Current Kelp Restoration Projects
Breathing Life Back Into Burrard Inlet
In collaboration with the Tsleil-Waututh Nation, we identified key restoration sites in Burrard Inlet where kelp beds once thrived. These locations served as transplant sites for sugar kelp in the spring of 2024, marking a significant step toward revitalizing the inlet’s marine ecosystem.
Highlights from the Burrard Inlet Restoration Project:
Sugar Kelp Grown in the Ocean Wise Kelp Nursery
For the first time, we used sugar kelp grown in the Ocean Wise Kelp Nursery in a restoration project. It was an exciting milestone to outplant kelp cultivated in-house for this important work.
Testing Out Oysters as Substrates
We experimented with using oyster shells as a substrate, replicating a process observed while snorkeling. Although the shells were lightweight and didn't anchor the kelp as needed, the experiment provided valuable insights for future methods.
Trial Outplanting Before Open Ocean Deployment
To protect young kelp from urchin predation and ensure sufficient sunlight, we trialed green gravel and oyster shells arranged in modified crab traps. This unconventional approach was highly effective, allowing sporophytes to grow rapidly. After just two months, some reached an impressive seven feet in length.
Highlights from the Burrard Inlet Restoration Project:
For the first time, we used sugar kelp grown in the Ocean Wise Kelp Nursery in a restoration project. It was an exciting milestone to outplant kelp cultivated in-house for this important work.
We experimented with using oyster shells as a substrate, replicating a process observed while snorkeling. Although the shells were lightweight and didn't anchor the kelp as needed, the experiment provided valuable insights for future methods.
To protect young kelp from urchin predation and ensure sufficient sunlight, we trialed green gravel and oyster shells arranged in modified crab traps. This unconventional approach was highly effective, allowing sporophytes to grow rapidly. After just two months, some reached an impressive seven feet in length.
