Protecting Eelgrass Brochure

Extracted text (beginning)

For information
on known locations 
of eelgrass meadows 
in coastal areas of BC 
check out the Eelgrass 
Mapping Atlas at
www.cmnbc.ca
If you 
would like to 
volunteer to help conserve 
eelgrass, please contact:
conserve@ 
seagrassconservation.
org
eelgrass protection
Eelgrass is protected through land use bylaws in 
some local jurisdictions. Contact your local planning 
department and Official Community Plan for  
information. If you are planning a project that  
may impact fish habitat, including docks and  
shoreline protection, contact your  
municipality or FrontCounter  
BC and Fisheries and 
Oceans Canada.
everyone can help 
3 Let your neighbours know what eelgrass is and 
where it lives. Spread the word about the  
importance of eelgrass to our oceans and to us.
what can 
beachcombers do?
3 Walk carefully through eelgrass at low tide. If walking 
in a group, spread out to avoid creating a path.
what can residents do?
3 Grow trees, shrubs and grasses along the water’s 
edge to stabilize the shoreline to help maintain 
natural coastal currents and processes.
3 Use nature-friendly products for fertilizing and for 
pest and weed control. Keep your storm drain free 
of toxic chemicals.
3 Be mindful of inland activities like construction 
or landscaping that may cause sediments to enter 
streams. These sediments can flow hundreds of  
kilometres to the ocean, smothering eelgrass  
and blocking out light needed for its growth.
3 Share a dock among several neighbours. Avoid 
placing a dock where it will shade out eelgrass.
3 Refer to 
www.greenshoresforhomes.org for 
ideas on how to minimize impacts of residential 
development and shoreline protection on  
nearshore habitats.
contributors 
to this pamphlet:
Seagrass Conservation Working Group
SeaChange Marine Conservation Society
The Living By Water Project
Parks Canada
2016
 protecting
eelgrass
what can boaters 
and kayakers do?
3 Learn to recognize eelgrass and where it grows.  
If there’s eelgrass along the beach at low tide, then 
there’s probably a meadow beneath your boat. 
3  Tie up to a mooring buoy rather than anchoring.  
If anchoring, avoid eelgrass meadows, which will 
grow as deep as 10 m or 30 ft below zero tide.
3  If your anchor brings up eelgrass, avoid the area 
next time—and let others know too.
3   Choose an eelgrass-free zone to drag your dinghy 
or kayak up on the beach. If you must alight
 on 
eelgrass, use different routes back and forth to 
minimize trampling. 
3 Refer to 
http://georgiastrait.org/work/ 
    cleanmarinebc/pumpouts to find  
shore-based sewage pumpout stations in B.C.
3  Raise your propeller and slow down when 
travelling in shallow water to reduce contact 
between your boat and eelgrass. 
resources
Green shoreline development 
www.greenshores.ca
Eelgrass in the Salish Sea
www.seagrassconservation.org
Stewardship information 
www.stewardshipcentre.bc.ca
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca
Green boating practices
www.georgiastrait.org
Living b

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