Conserving Marine Ecosystems- taken from Biodiversity in British Columbia

Excerpt from: Michael Hawkes, M.W. 1994. Conserving Marine Ecosystems: Are British Columbia’s Marine Protected Areas Adequate? Chap. 28 in: Biodiversity in British Columbia: Our Changing Environment, edited by E. McCullum & L. Harding. Environment Canada: Vancouver.
With permission from:
Michael W. Hawkes
Department of Botany
University of British Columbia
#3529-6270 University Blvd.
Vancouver, B.C. V6T 1 Z4

Conserving Marine Ecosystems:
Are British Columbia’s Marine Protected Areas
Adequate?

 

Despite the fact that the marine environment encompasses two-thirds of the Earth’s surface, little attention has been paid to marine conservation issues until relatively recently (Eiswerth, 1990; Hawkes, 1990 and 1992; Earle, 1991; Thorne-Miller and Catena, 199 1; MacInnis 1992; Norse, 1993). Of the 27,000 kilometres of coastline in B.C., there is not one kilometre within which all marine organisms, both commercial and non-commercial, are completely protected from harvesting. Marine protected areas are essential components of any coastal conservation strategy (Lien and Graham, 1985; Bohnsack et al., 1989; Graham, 1990: Beatley, 199 1). Dethier et al. (1989) note that,

There should be a push for the establishment of large marine preserves. There is a rapidly increasing need for areas protected from all human disturbance that can serve as natural habitats, nurseries for young, sources of spores and larvae of harvested species, and ‘controls’ for research into the impacts that we are having on our nearshore ecosystems.
 
However, the establishment of marine protected areas in Canada has been impeded by a multiplicity of jurisdictions, agencies, and legislation. Four levels of government (federal, provincial, municipal, and first nations) are involved in governing the marine environment (Table 28- 1). Different agencies and legislation control the water surface, the water body, the ocean bed, and the tidal strip and adjacent coastal land (Dorcey, 1983). More than thirty agencies and public groups were involved in the B.C. offshore hydrocarbon panel hearings (Langford et al., 1988). As well, federal, provincial, and interjurisdictional interests are not well coordinated on issues involving the coastal zone (Day and Gamble, 1990). The split between federal and provincial ownership and jurisdiction results in several areas of overlapping responsibility. “Nowhere in the coastal zone–upland, foreshore, subtidal land or wateris there a clear undisputed basis for one government to be the sole authority” (Dorcey, 1986).

 


Existing legislation requires that the relevant government own” the affected seabed before a protected area can be established (Westwater Research Centre, 1992a). Regardless of which level of government owns the land/seabed upon which a marine protected area is to be located, the federal government retains exclusive constitutional jurisdiction over: issues transcending international boundaries, navigation (Transport Canada), marine pollution (Environment Canada), migratory birds (Environment Canada) and the conservation and management of all organisms in the water column (Department of Fisheries and Oceans). Depending on the location of aged the protected area, First Nations may also have rights to resources and land.

 

Table 28-1: Some Major Jurisdictions Responsible for the Coastal Marine Environment.

Federal Government
1. Fisheries, finfish and shellfish (includes all invertebrates), and marine mammals,
Department of Fisheries and Oceans
2. Shipping and navigation, Transport Canada
3. National Marine Parks, Canadian Heritage (Parks Service)
4. Migratory birds, Environment Canada (Canadian Wildlife Service)
5. Marine pollution, Environment Canada (Environmental Protection Service)
6. Energy and mineral resources, Energy, Mines and Resources Canada
Provincial Government
1. Marine plants, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries 197
2. Sea bed, jurisdiction sometimes disputed between the federal and First Nations governments. Ownership of the seabed in territorial waters is disputed between federal and provincial governments, as are exploitation rights to the sea bed on the continental shelf.
3. Environmental protection, Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks
4. Provincial marine parks and provincial marine ecological reserves, Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks.

Municipal Government

First Nations Governmen

 

To review the current status of marine protected areas in B.C., let us look at national marine parks, provincial marine parks and are provincial ecological reserves.

 

National Marine Park Reserves

The National Marine Parks Policy allows for multiple use, unlike terrestrial national parks, which are strict preserves. Multiple use is regulated under a zoning system as follows (Environment Canada, 1986): Zone I – Preservation, Zone II – Natural environment, Zone III – Recreation, Zone IV – General use, and Zone V – Park services. Only Zone I is given complete preserve status. A draft of proposed revisions to Canadian Parks Service policies (dated June 15, 1993) proposes a three zone system and a name change from national marine parks to national marine conservation areas. However, concern remains centred around the fact that,

Fisheries will continue in marine parks, subject to protecting the ecosystem, to maintaining viable fish stocks and to attaining the purpose and objectives of the park …. Jurisdiction over fisheries will, therefore, remain with theMinister of Fisheries and Oceans (Environment Canada, 1986).


To date, B.C. does not have any full-fledged national marine parks: rather, there is one national marine park reserve and a national park reserve with a marine component. Substantial areas
of three of the five marine regions in British Columbia are partially protected (Lien, 1989) by the marine component of Pacific Rim National Park Reserve on the outer coast of Vancouver Island (Fig
ure 28- 1), and Gwaii Haanas/South Moresby National Marine Park Reserve (Figure 28-2) on the southem portion of Haida Gwaii (Queen
Charlotte Islands).

Portions of this paper have been adapted from Hawkes (1990) and Hawkes (1992).

Pacific Rim National Park Reserve

On the exposed west coast of Vancouver Island, Pacific Rim National Park Reserve has a marine component that is 155.4 square kilometres in extent and is divided into three segments: Long Beach, the Broken Group Islands, and the West Coast Trail. An initial agreement to establish Pacific Rim National Park was signed by the federal and provincial governments on April 21, 1970. This agreement was subsequently amended on March 27, 1973, October 2 1, 1977, and February 19, 1987, (personal communication on Sept 6, 1990 with Claude Mondor, Environment Canada, Parks Service).

Under amendments to the National Park Act made in 1988, it became necessary to proclaim Pacific Rim as a National Park Reserve until resolution of the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council native land claim, which includes all the land and marine environment within Pacific Rim. To date (January, 1993), however, Pacific Rim still has not been proclaimed in Parliament (personal communication on January 14, 1993 with Bill Henwood, Environment Canada, Parks Service). Once it is proclaimed, the National Park Act will apply to Pacific Rim National Park Reserve as if it were a national park. The terrestrial portion of the Park is being managed under the National Park Policy whereas the marine component is being managed under the National Marine Parks Policy (Environment Canada, 1991).

Current status of the fisheries in Pacific Rim National Park Reserve is as follows. The only commercial fin fisheries that are open are salmon and herring roe-on-kelp. All commercial invertebrate fisheries are closed except for Dungeness crab (Cancer magister) and squid (Loligo opalescens). The recreational fin fishery and invertebrate fishery are both open, but an application was made by Parks

Figure 28-1. Location of Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. Source: Environment Canada 1991, p.3.
Figure 28-2. Proposed Boundaries for Gwaii Haanas/South Moresby National Marine Park Reserve. Source: Claude Mondor, Parks Canada
 
Canada (September, 1991) to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans requesting closure of all recreational invertebrate fisheries and the recreational rockfish fishery. As of January 1993, no closures have been made (personal communication on January 14, 1993 with Bill Henwood, Environment Canada, Parks Service).

Gwaii-Haanas/South Moresby National Marine Park Reserve

A Federal – Provincial Agreement (Canada and British Columbia 1988) established the Haanas/South Moresby National Park Reserve and National Marine Park Reserve on July 12, 1988. The Canada/Haida agreement for joint management of the park was signed in 1992. The proposed marine park boundaries extend between six and ten kilometres from the coast and cover an area of 3,180 square kilometres, thereby encompassing a diversity of west coast marine environments. These boundaries are tentative, pending completion of offshore energy and mineral resource assessments (Lien, 1989). Petroleum and mineral resource assessments were finished in 1992, and final marine park boundaries were to be set by December 31, 1992 (personal communication on Sept 6, 1991 with Claude Mondor, Environment Canada, Parks Service). However, discussions between Parks Canada, the Haida Nation, and the Ministry of Energy, Mines, and Resources are still ongoing and it is expected that final park boundaries will be established sometime in 1993 (personal communication on January 14, 1993, with Bill Henwood, Environment Canada, Parks Service).

