Thursday, October 22, 2009

Help The Kelp


Sometime in the mid 1990s, the once-bountiful kelp beds began disappearing from the waters off Gabriola. No one knows exactly why this has occurred, but a group of local volunteers calling themselves Help The Kelp have banded together to attempt to restore this vital indicator of ocean health. Team members include marine biologists, divers, journalists and concerned citizens. This afternoon, two divers supported by a shore crew and a kayaker, mapped out the locations for the first area to be replanted with kelp spores. With assistance from the Nile Creek Enhancement Society, they hope to seed two kilometres of coastal water off Berry Point and then monitor the progress of the spores as they grow into healthy beds.

5 comments:

Bob Crowe said...

Since I live in a city that is landlocked except for two large, muddy rivers, it's easy to forget how the sea dominates your area. Nice illustration of the project.

Clueless in Boston said...

That's a great project and a very nice photo.

Virginia said...

GOOOO Kelp Helpers GOOOOO! Thanks for the heads up on this good project V.

V - Am I V2 now??? or maybe V jr. or maybe Little V?
Or heaven forbid........BIG V!! :)

Leif Hagen said...

Give a yelp if you can help the kelp! Interesting photo!

Joy said...

A great photo, the black & white gives it a timeless feel. The oceans seem to be in deep trouble, one set of human beings are destroying them, another set are trying to save them.