Grant: Applied Research and Development Grants - Level 2

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 habitat degradation from logging remains a challenge in British Columbia (BC). Habitat banks are an important tool used by the forestry sector to compensate for these environmental impacts. In this project, NSERC will support North 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 naturally provides food and habitat for many different species while improving water quality, and thus holds significant potential to rehabilitate degraded marine habitat. Building on the work completed in an NSERC Engage project, this ARD project will test the efficacy of three different kelp planting techniques at sites around Vancouver Island and the adjacent BC mainland: 1) horizontal longlines, common in the kelp aquaculture industry; 2) vertical drop lines, which may also act as a debris curtain; and 3) seeded rock that is out-planted on the ocean floor, a technique that was recently developed in Norway. Three kelp species will be trialed, all of which are commercially valuable and indigenous to British Columbia, and their productivity will be compared to 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 immediately implemented by the industry partners and possibly other forestry companies to build new kelp habitat banks along the coast.