British Columbian Provincial Parks With Marine Components

Provincial marine parks, ecological reserves, and recreation areas that have marine components are subject to all of the jurisdictional complexities mentioned previously. Of key importance is the fact that the province lacks complete legislative and jurisdictional authority over the marine organisms and the marine environment in its parks. Pursuant to The Constitution Act (Canada, 1982), as amended, jurisdiction over harvesting of organisms (except for marine plants) in such marine protected areas rests with the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans has not invoked complete closures on the commercial and recreational harvesting of all fish and invertebrates in provincial marine protected areas. Several marine protected areas have no closures at all. Youds (1985) noted, “the marine conservation value of foreshore and subtidal provincial parkland [is] more symbolic than substantive.” Recent initiatives are, however, improving this situation.

Thirty-one coastal provincial parks are listed on the Coastal Marine Parks of British Columbia map (BC Parks, 1989a). Forty-two percent of these parks are exclusively terrestrial, with no foreshore or subtidal component. Cape Scott, which has a large foreshore and subtidal component, is not listed because it is treated as a wilderness park (Youds, 1985). The primary focus of these parks is the recreational boater (Deardon, 1985; Chettleburgh, 1985) and not the preservation of representative marine ecosystems or biodiversity.

Parks Plan 90 (BC Parks, 1990a) offered little hope for improvement in the representation and protection of marine environments in the provincial parks system. In Landscapes for B.C. Parks (BC Parks, 1990a) it was stated that,

It is a reasonable argument that park visitors, being largely land-based (even if they are boating or diving), are not inclined to seek recreational or appreciative experiences in these offshore, oceanic areas. These are areas of industrial interest (commercial fishing, shipping) but of marginal direct interest to the general public. Furthermore, the provincial Park Act has significant jurisdictional limitations in such areas. Therefore, it has been concluded that at this time offshore marine environments should be excluded from the Landscapes system and from consideration within the provincial parks system.

At present (December, 1993), there are 50 Class A provincial parks and 3 recreational areas that have an inter-tidal and/or subtidal component, totalling 92,399 hectares of marine waters (Table 28-2). Since Parks Plan 90 was written, BC Parks has recently shown renewed interest in provincial marine protected areas. The recent establishment of Broughton Archipelago Marine Park, which encompasses a large area of marine waters, constitutes a significant step toward more adequately protecting marine ecosystems and biodiversity.

British Columbian Ecological Reserves With Marine Components

In 1971, the Ecological Reserves Act was passed, formalizing the B.C. Ecological Reserves Program. Setting aside important, unique, or representative ecosystems and species is the main objective, with conservation and research being the primary function of the Ecological Reserves Program (BC Parks, 1989b). Most reserves are open to the public for non-destructive observational use but, unlike provincial parks, they are not created for outdoor recreation.

Of the 134 ecological reserves established in B.C. to date, 15 have intertidal and/or subtidal areas (Table 28-3). Only 13 of these are presently included in the ecological reserves system because reserves #95 and #96 have been transferred to federal jurisdiction to be included in Gwaii Haanas/S. Moresby National Park Reserve and National Marine Park Reserve. The 13 marine ecological reserves include estuarine, semi-protected, and exposed sites, as well as south and north coast localities. Most of these reserves are small (50-350 hectares), which brings up the whole question of the minimum reserve size necessary to maintain viable populations, a topic much discussed in the conservation biology literature (Gilpin and SoulŽ, 1986; Newmark, 1987, Usher, 1987). However, some of the smaller reserves seem appropriate for protecting local, unique, or especially diverse habitats, such as Race Rocks (reserve #97), Kerouard Islands, (reserve #96), and Pine, Storm, Tree Islands (reserve # 120).

The 13 ecological reserves include 47,697 hectares of marine waters. Two of them are noteworthy for their size and extensive subtidal areas: Byers, Conroy, Harvey, and Sinnett Islands (reserve # 103) and Checleset Bay (reserve # 109). The Checleset Bay Ecological Reserve is over 98% marine, runs 30 kilometres from east to west, and covers a total area of 346.5 square kilometres. It includes diverse habitats, both intertidal and subtidal. This showpiece reserve was set aside December 10, 1981 to provide sufficient high-quality marine habitat for reintroduced sea otters (Enhydra lutris), an endangered species.

Race Rocks (Ecological Reserve #97) in the Strait of Juan de Fuca has the most protected status of any marine protected area in the province. It is closed (by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans) to the commercial and recreational harvesting of all marine life except for recreational (sport) fishing of salmon and halibut. (Ed note: now closed to all in 2006–due to RockFish protection areas) The reasoning behind this decision is that salmon and halibut are migratory finfish and, therefore, transient in the reserve, so closing these fisheries in the reserve will do nothing to conserve these species. However, accidental catch of resident fish in the reserve, especially rockfish, is a matter of concern.

An additional 12 ecological reserves which do not contain marine waters do nevertheless, protect important marine features and organisms, such as seabird colonies and seal or sea lion haul-out sites. Collectively, provincial marine parks and ecological reserves cover 0.06% of B.C.’s marine environment (out to the 12 mile limit).

Name of Park or Recreational Area Area (ha) of Marine Component
Botanical Beach 120.0
Brooks Peninsula (R.A.) 5,832.0
Broughton Archipelago Marine Park 10,034.0
Cape Scott Park 1,450.0
Codville Lagoon Marine Park 315.0
Copeland Islands Marine Park 257.0
Cormorant Channel Provincial Park 505.0
Desolation Sound Marine Park 2,550.0
Echo Bay 0.5
Fjordland (R.A.) 6,645.0
Gabriola Sands 4.5
Garden Bay 0.5
Green Inlet Marine Park 17.9
Hakai (R.A.) 56,987.0
Halkett Bay 19.0
Harmony Islands Marine Park 26.0
Helliwell Provincial Park 2,803.0
Jackson Narrows Marine Park 30.0
Kitson Island 24.7
Klewnuggit Inlet Marine Park 304.0
Lowe Inlet Marine Park 212.0
Manson’s Landing 53.0
Miracle Beach Park 27.5
Mitlenatch I. Nature Park 119.0
Montague Harbour Marine Par k 3.0
Naikoon Park 216.0
Newcastle Island Marine Park 34.0
Octopus Islands 43.0
Oliver Cove Marine Park 26.0
Parkinson Creek 80.0
Penrose Island Marine Park 1,079.0
Pirate’s Cove Marine Park 7.0
Plumper Cove Marine Park 33.5
Porteau Cove 45.5
Princess Louisa Marine Park 27.0
Princess Margaret Marine Park 340.0
Raft Cove 265.0
Rathtrevor Beach Park 240.0
Rebecca Spit Marine Park 156.0
Roscoe Bay 47.0
Rugged Point 150.0
Saltery Bay 30.0
Sandwell 9.0
Sidney Spit Marine Park 177.0
Smuggler Cove Marine Park 16.0
Teakerne Arm 10.7
Thurston Bay Marine Park 80.0
Tribune Bay Park 23.0
Union Passage Marine Park 395.0
Wallace Island 0.2
Walsh Cove 46.0
Whaleboat Island 7.0
Winter Cove 16.0

Table 28-2: Provincial Parks and Recreation Areas with Marine Components

Reserve Number Reserve Name and Location Description
Area (ha) of Marine
Component
24.
Baeria Rocks, Barkley Sound
Seabird colony and subtidal marine life
48.00
45. V.J. Krajina, W. coast Graham I. Virgin marine shoreline 100.00
66. Ten Mile Point, Victoria Inter- and subtidal marine life 10.00
67. Satellite Channel, between Saltspring Island and Saanich Peninsula Subtidal marine life 343.30
94. Oak Bay Islands, east of Victoria Seabirds and marine life 163.00
*95
Anthony Island, south of Gwaii Haanas (South Moresby) Seabird colony
*96. Kerouard Islands, south of Gwaii Haanas (S. Moresby) Seabird colony
97 Race Rocks, southwest of Victoria Outstanding marine community,
sea-lion haul-out, seabirds
200.00
103. Byers, Conroy, Harvey & Sinnett Islands, Hecate Strait Important seabird and marine mammal breeding areas 11,780.00
109. Checleset Bay, northwest of Kyuquot, Vancouver Island Extensive marine shoreline, reefs and islets provide habitat for BC’s prime sea otter population; seabirds, marine life 33,150.00
111. Robson Bight (Michael Bigg), Johnstone Strait Killer whales and a crucial part of
their habitat; pristine estuary
1,248.00
119. Tahsish River, west coast of Vancouver Island, south of Port McNeill Pristine westcoast estuary 50.00
120. Duke of Edinburgh (Pine/Storm/Tree Islands), northwest of Port Hardy, Vancouver Island Largest seabird nesting colony in BC; spectacular inter- and subtidal marine life 535.00
121. Brackman Island, north of Sidney, Vancouver Island Inter- and subtidal marine life 30.00
129. Klaskish River, southwest of Port Alice, Vancouver Island Estuary with native oysters 40.00
. * now part of Gwaii Haanas/South Morsbv National Park Reserve and National Marine Park Reserve

Table 28-3: B.C. Ecological Reserves with Marine Components.

