Although the waters around Gabriola Island look relatively pristine, a battle is raging below the surface. Biodiversity is under siege and it’s quite possible that fisheries on the west coast might follow the same devastating path seen on Canada’s east coast. The decline of bull kelp, poor fishing practices, log booms, run-off from polluted rivers and streams, and global climate change all play significant roles here, and the very survival of many traditional communities and areas that rely on tourism are in jeopardy too. Many of us probably feel helpless to reverse this situation - but there are solutions.
Leading scientists from around the world recognize that artificial reefs play an important role in restoring degraded marine ecosystems, and that several ancillary benefits such as eco-tourism, enhancement of recreational scuba diving, and the protection of benthic habitats against illegal trawling often follow. Studies have shown that artificial reefs are similar to natural reefs in terms of the species richness supported, and that they also quickly become good fishing grounds that take pressure off traditionally over-fished areas. This has been known for a long time, and in 1972 the United Nations put together the “Convention On The Prevention Of Marine Pollution By Dumping Of Wastes And Other Matter” to specify how decommissioned ships and airframes might be turned into living reef systems. As one of 81 signatory countries to this Convention, Canada has a comprehensive set of permitting requirements for any party interested in building an artificial reef.
Since 1991, the Artificial Reef Society of British Columbia has created eight artificial reefs, and it has plans to scuttle soon the HMCS Annapolis off Gambier Island in Howe Sound. As someone who has dived on many of these artificial reefs, I can tell you that they are rich, diverse, and provide excellent habitat for marine organisms. According to the President of the Artificial Reef Society of British Columbia, Howard Robins, “We have the science, and the history on our side”. In spite of this, some, including the Georgia Strait Alliance and the Islands Trust have taken active positions against building artificial reefs in this manner. Why this disconnect?
The Georgia Strait Alliance opposes the creation of artificial reefs using old ships and other metallic structures. In an interview with Cathy Booler, Administrative Director of the Georgia Strait Alliance, two concerns about this practice were raised. Booler indicated that her organization has concerns about the possibility of toxic chemicals leaching from sunken ships, and whether materials from these structures should be recycled. In spite of these concerns, Booler admitted that ships do indeed work well as artificial reefs, and that they may in fact be necessary to rehabilitate some marine ecosystems.
In the consolidated Islands Trust Policy Statement (2003; section 3.4.3), the Islands Trust takes a direct position opposing artificial reefs in the Trust area, but does accept small scale habitat enhancement structures like reef balls. Sheila Malcolmson, one of our trustees on the Islands Trust, admits that the Trust has no authority over the waters in the area, and that they function as another stakeholder in the Federal licensing process. Malcolmson expressed some personal resistance to the notion that artificial reefs themselves would be enough to rebuild diversity, and emphasized the need to focus on other pressing issues that are responsible for the decline of this ecosystem’s general health.
In my view, the Georgia Strait Alliance and the Islands Trust need to reconsider their positions on artificial reefs, and should work cooperatively with the Artificial Reef Society of British Columbia. There is strong scientific consensus that these reefs do indeed work, and that they make a difference in areas where biodiversity needs a helping hand.
Dr. Michael D. Mehta lives on Gabriola Island but works in Winnipeg where he is a Professor of Environmental Studies at the University of Winnipeg. Michael also offers environmental consulting services and is a certified scuba diving instructor. His website is www.policynut.com
