Streaming Media
Presentation Abstract
Four years ago we began investigating ways we could restore critical kelp habitat to areas we observed decimated by urchin grazing and marine heat waves. We attended a 'Kelp Restoration Workshop' on Hornby Island where we were inspired by community members working on kelp restoration. We learned about seeding kelp on line, we did a literature review investigating kelp culturing techniques, we sought out the advice of academics and experts and then we took action. We have taken up the practice of nursery cultivation of kelp and out-planting of kelp on line at permitted aquaculture leases on the Sunshine Coast, BC. Our lease has existing dock and anchor line infrastructure in place that is well suited for the deployment of seeded kelp lines, and our personal skill sets are also well suited to the transfer of knowledge and know how required for this project. Each fall we set up our kelp nursery, collecting kelp sorus tissues, inoculating spools of twine that are grown out in aquaria for up to 6 weeks. Out-planting of Nereocystis leutkeana, takes place November - December and by February kelp is growing rapidly with lengthening daylight. Lines are adjusted in February to a depth that keep young pneumatocysts from reaching the surface and being sunburnt in early spring. By March, many fish are observed schooling in and around the suspended kelp bed, some staking out territory for laying egg masses. It became clear that our Vital Kelp Project was a success when an abundance of a small pandalid shrimp species, various dorid nudibranchs and long thin tube snouts, Aulorhynchus flavidus, were observed using the kelp as habitat. The tube snouts lay thousands of egg clusters throughout the kelp holdfasts. Herring, anchovy and out migrating juvenile salmonids have been observed schooling in the cultivated kelp habitat.
Session Title
Poster Session 3: Land - Water Connections
Conference Track
SSE14: Posters
Conference Name
Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference (2022 : Online)
Document Type
Event
SSEC Identifier
SSE-posters-398
Start Date
27-4-2022 4:00 PM
End Date
27-4-2022 4:30 PM
Type of Presentation
Poster
Genre/Form
conference proceedings; presentations (communicative events); posters
Subjects – Topical (LCSH)
Kelp bed ecology--British Columbia--Sunshine Coast; Kelps--British Columbia--Sunshine Coast; Plants, Cultivated--British Columbia--Sunshine Coast; Fishes--Habitat--British Columbia--Sunshine Coast; Marine habitats--British Columbia--Sunshine Coast
Geographic Coverage
Sunshine Coast (B.C.)
Rights
Copying of this document in whole or in part is allowable only for scholarly purposes. It is understood, however, that any copying or publication of this document for commercial purposes, or for financial gain, shall not be allowed without the author's written permission.
Type
Text
Language
English
Format
application/pdf
Included in
Fresh Water Studies Commons, Marine Biology Commons, Natural Resources and Conservation Commons
Northern Salish Sea Vital Kelp Project - Cultivation and Out-plant of Kelp for Fish Habitat. Timing and Use by Fish.
Four years ago we began investigating ways we could restore critical kelp habitat to areas we observed decimated by urchin grazing and marine heat waves. We attended a 'Kelp Restoration Workshop' on Hornby Island where we were inspired by community members working on kelp restoration. We learned about seeding kelp on line, we did a literature review investigating kelp culturing techniques, we sought out the advice of academics and experts and then we took action. We have taken up the practice of nursery cultivation of kelp and out-planting of kelp on line at permitted aquaculture leases on the Sunshine Coast, BC. Our lease has existing dock and anchor line infrastructure in place that is well suited for the deployment of seeded kelp lines, and our personal skill sets are also well suited to the transfer of knowledge and know how required for this project. Each fall we set up our kelp nursery, collecting kelp sorus tissues, inoculating spools of twine that are grown out in aquaria for up to 6 weeks. Out-planting of Nereocystis leutkeana, takes place November - December and by February kelp is growing rapidly with lengthening daylight. Lines are adjusted in February to a depth that keep young pneumatocysts from reaching the surface and being sunburnt in early spring. By March, many fish are observed schooling in and around the suspended kelp bed, some staking out territory for laying egg masses. It became clear that our Vital Kelp Project was a success when an abundance of a small pandalid shrimp species, various dorid nudibranchs and long thin tube snouts, Aulorhynchus flavidus, were observed using the kelp as habitat. The tube snouts lay thousands of egg clusters throughout the kelp holdfasts. Herring, anchovy and out migrating juvenile salmonids have been observed schooling in the cultivated kelp habitat.