Inadequacy of Existing Marine Protected Areas

 

Is marine biodiversity adequately protected and are marine ecosystems adequately represented by our present system of marine protected areas? The answer has to be an unequivocal no. Existing areas have not been established with uniform biological criteria or an overview of the region. Few, if any, protect entire ecosystems (especially the land/sea interface), and the organisms in existing areas are inadequately protected.

As an example of the management problems common to marine protected areas in B.C., I would like to briefly review three of the marine ecological reserves: Baeria Rocks, Checleset Bay, and Robson Bight (Michael Bigg). In these three cases, the management problems (identified in the Management Statements produced by the Ecological Reserves Program [BC Parks, 1990b]) arise from the jurisdictional complexities in the marine environment, and the failure of other agencies, in particular the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, to establish complete protection, through closures, for all marine organisms in these reserves.

 

Baeria Rocks

 

Recreational fishing under the jurisdiction of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (federal) has wiped out the entire adult rockfish population. Rockfish populations are in trouble in other areas of the coast, too. These fish are long-lived and resident; many live 70-80 years and don’t reach reproductive maturity until 20 years of age (personal communication on August 29, 1990 with Andy Lamb, Department of Fisheries and Oceans).

 

Checleset Bay

Clearcut logging under the jurisdiction of the provincial Ministry of Forests has negatively impacted the reserve through increased runoff and ocean turbidity. The infamous clearcut on Mt. Paxton, which was portrayed as a three page foldout in National Geographic Magazine (Findley, 1990), borders on Checleset Bay. Until recently, both finfish and shellfish harvesting, under the jurisdiction of the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans, were occurring in the reserve. Marine charts do not indicate the existence of this (or any other) marine reserve, and logging barge traffic, which is under the jurisdiction of Transport Canada (federal), traverses the reserve.

 

Robson Bight (Michael Bigg)

In the Tsitika Valley, clearcuts made under the jurisdiction of the provincial Ministry of Forests are the big concern, as they may lead to increased erosion and sedimentation in the estuary. On October 3, 1990, the Federal government (Department of Fisheries and Oceans) recommended a moratorium on all logging in the area. The federal /provincial Johnstone Strait Killer Whale Committee final report released in June 1992 (Canada and British Columbia,1992) recommended an immediate five year moratorium on all forest harvesting in the lower Tsitika. Other highlights of the twenty-seven management recommendations in the report are: the Department of Fisheries and Oceans should immediately designate a Special Management Zone in the killer whale (Orcinus orca) core area of western Johnstone Strait: BC Parks should expand the land portion of the Ecological Reserve south and cast to provide a better buffer for the rubbing beaches, and expand the marine portion of the Reserve one kilometre east; Department of Fisheries and Oceans should eliminate mooring and commercial fishing within the expanded boundaries of the marine portion of the Ecological Reserve; the Reserve should be closed to all vessels, except by permit: and Department of Fisheries and Oceans should manage salmon stocks in a conservative manner in this area.

The management issues in both Checleset Bay and Robson Bight (Michael Bigg) underscore the need to protect whole ecosystems, not just individual species or portions of their immediate habitat. Yet, the many different levels of government with jurisdictional control over different parts of a single ecosystem are managing on a species rather than on an ecosystem basis.

Nor will simply setting aside marine protected areas be enough to preserve the biota. Monitoring and further research into individual species biology and ecosystem dynamics are particularly needed. So also are much more knowledge about the basic stewardship of protected areas (Deblinger and Jenkings, 1991) and significantly enhanced cooperation between provincial, federal, municipal and First Nations governments, including a more formal mechanism for facilitating cooperation on a regular basis (Westwater Research Centre, 1992b).

Even if marine protected areas within British Columbia were given complete sanctuary status, which they should be, they still would be inadequate for protecting much of the marine life within their boundaries if the marine environment outside their boundaries is not being utilized in a sustainable fashion. International transboundary issues with Alaska and Washington State are also a concern (Across the Border, 1992).

Threats to Marine Biodiversity

We do not have a history of sustainably managing living marine resources. Eradication of the sea otter from our coast around the turn of the century and the consequent sea urchin population explosion has left us with highly modified, rocky nearshore ecosystems that are much lower in seaweed biomass and diversity, than they should be (Chapter 11, this volume). By the early 1900s, whaling had eliminated humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) populations from the Strait of Georgia (Merilees, 1985). Before 1913, over 3,800 Steller’s sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus) used the islands of The Sea Otter Group in the Scott Islands as a breeding rookery. Between 1913 and 1938, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans machine-gunned 29,800 animals, resulting in the permanent demise of The Sea Otter Group rookery (Obee and Ellis, 1992). The three remaining sea lion rookeries in the Scott Islands are the most important ones along the B.C. coast. The current population of Steller’s sea lions is only about one third of its former size, and the population has not recovered appreciably since being protected in 1970 (Olesiuk and Bigg, 1988).

Due to poor recruitment of young abalone into the population, both the commercial and recreational fisheries for northern abalone (Hatiotis kamtschatkana) are closed for five years (Department of Fisheries and Oceans, 1990a). Many other non-traditional invertebrate species such as the geoduck clam (Panopea generosa), red sea urchin (Stongylocentrotus

franciscanus) and sea cucumber (Stichopus califomicus) represent “gold-rush” fisheries that are being operated on an experimental basis because their biology is incompletely known (Jamieson and Francis, 1986). Many of these species are locally ecologically important because they affect the distribution and abundance of other organisms in the system. Giant geoduck clams have an average age of seventy years and may live as long as one hundred and forty years (Jamieson and Francis, 1986). These clams are being harvested by divers using a technique that is the underwater equivalent of strip-mining.

Due to declining stocks, the commercial lingcod (Ophiodon elongatus) fishery in the Strait of Georgia is closed and strict size limits have been instituted for the sport fishery (Department of Fisheries and Oceans, 1990b). Rockfish populations throughout the coast have shown drastic declines, over the past twenty years, due to overfishing (personal communication on October 29, 1992 with Bernie Hanby, Sport Fishing Advisory Board).

Sources of pollutants in the B.C. marine environment include municipal effluent (point-source and non point-source), dumping of dredged material, pulp and paper mill discharges, mine tailings, oil spills and related environmental mishaps. Despite government assurances (Langford et al., 1988) that marine environmental quality has declined along only a small percentage of the B.C. coastline, there is cause for serious concern because the chronic, sublethal toxic and synergistic effects of pollutants in B.C.’s marine ecosystems are poorly understood (Kay, 1989).

In the most recent synopsis of marine environmental quality on the Pacific Coast, Wells and Rolston (1991) state, “Signs of widespread ecosystem stress have been detected and degradation is pronounced in many inshore waters along the coast.” Dioxins/ furans and other organochlorine discharges from pulp mills are recent examples of land-based marine pollution that have had a significant local impact on marine organisms and associated fisheries in B.C. Chlorinated organic chemicals are also becoming more widespread through bioaccumulation in migratory seabirds and marine mammals (Wells and Rolston, 1991).

Some of the competing and potentially incompatible uses of the marine environment are summarized in Table 28-4. At present, all these uses are under the jurisdiction and control of various levels of government, different agencies, and legislation. Because the land and sea portions of the coastal zone have been managed separately, often with an ad-hoe approach, the ecological integrity of the zone has not always been adequately protected (Ray, 1988 and 1991). This fragmented approach has left us without an adequate overview of coastal zone planning, use, and management (Hildebrand, 1989).

1) Preservation/Conservation of wilderness, biodiversity, & unique or representative marine ecosystems

2) Marine environmental education areas

3) Scientific research areas

4) Preservation of the cultural heritage of first nations people

5) Historic sites

6) Recreation areas/tourism

7) Fisheries (finfish, invertebrates, marine plants)

8) Mariculture sites

9) Port sites

10) Oil & gas exploration/extraction

11) Mineral extraction

12) Ocean dumping

13)Discharge of pollutants (land-based, from point source & non-point source)

14) Marine transportation

15) Log handling

16) Undersea pipelines & transmission lines

17) Military uses

Table 28-4: Competing and Potentially Incompatible Uses of the Marine Environment.

Day and Gamble (1990) made a number of innovative recommendations for improving the approach to coastal zone management in British Columbia, but few if any have been acted on. As C™tŽ (1989) pointed out, our policies for addressing problems in the coastal zone are largely focused on symptoms rather than causes.

