Log booms mowing down bull kelp canopies

In an effort to understand why an important canopy-forming kind of kelp is in rapid decline around Gabriola Island and elsewhere, Help the Kelp has been mapping with GPS units all bull kelp around the island. Later in the summer and throughout the fall and winter months the team will be "replanting" with various techniques to see if we can densify existing beds.

While mapping around the south-western side of the island last week, team members Liam, Michele and Michael examined the area around many large log booms. You'll see from this map produced that bull kelp is quite healthy through False Narrows but then declines rapidly near the log booms directly across from the Harmac kraft pulp mill.

Of course there are many possible reasons why bull kelp is in decline including warming waters, predation, etc., but one possible explanation is that log booms seem to be mowing down canopies. We noticed while mapping that log booms create zones of death around them. As someone who has scuba dived underneath them at nearby Valdes Island, I can testify that the normally rich ecosystems below have been decimated. This photo is an example of dead kelp around log booms.

You will note that the log booms are filled with bull kelp as well thus indicating that the practice of towing log booms across sensitive ecosystems is far too prevalent. It is time for action!

Well a fabulous couple of days mapping our kelp beds. Approximately half the island done now.

The kelp are reproducing. These lovely lighter lines are the sori patches. The baby factories ...yaay!

We did have a few visitors, here's one that came to check us out.

A wonderful surprise was finding False Narrows with beds having a population density of approx. 45 - 50%.

Another wonderful surprise was seeing bull kelp surviving above the water line at low tide.

Okay was on the beach today, and found a full bull kelp with holdfast. The artist in me just had to do this.

The Mapping Project Begins!

Today five volunteers: Ron, Michele, Nancy, Victor and Michael divided themselves into two crews and began mapping Gabriola's kelp beds. Using GPS units to mark the exact locations of the plants, we worked our way from Silva Bay all the way down to Whalebone Beach. We also noted the density of the beds, time and water temperature. We were pleasantly surprised to find more kelp than we'd expected and it seemed quite healthy. Over the next few weeks, we will continue this work until we've circumnavigated the island.

Outboard dolly

Thanks to the generosity of Mark and Wendy Shaw from Gabriola Island, Help the Kelp now owns a solid little dolly for carrying our outboard motor.

Help the Kelp's new research boat "Kelpie"

Help the Kelp on Gabriola Island BC is undertaking a large and complex bull kelp mapping exercise of the entire island. With research funding made available from Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops, the team has purchased a used inflatable boat and new motor.

Please welcome "Kelpie." She's a 8.5' Zodiac soft-bottomed inflatable boat that was purchased at a subsidized price from Bill Beedie of Gabriola Automotive. Thanks Bill!

The team also purchased a special environmentally-sound 5 HP outboard motor made by Lehr that runs on propane. This motor was provided at a substantially reduced price by West Marine in Nanaimo, and we wish to thank the manager Charlie (right) and store employee (and fellow project member) Douglas.

HTK Travels to Hornby

 

 Rob at the helm

                                                                       Paul ready to dive

On Wednesday June 19th, Michael Mehta, Paul O'Sullivan and Victor Anthony went up to Hornby Island to meet with Rob and Amanda Zielinski and Amanda's father Bill Heath. They've been working on kelp restoration for several years now and were most generous with their time and knowledge. Rob and Amanda run a diving charter business and they graciously facilitated a couple of dives for Paul and Michael to see up close the work they've been doing with kelp in the area. Back on shore, we had a very productive discussion over lunch. A big THANK YOU to Rob, Amanda and Bill!

Article in the Gabriola Sounder: Island group mapping and replanting ocean forests

The Gabriola Sounder published an excellent article on the Help the Kelp Project on June 17 2013. An excerpt from the article states:

Years ago, plying through Gabriola’s waters by boat meant maneuvering through dense stretches of bull kelp.

While some areas like Drumbeg and Gabriola Passage still have rich kelp canopies, the algae remains conspicuously absent in other areas.

Its disappearance has alarmed a group of Gabriolans and spurred them into action to save the keystone plant species by replanting kelp beds in Gabriola’s waters.

To read more click here.

Story about Help the Kelp at World Oceans Day

A short article in The Flying Shingle newspaper provides more context about the work of Help the Kelp. We participated recently in World Oceans Day and had a great time. An excerpt from the article states:

Community groups such as GROWLS, the power squadron,  and Save Our Shores had displays as did Help the Kelp, a group recently re-launched by organiser Michael Mehta and others.

“One of the most important things for Help the Kelp is to convince the community that what we’re doing is not only very important but timely,” Mehta told The Shingle.

“There are a lot of people on the island who are concerned about marine ecosystems,” he said. When communities work together on such issues, he said, they can make a difference.

The full article can be found here.

Video of Help the Kelp at World Oceans Day

Help the Kelp team member Michele narrates the following short video of our participation at World Oceans Day on Gabriola Island (June 9 2013).

Kelp beds in jeopardy on a global basis

I just came across this beautifully done documentary that shows the majesty of kelp forests in Tasmania. You should watch this clip to the end because there's a sad ending that we all need to keep in mind.

Tasmania's disappearing kelp forests

Sealink Pusher barge cruises right through our planted bull kelp

I just watched from my window with a sense of shock as Seaspan's Sealink Pusher cruised right through our planted bull kelp beds. This 500'+ barge didn't need to come this close on such a calm evening. Here's a screen capture from approximately 9:02PM on June 10 2013.

We really need to figure out how to mark our work in future so that ships and smaller boats don't continue to destroy the slowly recovering kelp beds.