THE IMPORTANCE OF EELGRASS

The network of eelgrass beds in the Ucluelet Harbour helps support and sustain life as it provides an important nursery and habitat for a variety of marine species, including culturally and economically valuable species such as herring, salmon and endangered abalone. Eelgrass beds play a vital role in carbon sequestration, erosion control, pathogen and pollution control. The health of our harbor ecosystem is directly linked to the health of our communities and many of these habitats are at risk of degradation from human activities, climate change, pollution and the introduction of invasive species such as the European green crab.  

EELGRASS MONITORING IN THE UCLUELET HARBOUR

Starting in 2022 Strawberry Isle Marine Research Society has partnered with the Ucluelet Aquarium, the Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ/ Ucluelet Nation and a number of other local organizations and persons, to map and study eelgrass beds in the Ucluelet Harbour.

The previous survey of eelgrass beds in the Ucluelet Harbour was done in the winter of 2002. With the many changes that have occurred in the harbour and surrounding communities over the last two decades, our team has conducted preliminary surveys, using drones and ground truthing with snorkel surveys, to update those maps.

This research is the start of what we hope will be a collaborative, long-term monitoring project assessing the health of eelgrass ecosystems in the harbour and help determine future restoration work for this vital ecosystem. 

This project is partially funded by TD Friend of the Environment Foundation.