Coastal Zone Stewardship

Our dealings with the marine environment have tended to be exploitative, with emphasis on short-term gain rather than long-term sustainability. We need to transform ourselves from “gold-rush fishers” to responsible stewards of our marine environment and its diverse biological treasures. Integrated coastal planning, to date, has tended to focus on a relatively few major river estuaries, such as the Fraser (Dorcey, 1991), the Squamish, and the Cowichan (Morgan et al., 1988). There is now an urgent need to extend this approach to the entire B.C. coast. Four key steps are needed to do so.

First, coastal zone planning, research, and management need to be coordinated and a coastal ecosystem classification scheme and inventory developed. Similar recommendations were made fifteen years ago by The Coastal Zone Resource Subcommittee (1 977a) but, regrettably, these have been largely ignored. The marine and estuarine habitat classification system developed by Dethier (1990) for Washington State could be adapted for use in B.C. Existing baseline information should be compiled and data gaps identified, as was done by the Coastal Zone Resource Subcommittee (1977b). Wherever possible, data should be incorporated into a central data base with GIS (Geographic Information System) capability, so that maps providing information specific to a particular location can be generated. The provincial Ministry of the Environment’s Environmental Emergency Services Branch has developed such a marine data base for its Oil Spill Shoreline Sensitivity Model. At present, though, this data base is limited to the south coast and its main purpose is to identify shorelines sensitive to oil spills and cleanup operations (Howes and Wainwright, 1992). Only in this way will it be possible to determine the status of marine conservation and use in B.C.’s coastal zone.

The second step should be to ensure that the system of marine protected areas adequately represents genetic, species and ecosystem diversity. The Endangered Spaces Project’s (Earthlife Canada Foundation, 1991) land-use planning proposal for the Province of B.C. would provide an excellent framework for such an undertaking for the marine environment.

It is hoped that the new provincial Protected Areas Strategy (BC Parks and Ministry of Forests, 1992) will address marine protected area issues. Since conservation proposals for terrestrial ecosystems recommend preservation of twelve percent of the land-base (Brundfland, 1987), we should also set a goal of preserving, in marine protected areas, twelve percent (by area and content) of all marine assets in the coastal zone of B.C. These areas should be one hundred percent protected from consumptive use of any marine organisms. Other jurisdictions are far ahead of us in marine conservation. New Zealand is targeting ten percent of its coastal marine environment to be set aside in marine reserves (Ballantine, 1991) and complete marine fishery reserves are being proposed for the southeast coast of the United States (Plan Development Team, 1990). Bohnsack (1992) has presented extensive evidence that such reserves are the best method for protecting biodiversity and natural community equilibrium.

The third step should be to allocate more money for research on the basic biology and population dynamics of fish, invertebrates, marine mammals, and marine plants. Improved stewardship of the coastal zone also depends on experimental research into ecosystem function (Dorcey, 1983).

Fisheries often have been managed to maximize economic returns, frequently with inadequate knowledge of the biology of harvested species or consideration of the effects of harvesting on the rest of the ecosystem. As noted by Jamieson and Caddy (1986) “Economic considerations form the bottom line of most management situations…” However, Jamieson (1986) cautions that “most invertebrate fisheries, then, will never warrant or command large investments in data collection, monitoring or research, and may never be supported by data bases and assessments adequate for active management.” In view of this lack of information, experimental fisheries, such as the invertebrate fisheries and the newly established shark fishery (Pynn, 1991), should not be allowed. The shark fishery, especially, should be halted, since a recent report (Manire and Gruber, 1990) has revealed that many shark species in the United States and elsewhere may be headed toward extinction due to overfishing! There are four main problems with experimental fisheries (Dethier et al., 1989):

  1. by the time a problem is recognized (through, for example drops in catch/unit effort or in local population size), it may be serious and potentially irreversible, and
  2. it is politically difficult to close an established fishery.

The fourth and perhaps most important step is to recognize and respond to the need for increased public awareness and input on matters of coastal zone use and stewardship, in general, and marine protected areas, in particular (Kaza, 1988). There is an urgent need for conservation groups, and other non-governmental organizations, to extend their interests from their traditional terrestrial focus, or specific marine species bias, to the whole marine environment and its biota. Initiatives and groups such as the Vancouver Island Shorelines Workshop (Smiley et al., 1991; sponsored by The Federation of B.C. Naturalists and the Vancouver Island Natural History Clubs), the Marine Life Sanctuaries Society of B.C the National Marine Conservation Forum, the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society marine protected areas resolution (Ianson and Moore, 1992), and the Westwater Research Centre’s Marine Protected Areas Workshops (Westwater Research Centre, 1992a, 1992b, and 1992c) are to be applauded. The only significant proposal for establishing more marine protected areas that I am aware of is The Valhalla Society’s Endangered Wilderness map (Valhalla Society, 1988 and 1992).

Preservation and conservation of marine biodiversity from an ecosystem perspective should be the primary objectives for coastal zone stewardship. Socio-economic and political considerations are important, but should be secondary to achieving long-term viability of natural systems in the coastal zone.

If we want to keep our marine wilderness and biodiversity intact for future generations, we need to act now.

Acknowledgements

Canadian NSERC Operating Grant 580384 supported this work. Paul Gabrielson, William Jewell College made several helpful suggestions for improving the manuscript. Andy Lamb and the Marine Life Sanctuaries Society of B.C. provided Special information on the invertebrate fisheries. Doug Swanston brought to my attention the Coast the Marine Life Sanctuaries Society archives, which contain much early correspondence on the subject of marine parks (primarily the work of Betty Pratt Johnson). The following individuals from the Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks helped with information: Greg Chin, Kerry Joy, Kaaren Lewis, Mike Murta, Roger Norrish. and Hans Roemer. National parks people who were most helpful included: Bill Henwood and Claude Monclor. Larry Golden brought important references on marine invertebrate fisheries and marine environmental quality to my attention. Patricia Clay brought several important references on coastal zone management to my attention. Richard Kyle Paisley, Westwater Research Centre made many helpful suggestions regarding jurisdiction and legislation pertaining to the marine environment. Jim Bohnsack, US National Marine Fisheries Service, provided key literature on the ecological basis for using marine fishery reserves for reef resource management. Bill Ballantine, University of Auckland, Leigh Marine Laboratory provided inspiration and many helpful ideas regarding the establishment of marine protected areas. Denise Bonin suggested several improvements to the paper.

References

Across the Border. A Scientific Meeting on Marine Environmental Conditions in Washington and British Columbia. 1992. Synopses of Presentations (with References and List of Contacts). Western Washington University, Bellingham, Washington.

BC Parks. 1989a. Coastal Marine Parks of British Columbia. Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks, Victoria, B.C. Map.

BC Parks. 1989b. Guide to Ecological Reserves in British Columbia. Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks, Victoria, B.C. Map.

BC Parks. 1990a. Preserving Our Living Legacy. Parks Plan 90. Landscapes for B.C. Parks. BC Parks, Planning and Conservation Services, Victoria, B.C.

BC Parks. 1990b. Baeria Rocks, Robson Bight, and Checleset Bay Management Statements. Ecological Reserves Program, Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks, Victoria, B.C.

BC Parks and Ministry of Forests. 1992. Towards a Protected Areas Strategy for B.C. BC Parks and Ministry of Forests, Victoria, B.C. Map With text.

Ballantine, B. 199 1 . Marine Reserves for New Zealand. Leigh Marine Laboratory Bulletin No. 25. University of Auckland, Warkworth, New Zealand.

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Bohnsack, J.A. 1992. Reef resource habitat protection: The forgotten factor. In: Stemming the 7Yde of Coastal Fish Habitat Ioss. R.H. Stroud (ed.). Marine Recreational Fisheries V. 14. pp. 117-129.

Bohnsack, J.A., H. Kumpf, E. Hobson, G. Huntsman, K.W. Able and S.V. Ralston. 1989. Report on the concept of marine wilderness. Fisheries 14:22-24.

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Chettleburgh, P. 1985. An Explorer’s Guide: Marine Parks of British Columbia. Special Interest Publications (a Division of Maclean Hunter), Vancouver, B.C.

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Deardon, P. 1985. Desolation Sound Marine Park, British Columbia. In: Marine Parks and Conservation. Challenge and Promise. J. Lien and R. Graham (eds.). Vol. 2:1-211. NPPAC Henderson Park Book Series No. 10. National and Provincial Parks Association of Canada, Toronto, Ontario. pp. 155-165.

