminants in nearshore environments, particularly as their populations recover from historical exploitation and extirpation. As long lived, high-consumption predators, sea otters are vulnerable to bioaccumulation of persistent and toxic pollutants over time. Two major classes of pollutants of concern are per-/polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are linked to human industrial activities and oil processing emissions. Prior to this study, there was no available PFAS data for sea otters in BC, and only one study had examined PAHs in blood from free ranging animals. To assess exposure, we analyzed the liver and skeletal muscle samples from 12 deceased sea otters collected along the BC coast. Of these, PFAS data were obtained for 11 livers and 5 skeletal muscles, and PAH data were obtained for 10 livers and 5 corresponding muscles. PFAS were found in all sea otters, with 8 individual PFAS identified in liver tissues at an average of 10.38 ng/g wet weight (ww), and only one PFAS in skeletal muscles at 0.38 ng/g ww. PAHs were also present in all sampled sea otters, averaging 9.2 ng/g ww (405.4 ng/g lw) in livers and 4.1 ng/g ww (762.2 ng/g lw) in skeletal muscles. PAH profiles suggested petrogenic sources like oil. This study establishes a baseline for PAH concentrations in the event of a future catastrophic oil spill along the coast. Contaminant concentrations were generally higher in sea otters residing near areas with more dense human populations. While the tissue levels observed were lower than those reported in more contaminated regions such as California, chronic exposure at low doses may pose health risks. The findings from this study provide a snapshot of current contaminant exposure in BC sea otters, and establish a baseline for future monitoring as human activity continues to release chemical pollutants into coastal ecosystems to support pollution risk management and inform policy.

Examining Committee:
Marie Auger-Methe (chair)
Chris Harley (department examiner)
Stephen Raverty (committee member)
Juan Jose Alava (committee member)
Andrew Trites (supervisor)