The Mayne Island Conservancy has been mapping the distribution of kelp beds around SḴŦAḴ | Mayne Island since 2008.
Why Map & Monitor
On many rocky shores around SḴŦAḴ | Mayne Island, clusters of bull kelp can be seen offshore, growing in the subtidal zone. Kelp beds provide a resting and feeding area for otters, gulls, herons, loons, scoters, grebes, goldeneyes, buffleheads, and other waterfowl. Underwater kelp forests shelter snails, crabs, shrimp, seastars, sea anemones, sea cucumbers, sea squirts, and many other marine creatures. Kelp forests soften the force of waves against the shoreline, reducing erosion. In addition, kelp forests are a significant carbon sink, sequestering mega-tonnes of CO2 equivalent in the Pacific North West.
Anecdotal evidence is showing a decline in bull kelp in the Salish Sea. Measuring change in area of kelp beds over time (monitoring) will enable us to detect changes in abundance of this important marine species.
Experimental research shows that bull kelp ceases to grow with an increase in temperature. The federal government reports that Salish Sea ocean temperatures are increasing at all depths due to climate change effects. We assist researchers from the University of Victoria, University of British Columbia, and Simon Fraser University studying bull kelp by providing them with local information and distribution data. Our work has been used to help assess the use of remote sensing technologies such as satellites to map bull kelp.
Interested in volunteering with us as a kelp mapper? Shoot us an email today to biologist@mayneconservancy.ca. Volunteers will need to provide their own kayaks.
With the completion of the 2025 field season, the Mayne Island Conservancy has now been monitoring bull kelp around the shores of SḴŦAḴ | Mayne Island for 16 years! This also marked the seventh year since the program expanded to include sites around Galiano, the Penders, and Saturna Island in Read more
It has been a busy field season for Conservancy staff, and we would like to share a behind-the-scenes view into our incredible ₭O¸EṈ | kelp mapping program! A few months ago, I shared an update about eelgrass mapping, and while we work on processing that data, we have been enjoying more time Read more
We are looking for volunteers to join our bull kelp monitoring survey team this season! Volunteers need to provide their own kayak and safety equipment and be comfortable paddling within 200m of shore under light wind conditions. All training on the survey method is provided in-person. We will also provide Read more
I had the pleasure of attending a kelp symposium in late February hosted by the Pacific Salmon Foundation and supported by funds from the Dept. of Fisheries and Oceans. The symposium brought together approximately 80 scientists, Indigenous knowledge holders, stewardship groups and resource managers from across the west coast who Read more
With the completion of the 2024 field season, the Mayne Island Conservancy has now been monitoring bull kelp around the shores of SḴŦAḴ | Mayne Island for 15 years! This also marked the 6th year since the program expanded to include sites around Galiano, the Penders, and Saturna Island in Read more
The 2023 field season marked the 14th year of bull kelp monitoring by the Mayne Island Conservancy, and the 5th year since the monitoring program expanded to include partners on other Southern Gulf Islands. This past season 33 volunteers and staff from five organizations spent 178 hours on the water. Read more
The water is like a dark flat mirror, and I can almost feel the first rays of the sun waiting to dash over the horizon. For now, the bright light of day has yet to disturb the quiet of the pre-dawn. My kayak lies before me, straddling the ocean’s edge Read more
Our annual bull kelp surveys were a huge success this year thanks to community donations, funding from the Federal Habitat Stewardship Program, and a little luck with the weather. Our bull kelp surveys can only be completed during the lowest tides each August, and this year we had perfect low Read more
Astronomical phenomena abound! As I write this, Mayne Island is enjoying a partial solar eclipse (around 90%), with a full eclipse occurring further south in the USA. I enjoyed a short peek, thanks to a stranger on the dock who offered me a view through her special eclipse sunglasses. Without Read more
About Kelp Beds Bull Kelp (Nereocystis luetkeana) is an annual marine seaweed that is common throughout the Gulf Islands. Its range extends from Alaska to California, and it provides important habitat for many kinds of marine life. The plant consists of a long stipe (up to 36 m long), attached Read more