Deblinger, R.D. and R.E. Jenkings, Jr. 1991. Preserving coastal biodiversity: the private, nonprofit approach. Coastal Management 19:103-112.

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Dorcey, A.H.J. 1983. Coastal zone management as a bargaining process. In: Coastal Zone Management in British Columbia. B. Sadler (ed.). Cornett Occasional Papers No. 3, Department of Geography, University of Victoria, Victoria, B.C. pp. 73-89.

Dorcey, A.H.J. 1986. Bargaining in the Governance of Pacific Coastal Resources: Research and Reform. Westwater Research Centre, University of British Columbia,Vancouver, B.C.

Dorcey, A.H.J. (ed.). 1991. Water in Sustainable Development. Exploring Our Common Future in the Fraser River Basin. Westwater Research Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, B.C.

Earle, S.A. 1991. Sharks, squids, and horseshoe crabs–the significance of marine biodiversity. BinScience 41:506-509.Earthlife Canada Foundation. 1991. Endangered Spaces. Project Synopsis. Earthlife Canada Foundation, Queen Charlotte City, B.C.

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Findley, R. 1990. Endangered old-growth forests. Will we save our own? National Geographic 178(3):106-136.

Gilpin, M.E. and M.E. SoulŽ. 1986. Minimum viable populations: processes of species extinction. In: Conservation Biology. The Science of Scarcity and Diversity. M.E. SoulŽ (ed.). Sinauer Association, Sunderland, Mass. pp. 19-34.

Graham, R. (ed.). 1990. Marine Ecological Areas in Canada. Perspectives of the Canadian Council on Ecological Areas Task Force on Marine Protected Areas. Occasional Paper No. 9, The Canadian Council on Ecological Areas, Ottawa, Ontario.

Hawkes, M.W. 1990. Benthic marine algal flora (seaweeds) of B.C. Diversity and conservation status. BioLine 9:18-21.

Hawkes, M.W. 1992. Conservation status of marine plants and invertebrates in British Columbia: Are our marine parks and reserves adequate? In: Community Action for Endangered Species. A public symposium on B.C.’s threatened and Endangered Species and their Habitat, 28-29 September 1991. S. Rautio (ed.).

Federation of B.C. Naturalists and Northwest Wildlife Preservation Society, Vancouver, B.C. pp. 87-101.

Hildebrand, L.P. 1989. Canada’s Experience With Coastal Zone Management. Oceans Institute, Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Howes, D and P. Wainwright. 1992. Presentation to DFO Sensitivity Mapping Workshop. Ministry of the Environment, Victoria, B.C.

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Jamieson, G.S. 1986. A perspective on invertebrate fisheries management—the British Columbia experience. Canadian Special Publication of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 92~57-74.

Jamieson, G.S. and J.F. Caddy. 1986. Research advice and its application to management of invertebrate resources: an overview. Canadian Special Publication Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 92:416-424.

Jamieson, G.S. and K. Francis (eds.). 1986. Invertebrate and marine plant fishery resources of British Columbia. Canadian Special Publication of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 91, Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Ottawa, Ontario.

Kay, B.H. 1989. Pollutants in British Columbia’s Marine Environment. A Status Report. SOE Report No. 89-1. Environment Canada, Ottawa, Ontario.

Kaza. S. 1988. Community involvement in marine protected areas. Oceanus 31:75 – 81.

Langford, R.W., S. Reid, and L. Harding. 1988. Marine environmental quality in Canada: status and issues. The Pacific coast of Canada. In: Proceedings: Canadian Conference on Marine Environmental Quality. P.G. Wells and J. Gratwick (eds.). International Institute for Transportion and Ocean Policy Studies, Halifax, Nova Scotia. pp. 209-228.

Lien, J. 1989. Eau Canada! A new marine-parks system. In: Endangered Spaces. The Future For Canada’s Wilderness. M. Hummel (ed.). Key Porter Books, Toronto,Ontario. pp. 107-119.

Lien, J. and R. Graham (eds.). 1985. Marine Parks and Conservation. Challenge and Promise. Vol. 1: 1-254, Vol. 2:1-211. NPPAC Henderson Park Book Series No. 10. National and Provincial Parks Association of Canada, Toronto, Ontario.

Maclnnis, J. (ed.). 1992. Saving the Oceans. Key Porter Books, Toronto, Ontario.

Manire, C.A. and S.H. Gruber. 1990. Many sharks may be headed toward extinction. Conservation Biology 4: 10-11.

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Morgan, B., J. O’Riordan, R.W. Langford and L. Harding. 1988. Marine environmental quality management in British Columbia. In: Proceedings: Canadian Conference on Marine Environmental Quality. P.G. Wells and J. Gratwick (eds.). International Institute for Transportion and Ocean Policy Studies, Halifax, Nova Scotia. pp. 173-183.

Newmark, W.D. 1987. A land-bridge island perspective on mammalian extinctions in western North American parks. Nature 325:430-432.

Norse, E.A. 1993. Global Marine Biological Diversity. Strategy for Building Conservation Into Decision Making. Island Press: Washington, D.C.

Obee, B. and G. Ellis. 1992. Guardians of the Whales. Vie Quest to Study Whales in the Wild. Whitecap Books, Vancouver, B.C

Olesiuk, P.F. and M.A. Bigg. 1988. Seats and Sea Lions on the British Columbia Coast Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Nanaimo, B.C.

Plan Development Team. 1990. The Potential of Marine Fisheny Reserves for Reef Fish Management in the U.S. Southern Atlantic. NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-SEFC-261.

Pynn, L. 1991. Shark Bait. Vancouver Sun 19 November 199 1. p. B 1 and B 14.

Ray, C. 1988. Ecological diversity in coastal zones and oceans. In: Biodiversity. E.0. Wilson (ed.). National Academy Press, Washington, D.C. pp. 36-50.

Ray, C. 1991. Coastal-zone biodiversity patterns. Bloscience 41:490-498.

Smiley, B., N. Layard, D. Carsen and S. Love (eds.). 1991. Identifying and Protecting Sensitive Shoreline and Adjacent Wetland Habitat on tire East Coast of Vancouver Island. Report of the Vancouver Island East Coast Shoreline and Adjacent Wetlands Workshop. The Federation of B.C. Naturalists, Vancouver, B.C.

Thorne-Miller, B. and J.G. Catena. 1991. 7he Living Ocean. Understanding and Protecting Marine Biodiversity. Island Press, Washington, D.C. and Covelo, California.

Usher, M.B. 1987. Effects of fragmentation on communities and populations: a review with applications to wildlife conservation. In: Nature Conservation: The Role of Remnants of Native Vegetation. D.A. Saunders et al. (eds.). Surrey Beatty and Sons, Norton, N.S.W., Australia. pp. 103-121.

Valhalla Society. 1988. British Columbia’s Endangered Wilderness. A Proposal for all an Adequate System of Totally Protected Lands. Valhalla Society, New Denver, B.C. 1:2,000,000 map with accompanying text.

Valhalla Society. 1992 (2nd revised edition). British Columbia’s Endangered Wilderness. A Comprehensive Proposal for Protection. Valhalla Society, New Denver, B.C. 1:2,000,000 map with accompanying text.

Wells, P.G. and SA Rolston (eds.). 199 1. Health of Our Oceans. A Status Report on Canadian Marine Environmental Quality. Environment Canada, Ottawa, Ontario and Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.

Westwater Research Centre. 1992a. Marine Protected Areas (MPA) in British Columbia. Options for the Future. Westwater Research Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, B.C.

Westwater Research Centre. 1992b. Marine Protected Areas (MPA) in British Columbia. Final Report to the Law Foundation of British Columbia. Westwater Research Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, B.C.

Westwater Research Centre. 1992c. Workshop Agenda. Marine Ecological Areas in British Columbia. Westwater Research Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, B.C.

Youds, K. 1985. Marine parks in British Columbia. In: Marine Parks and Conservation. Challenge and Promise. J. Lien and R. Graham (eds.). Vol. 2:1-211. NPPAC Henderson Park Book Series No. 10. National and Provincial Parks Association of Canada, Toronto, Ontario. pp. 149-156.

