2022 – Central Coast Indigenous Resource Alliance & Simon Fraser University

This report explains the results of collaborative research between Central Coast First Nations and Simon Fraser University. The research examined how the amount and quality of kelp responds to the combined effects of environmental factors, herbivory by crabs and snails, and outbreaks of bryozoans (a crust-forming invertebrate).

The work was funded by the Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions and uplifted by knowledge and guidance from Sandie Hankewich (Kitasoo Xai’xais Fisheries) and Mike Reid, Desiree Lawson, and Michael Vegh (Heiltsuk Nation). The results highlight that harvesting kelp at locally cooler, wave-exposed areas can help maintain sustainable harvests as ocean temperatures continue to rise.

Go to resource: Hidden Impacts of Climate Change on Canada’s Undersea Forests