Development of kelp habitat banks for the British Columbia forestry sector

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Forestry is an economically important industry on Vancouver Island that supports thousands of families.Modern logging practices seek to minimize environmental impacts; however, terrestrial and marine habitatdegradation from logging remains a challenge in British Columbia (BC). Habitat banks are an important toolused by the forestry sector to compensate for these environmental impacts. In this project, NSERC will supportNorth Island College (NIC) and M.C. Wright and Associates (MCWA), in collaboration with BC Timber Sales(BCTS), to develop an innovative type of habitat bank for the forestry sector - planted kelp beds. Kelp naturallyprovides food and habitat for many different species while improving water quality, and thus holds significantpotential to rehabilitate degraded marine habitat. Building on the work completed in an NSERC Engageproject, this ARD project will test the efficacy of three different kelp planting techniques at sites aroundVancouver Island and the adjacent BC mainland: 1) horizontal longlines, common in the kelp aquacultureindustry; 2) vertical drop lines, which may also act as a debris curtain; and 3) seeded rock that is out-planted onthe ocean floor, a technique that was recently developed in Norway. Three kelp species will be trialed, all ofwhich are commercially valuable and indigenous to British Columbia, and their productivity will be comparedto unplanted (naturally seeded) controls. Site conditions will be assessed through dive surveys and data loggers.This project will provide practical insights for kelp habitat bank development in terms of planting techniques,kelp species, and site conditions that were successful or unsuccessful. Results will be immediatelyimplemented by the industry partners and possibly other forestry companies to build new kelp habitat banksalong the coast.