 

Rhysia fletcheri (a new species of colonial hydroid from Vancouver Island, BC, Canada)

Permission for reproduction of this paper has been granted by the Canadian Journal of Zoology and the Author. Color images have been taken by A.B.V. and D.M.L. and were added to this html document by G.Fletcher. 

p.401 , Vol 71, 1993 Rhysia fletcheri (Cnidaria, Hydrozoa, Rhysiidae), a new species of colonial hydroid from Vancouver Island (British Columbia, Canada) and the San Juan Archipelago (Washington, U.S.A.)A. BRINCKMANN-VOSS
Department of lnvertebrate Zoology, Royal Ontario Museum, 100 Queen’s Park, Toronto, Ont., Canada M55 2C6
And D. M. LICKEY AND C. E. MILLS, Friday Harbor laboratories, University of Washington, 620 University Road, Friday Harbor, WA 98250, U.S.A.Received February 28, 1992 Accepted September 17, 1992BRINCKMANN-VOSS, A., LICKEY, D. M., and MILLS, C. E. 1993. Rhysia fletcheri (Cnidaria, Hydrozoa, Rhysiidae), a new species of colonial hydroid from Vancouver Island (British Columbia, Canada) and the San Juan Archipelago (Washington, U.S.A.).
Can. J. Zool. 71: 401-406.

hydrfeme

A group of females

A new species of colonial athecate hydroid, Rhysia fletcheri, is described from Vancouver Island, British Columbia Canada, and from Friday Harbor, Washington, U.S.A. Its relationship to Rhysia autumnalis Brinckmann from the Mediterranean and Rhysia halecii (Hickson and Gravely) from the Antarctic and Japan is discussed. Rhysia fletcheri differs from Rhysia autumnalis and Rhysia halecii in the gastrozooid having distinctive cnidocyst clusters on its hypostome and few, thick tentacles. Most of its female gonozooids have no tentacles. Colonies of R. fletcheriare without dactylozooids. The majority of R. fletcheri colonies are found growing on large barnacles or among the hydrorhiza of large thecate hydrozoans. Rhysia fletcheri occurs in relatively sheltered waters of the San Juan Islands and on the exposed rocky coast of southern Vancouver Island.

rhysiamale

c. (a group of males.. relaxed)

rhysiamalecontr

b. -( group of males ..contracted.)

 

 

 

 

On trouvera ici la description d’un nouvelle espece d’hydroide colonial sans theque. Rhysia fletcheri, trouvee dans l’ile de Vancouver en Colombie-Britannique, Canada, et a Friday Harbor, Washington, Etats-Unis. Sa relation avec Rhysia autumnalis Brinckmann en Medlterrannee et Rhysia halecii (Hickson and Gravely), de l’Antarctique et du Japon, fait l’objet d’une discussion. Rhysia fletcheri differe des deux autres especes par la presence chez le gastrozooide de faisceaux tres particuliers de cnidocystes sur l’ hypostome et de tentacules epais et peu nombreux. La plupart des gonozooides femelles sont depourvus de tentacules. Les colonies de R. fletcheri ne comportent pas de dactylozooides. La majorite des colonies de R. Fletcheri crois sent sur les grosses balanes ou parmi les hydrorhizes des gros hydrozoaires a theque. Rhysia Fletcheri se trouve dans les eaux relativement protegees des iles San Juan et sur la cote rocheuse exposee du sud de l’ile de Vancouver. [Traduit par la redaction.]

Introduction:Colonies of a hydroid species belonging to the genus Rhysia Brinckmann, 1965 were collected off Friday Harbor in Washington State, U.S.A., from 1972 to 1992. They were found in tide pools at Race Rocks, British Columbia, Canada, and from adjacent coastal regions of Vancouver Island between 1986 and 1992. The species is referable to the hydrozoan family Rhysiidae, and to the genusRhysia, in having gonads within the body wall along one side of the gonozooid. However, it differs from previously described species of the genus in having cnidocysts arranged in clusters on the hypostome of the gastrozooid, and in having fewer and thicker tentacles on the gastrozooid, and no dactylozooids. The purpose of this paper is to provide a systematic and ecological account of Rhysia fletcheri sp.nov. The species is compared with Rhysia autumnalis Brinckmann, 1965, type species of the genus Rhysia, and with Stylactis halecii Hickson and Gravely, 1907. The latter species has lateral gonads, as doR. autumnalis and R. fletcheri sp.nov., and is assigned here to the genus Rhysia as well.ETYMOL0GY: Rhysia fletcheri is named for Garry Fletcher, senior biologist at Pearson College and voluntary warden of the Ecological Reserve of Race Rocks, British Columbia, Canada, who was instrumental in establishing Race Rocks as an Ecological Reserve in 1980.

  • Systematic account:
  • FAMILY Rhysiidae Brinckmann, 1965
  • GENUS Rhysia Brinckmann, 1965
  • Rhysia fletcheri sp.nov

 

Material examined:

rhysiaonvalve

Growing on the valves of the barnacle Balanus nubilus , female and male colony .(.click on picture) . Top left, two females, below left gastrozooids: below right – male.

Holotype: Friday Harbor, Washington, U.S.A., on Balanus nubilis attached to a tire on the side of floating docks at Friday Harbor Laboratories of the University of Washington, 0.5 m, 5 October 1984, female colony, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Cat. No. USNM 73984.

Paratypes: Race Rocks, British Columbia, Canada, on Semibalanus cariosus in tide pool, 0.5 m, 5 April 1990, male colony, Royal Ontario Museum Cat. No. ROMIZ B1164;

Friday Harbor, Washington, on hydrorhiza of a thecate hydroid colony, 10-15 m, October 1972, female colony,

Royal Ontario Museum Cat. No. ROMIZ B1165; Race Rocks, British Columbia, on Semibalanus cariosus in tide pool, 0.5 m, 15 June 1991, female and male colony, Royal British Columbia Museum Cat. No. RBCM 992-170-1.

Further material is deposited in the Natural History Museum, London, England.

Description:

Hydroid colony stolonal, arising from a creeping and anastomosing hydrorhiza. Hydrorhiza thick (averaging 0.05 mm), covered with a very thin and often virtually invisible perisarc (Fig. 2a), giving rise to gastrozooids and gonozooids. Zooids inserting with hydrorhiza via a broad base and without a neck or stem (Figs. Ia, 2a); perisarcal collar absent around bases of zooids. Gastrozooids widely scattered, occurring singly or in a loose group. Gastrozooids extremely contractile, 0.3÷1.0 mm long, appearing columnar to barrel-shaped or like a contracted sea anemone if exposed to strong light (compare Figs. Ia and 4a).

(Page 402)

rhysiafig1

Figure 1. Rhysia fletcheri, gastrozooid, relaxed, preserved. (a) Whole animal, (b) oral region. Scale bars =0.1 mm.

Gastrozocid tentacles 4 – 10, filiform, in a single whorl, 0.08 – 0.10 mm thick depending on the degree of contraction, each with more than 30 endodermal cells, cnidocysts arranged in a more or less distinct spiral (Fig. lb). Hypostome round, surrounded by a circle of 4 or 5 cnidocyst clusters that do not develop into tentacles (Figs. 2e, 2f, 4a). Gonozooids often separated from gastrozooids by several millimetres, occurring in dense clusters (Figs. 3, 4}. Gonads developing internally on one side of gonozooid, without a gonophore (Figs. 4b, 4c). Female gonozooids up to 1.1 mm high when mature (Figs. 3a÷3d); hypostome round, provided with a cap of cnidocysts, not divided into separate clusters as in gastrozooid; mouth lacking; tentacles typically lacking; in gastrozooid; mouth lacking; tentacles typically lacking; immature female gonozooids, at a stage not more than 115 the height of a mature gonozooid, being recognizable as such in showing an egg on one side. Male gonozooids develop 3 or 4 oral tentacles, which are shorter and thinner than those of gas- trozooids, each tentacle has up to 10 endodermal cells and bears cnidocysts at the tip only, some with thickened tips(Figs. 2c, 4b) because of the presence of larger numbers of cnidocysts (this varies among colonies); hypostome of males round, more conical than in females, provided with evenly distributed cnidocysts, unlike the cnidocyst clusters typical of gastrozooids; mouth lacking. Male gonozooids with mature gonads sometimes exceeding gastrozooids in length, reaching a maximum of 1.5 mm.

Dactylozooids absent.

Gastrozooids and gonozooids pink to orange, due to the colour of the endoderm; tentacles and hypostomes milky white; eggs and planulae peach coloured; male gonads milky white in early stages, iridescent in later stages.

rhysiagastrozooidCnidocysts: large microbasic euryteles (average 10; 20.2/1 9.6 um) (height/diameter) when exploded; small microbasic euryteles (average 10; 9.6/4.8 um when exploded); desmonemes (not measured).

