Les oursins existent depuis des millions d’années et contribuent à l’équilibre des écosystèmes océaniques en se nourrissant d’algues. Mais quelque chose a changé. Les oursins ont deux prédateurs naturels principaux : l’adorable loutre de mer et l’étonnante étoile de mer. Mais l’activité humaine au cours desXVIIIeetXIXesiècles a provoqué un déclin massif du nombre de loutres … Continued
Les forêts de varech ne sont pas seulement de magnifiques paysages sous-marins ; elles constituent des habitats vitaux pour des milliers d’espèces marines, notamment des poissons, des crabes, des étoiles de mer et le hareng du Pacifique, qui revêt une grande importance culturelle et économique. Au cours des 50 dernières années, le monde a perdu … Continued
L’année dernière, Ocean Wise a uni ses forces à celles de la Première nation Tseshaht et de West Coast Kelp pour restaurer les laminaires dans les îles Broken Group. Situées sur la côte ouest de l’île de Vancouver, les îles Broken Group sont un étonnant labyrinthe de petites îles et de récifs rocheux éparpillés dans … Continued
En surface, les forêts de varech ressemblent à des paysages marins sereins. Mais elles sont en réalité des centres de biodiversité très actifs. Abritant des milliers d’espèces marines, du minuscule phytoplancton aux grands mammifères marins, les forêts de laminaires constituent un écosystème essentiel pour la vie sous-marine. Il existe plus de 30 types de varech … Continued
By Scott Bohachyk, Ocean Wise Director of Seaforestation British Columbia’s seaweed industry is growing and holds great potential to deliver a variety of economic, social, and environmental benefits, particularly for coastal communities. At this early stage of the industry’s development, we have an important opportunity to design, implement, and monitor ocean-positive practices for seaweed cultivation … Continued
IMAGES AND REPORT AVAILABLE HERE (October 22, 2024) – Ocean Wise and the Kelp Forest Alliance are excited to release a first-of-its-kind guidebook to standardize the monitoring of kelp forest ecosystems globally. Monitoring Kelp Forest Ecosystems: A Guidebook to Quantifying Biodiversity, Ecosystem Health, and Ecosystem Benefits is a comprehensive resource for monitoring the health of … Continued
By Max Wolf, Ocean Wise Seaforestation Coordinator Kelp forests have been called the lungs of the ocean, thanks to their ability to sequester carbon and produce oxygen. But they’re so much more! These underwater seascapes support an astonishing array of life, from tiny invertebrates to marine mammals. Providing critical food, shelter, and breeding grounds for … Continued
Welcome to the Ocean Action Grant Blog series! In this series we will be showcasing some of the different Ocean Action Grant projects youth have completed across Canada! The Ocean Action Grant is a microgrant that provides youth across Canada with up to $3000 in funding to lead an individual or collaborative project that contributes … Continued
Why kelp restoration? In many areas across the BC coast, kelp forests are in decline due to a combination of factors, including ocean warming and urchin overpopulation. The overabundance of sea urchins is tied to the extirpation of sea otters in the 18th and 19th centuries and sea star wasting disease that swept the coast … Continued
On Tuesday, April 4 Ocean Wise opened the doors on its Kelp Nursery in West Vancouver. The nursery, a significant step towards restoring and cultivating kelp forests in British Columbia, has implications extending far beyond the region. To launch the nursery, Ocean Wise hosted donors, stakeholders and members of the media for a nursery tour … Continued