 

 

Continue reading

Underwater Safari- October 1992

In October of 1992, the diving students of Pearson College were able to help with the underwater filming for the Canadian Underwater Safari production. This series of 24 one hour television programs was broadcast live to schools and museum audiences across Canada and the US on the Anik E2 Satellite. Since that time the programs have been broadcast across the world. We have made available at this location some of the unique underwater footage which was taken by the photographer Darryl Bainbridge. The project was an experiment in using technology along with many volunteer hours to help to bring the fragile ecology of this unique area to the world. Our thanks to B.C.Parks for the intial funding to launch the production. The Royal B.C. Museum and its staff , Shaw Cable, BC Systems, BC Tel and many volunteers who provided assistance with this project.

 This video is of Pearson College student Jason Reid ( PC yr. 18) discovering a wolf eel Anarrhichthys ocellatus while the program was broadcasting live. Cameraman Darryl Bainbridge followed the huge fish for some time and caught it feeding on a green sea urchin.

OTHER REFERENCES TO THIS PROGRAM ARE IN THESE POSTS: 

 https://www.racerocks.ca/tag/underwater-safari/

Living on a shelf off the North side of Great Rocks is a Wolf Eel often seen by divers. This very gentle fish cooperated with us for one session allowing some very interesting poses. On this dive, Jason Reid (LBPC year 18) encounters the wolf eel

 

The fish shows patience while looking for its favourite food

Jason offers the wolf eel a green urchin

as it eats, clouds of urchin roe puff out of he urchin

Swimming away with his “catch”

A harbour seal was inquisitive with the divers

A gentle nose to nose with a diver

 

There was a video published by the Friends of the Royal British Columbia Museum and authored by Brent Cooke and Roger  Frampton on the Underwater Safari program: the following gives information on it.

https://www.worldcat.org/title/canadian-underwater-safari/oclc/41934389#borrow

The CoastWatch Program Lester Pearson College 1998

CoastWatch at L.B. Pearson College

CONTENTS of this document
1.OVERVIEW
2. OBJECTIVES
3. STRUCTURE OF THE PROGRAM
4. TIME INVOLVED
5 THE CORE
6. SPECIALTY TRAINING
7. SCHOOLS PROGRAM
8. THE COASTWATCH PHOTO GALLERY
9. THE FACULTY

1. OVERVIEW:

In the fall term of 1991, the CoastWatch program at Pearson College was developed from the previously existing marine activity and service programs. As many as 80 students may be involved in this program. Since it’s beginnings, CoastWatch has undergone a number of changes, and today it consists of students of the diving program, the kayaking program and the sailing program. The amount of afternoon and weekend time in the program is determined largely by the level of interest and commitment of the students. Some students participate regularly in the program two afternoons a week, and are able to do aspects of social service and environmental service as well as the training phase of the program. Others do it as an activity once a week. The success of the program depends very much on the initiative of the students involved to help with the organization and instructional aspects.

2. OBJECTIVES:

Students and faculty involved in CoastWatch will have the opportunity to:

1. Learn and put into practice specialized skills to enable them to work safely in the marine environment.

2. Develop attitudes of teamwork in the carrying out of objectives in the marine environment.

3. Enhance their awareness of coastal environmental issues and be involved as part of a marine-based environmental action group.

4. Interact with the local community, both in providing and receiving environmental education opportunities.

5. Interact with the local community for the purposes of providing activity and adventure education.

6. Work with sharing of skills and experiences with members of the disabled community.


3. STRUCTURE OF THE PROGRAM:

The program operates on the basis of several types of training modules. Students work through a core program that give all a common experience, this occurs throughout the two years in the program at the college. Branching off from the core are a number of specialty modules that enable students to develop more detailed skills necessary for the operation of some programs.


4. TIME INVOLVED:

During the first term, first year students in diving are committed for two afternoons per week for the training phase, or for one afternoon in the kayaking or sailing program.
In the second term, first year students have the chance to gain in experience in many of the aspects of the objectives listed above. They may take the opportunity to expand their involvement in the program to be involved with more of the objectives. In the second year, the students will take on a greater role in running the program.


5. THE CORE:

(Theory and Practical : these may take place over the two terms of the first year)

  • Shore-front management
  • First-Aid at sea
  • Small craft handling and safety
  • Snorkeling at Sea
  • Swimming and life-saving skills

Those who so choose may get into the following aspects as well:

  • Coastal Ecology
  • Oil spill response
  • Beached-bird program
  • Education for the outside community at sea
  • Working with the physically and mentally challenged
  • Coastal Restoration
  • Salmonid enhancement

Whereas the Core programs will be done by all CoastWatch students (first and second year), the following will be done by fewer students and at varying times. Hopefully all students by the end of their first year would to be able to contribute by training in their specialties in the second year. The selection of the following could be determined with priority being given to achieving a good balance in the students’ program over a two year period.

6. SPECIALTY TRAINING,

Theory and practical: (students will select a program containing some of the following training components for their first year, depending on when these can be offered.)

  • Marine Radio Operator
  • Marine Navigator
  • Motor Vessel Maintenance
  • Motor Vessel Assistant Instructor
  • Sail Training Assistant Instructor
  • Kayak Training Instructor
  • Safety-training Assistant Instructor
  • SCUBA diving Assistant Instructor
  • Oil-spill response instructor Oiled-Bird Response
  • Community coastal clean-up organization
  • Ecological Monitoring Module
  • Coastal Environmental Issues
  • Schools environmental instructor
  • Working with the physically and mentally challenged

 

7. SCHOOLS PROGRAM

In these links are some of the aspects of the Schools Program for the local community. The students of the Diving Activity provide marine education for local elementary schools.  1997-98,  and 1999 

8. THE COASTWATCH PHOTO GALLERY

Kayaking with the disabled:

 

 

 

 

 

 

9. THE PEARSON COLLEGE FACULTY

  • DIVING FACULTY: Michelle Bridgett, Jeff Trapp or Garry Fletcher or Chris Blondeau
  • SAILING FACULTY:
    Robyn Tyner or Peter Gardner
  • KAYAKING FACULTY
    Richard Van de Lagemaat

 

 

Marine Protected Area Proclaimed under the Ocean’s Act.

intnatyrofoceanslogoCanada became the first country in the world to adopt its own Oceans Act in 1997. In it there were constructive plans for the designation of Marine Protected Areas<

NEWS RELEASE: Race Rocks Announced as One of Canada’s
First Marine Protected Area Pilots Sept. 1, 1998

“Today at 1:30 pm. in Victoria, BC at a luncheon in the Empress Hotel in conjunction with the Coastal Zone Canada ‘ 98 Conference, The Honourable David Anderson , Minister of Fisheries and Oceans for Canada announced that Race Rocks and Gabriola Passage will become the first two SpchDave2

Marine Protected Areas for the Pacific Coast of Canada. The minister emphasized that this was an historic occasion as it represents the first steps of many in creating these special areas for the conservation of marine resources. The two areas will serve as “Pilot MPA’s ” and represent the first of several areas to be designated in the three oceans of Canada. On hand for the announcement by the minister was Garry Fletcher, faculty member in biology and environmental systems at Lester Pearson College, along with many invited guests from the First  Nations communities, environmental groups, provincial government officials, and other stake holders in the marine environment of British Columbia.
In the ensuing months, negotiations will take place with the ministry in order to set up the parameters of these new Marine Protected Area pilot study areas.

Statement by David Anderson
Minister of Fisheries and Oceans

This site was available on the DFO website at the following URL until 2007:
http://www-comm.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/english/release/statement/1998/st9805e.htm

MARINE PROTECTED AREAS

I want to thank you all for joining me today for lunch. Victoria is my hometown, I was born here and have lived here for most of my life. So I feel very proud that I will be making Oceans history today in Victoria.
Here in British Columbia, we live in what I consider one of the most beautiful parts of the world. We enjoy a host of natural riches. Many of you heard my address on Sunday, during which I spoke about oceans and our need to conserve and protect them.

I spoke then of the growing need to protect the health and vitality of our marine resource base. Broad-ranging global issues, like those described eloquently on Sunday by Judith Swan in her keynote address, such as pollution, habitat alteration and loss, and over-exploitation of our oceans, are of growing concern.

Unfortunately, we too often overlook our collective responsibility to the ocean and its resources.

I said when I was appointed Minister of Fisheries and Oceans in June 1997 that I had three priorities as Minister: conservation, conservation, and conservation. I can tell you that is not always easy.

And if you watched the news over the past few days, as I know most of you do, you would think my mandate is strictly fisheries. But I am the Minister of Fisheries AND Oceans. And it is the OCEANS part of my mandate that I am here to speak about today.

When I addressed conference delegates on Sunday night, I talked about the oceans and the importance of the oceans to Canada and our way of life. I also talked about the International Year of the Ocean, and how we in Canada have adopted the United Nations’ stated goals for the year — to make people more aware of the ocean, to bring oceans-related issues to the forefront, and to build a lasting legacy of programs to conserve and protect the world’s oceans and oceans resources.

And I discussed Canada’s Oceans Act. This Act, passed in January 1997, gives the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans the lead in developing an Oceans Strategy for Canada. The Strategy will be based on the principles of the Oceans Act: integrated management, sustainable development and an ecosystem-based and precautionary approach.

On Oceans Day this year, I established a new Oceans Sector in my department to provide a clearer focus on oceans issues.

One of the tasks I have assigned this new team is the development, in collaboration with other federal agencies, other levels of government including First Nations, stakeholders, communities and the public, of a national network of Marine Protected Areas by the year 2000.

The Oceans Act provides me as Minister with the authority to designate areas for the conservation and protection of marine habitats and resources.

Over the past year, we have held extensive public consultations on our proposed approach to establishing Marine Protected Areas. In April of this year, I released a Policy regarding Marine Protected Areas and a national framework for establishing Marine Protected Areas.

Marine Protected Areas can be established, under Canada’s Oceans Act, for many different reasons, including the conservation and protection of:

  • fisheries resources;
  • endangered or threatened marine species and their habitats;
  • unique habitats; and
  • marine areas of high biodiversity or biological productivity.

Marine Protected Areas established under the Oceans Act must satisfy a range of needs in a variety of jurisdictional settings. As a result, we MUST take a flexible approach to their design and management.

The overall objective of the Marine Protected Areas program is to conserve and protect the ecological integrity of marine ecosystems, species, and habitats. At the same time, they will further the gathering of scientific knowledge and understanding and contribute to the sustainability of coastal communities.

We have adopted a “learn-by-doing” approach. This involves, as a first phase, the establishment of pilot MPA projects to provide practical experience in establishing and managing Marine Protected Areas.

Pilot MPA projects will be used to test various aspects of the MPA framework. For example, partnering opportunities and mechanisms will be explored; criteria for evaluating MPAs will be tested; minimum standards of protection will be examined; and opportunities for collaboration with other agencies, First Nations and other levels of government will be explored.

Learning from these pilot projects will be an integral part of the development of a national network of Marine Protected Areas.

For us in Canada, today is an historic moment.

Today I am pleased to announce that Fisheries and Oceans Canada, along with its federal and provincial partners, is establishing the first two pilot project Marine Protected Area projects in Canada here in the waters of our West Coast. These first two sites will be at Race Rocks and Gabriola Passage, here within view of the Coastal Zone Conference ‘98.

I expect to announce further pilot projects for all three coasts over the coming months. Taken together, these pilot projects will be a first step towards a network of Marine Protected Areas by the year 2000.

The pilot Marine Protected Area projects I am announcing today will provide an opportunity to learn and test different applications of MPA identification, assessment, legal designation and management. This will allow us to address the concerns of local first Nations. The lessons we learn from these will better enable us to establish and manage these areas in the future.

The aspect of the announcement today that I personally find most gratifying is the degree of cooperation and collaboration that has preceded this announcement.

My officials here in Pacific Region have been working closely with their colleagues both in Parks Canada and Environment Canada at the federal level and with the Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks, the provincial Ministry of Fisheries, and the Land Use Coordination Office of the Province of British Columbia. Many representatives from all of these departments, both federal and provincial, are here today.

And I would like to acknowledge the growing number of citizens who are looking out at the sea and getting involved to protect it. Their involvement is critical.

I would like to make particular mention of First Nations involvement in Marine Protected Areas. The cultural values of First Nations are consistent with the values directing our work on Marine Protected Areas.

There are important needs of our First Nations that I would like to emphasize today.

First, the establishment of these two pilot areas will not affect First Nations opportunities to fish for food, social and ceremonial purposes.

Second, the development of Marine Protected Areas will be completely consistent with long-term direction toward future Treaties between first nations and the two levels of government — federal and provincial.

Finally, First Nations will be fully involved with the development of an effective decision-making process for Marine Protected Areas.

I have directed my Pacific Region officials to continue to meet with First Nations who have a direct interest in Gabriola Passage and Race Rocks.

I anticipate that our Provincial colleagues will play a significant role in consultations with First Nations, stakeholders and the public.

I would also like to emphasize that community support and involvement are crucial to the success of Marine Protected Areas.

Last Friday, a federal-provincial discussion paper titled “Marine Protected Areas, A Strategy for Canada’s Pacific Coast,” was released.

The paper reflects the common objectives of both governments for a more integrated approach to marine protection and conservation.

It also reflects extensive advice and feedback from local governments, First Nations, communities, stakeholders, industry and interested people gathered during a number of public fora and meetings over the past three years.

This on-going process will, I know, ensure the success of these pilot projects.

The hallmark of Marine Protected Areas is cooperation.

The announcement today is a testimony to what we all can achieve when they work together, in good faith, for a common and beneficial cause. We all have a stake in protecting the ocean, in order to ensure that its resources are sustained for our children and for their children.

Today we all give something back to the ocean.

This is a benchmark for cooperation amongst peoples. Let’s build on this experience and learn from it. And let’s put the benefits of our combined, cooperative efforts to use for the benefit of the oceans of the future.

The Marine Protected Areas program will provide us with a form of ecological insurance to conserve and protect oceans and ocean resources.

We need to learn from the past and pass on to our children a legacy of measures to protect the world’s oceans, which are the cornerstone of our survival on the planet. Marine Protected Areas will form a very important part of that legacy.

Today is a wonderful day for our oceans.

Thank you. (The Hon. David Anderson) 

This site was available on the DFO website at the following URL until 2007:
http://www-comm.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/english/release/statement/1998/st9805e.htm

 

See also: DFO Backgrounder  Race Rocks XwaYeN: A Success Story for  Community and Stakeholder Involvement, 

In January of 1999, as part of the requirements of the Marine Protected Areas Pilot review process, Garry Fletcher was contracted by Fisheries and Oceans Canada to complete The Race Rocks Ecological Overview. An MS Acccess metadatabase of all the relevant Race Rocks ecological information was assembled . This database and accompanying references and audiovisual material are now available in the library at Lester B. Pearson College.

Go to the Proceedings of this workshop.

Abstract: Race Rocks Ecological Reserve Proposal -1979

Abstract: Race Rocks Ecological Reserve Proposal
Lester B. Pearson College
On April 21, 1979, a proposal for an Ecological Reserve at Race Rocks was presented to the Ecological Reserves Branch of the Ministry of the Environment by the students of the diving service and the marine science class at Lester B. Pearson College. The proposal recommended that the reserve should be comprised of the islands and the surrounding subtidal area to a depth of 25 fathoms. The central island, Great Race Rock, could be excluded because of the Coast Guard facilities there, but it was recommended that a request should be made to the Coast Guard to consider its inclusion as well.

The proposal outlined the use that has been made of the area in the past, and the present use being made of the area by Pearson College. It was pointed out that the proposal is quite consistent with the purposes of reserves, as stated in the Ecological Reserves Act of British Columbia. Continue reading

Race Rocks Ecological Overview Index

Ecological Reserve Proposal and Workshop – April 1979
Background Information of the role of Lester Pearson College in the Formation of the RR Ecological reserve
Proposal for Marine Protected Area at William Head
Long Term Monitoring Proposal- Jane Watson
Sampling Program – Jane Watson
Conserving Marine Ecosystems— from Biodiversity in British Columbia
Protected Areas Act of British Columbia
The Juan de Fuca Marine Park 1975
Race Rocks National Park – 1975

Contractor out to see stone house for demolition

In looking through The lightkeeper’s diary from Sept 1970-Nov 1971,  I came across this fateful entry which would ultimately lead to one of the worst insults by the Canadian Coastguard to the Heritage structures of the Race Rocks Light Station.

March 20: Contractor out to see stone house regarding contract for demolition.

http://www.racerocks.com/racerock/history/rrkeeper/rr66-82/demolition.htm

Didtrict manager at the time: Mr. Slaght

 

Victoria Times Magazine article on Race Rocks July 15-1950

On June 22, 2015, Ecological Reserves Board Member Jenny Feick sent this e-mail with the scanned image of a newspaper page.  Click for large version.

“I  found an old newspaper article on Race Rocks from 1950 that I was hoping to give you.  It was inside a wall in our house.  That’s how they insulated houses here in the 1950s.  When we had blown in insulation installed a few years ago, I kept a few of the old newspapers, many which dated back to the late 2nd world war years. I re-discovered it again this week while purging paper files and other items in our basement, and thought you and others in the Friends of Ecological Reserves of BC would be interested in the article.”

TC1950 Lighthouse