Overview
Kelp forests support many culturally important species such as sea otter, northern abalone, Chinook salmon, and rockfish. For Nuu-chah-nulth First Nations, they are critical to economic development, food security, and access to traditional foods. However, in Barkley Sound, and Pacific Rim National Park Reserve (Pacific Rim NPR), kelp forest habitat is declining.
This concerning trend is associated with the extirpation of sea otters (Enhydra lutris) and sunflower sea stars (Pycnopodia helianthoides), which together have resulted in hyperabundant populations of sea urchins, which graze on kelp. Warming ocean temperatures and marine heat waves are additional stressors inhibiting kelp survival and abundance.
In response, Pacific Rim NPR implemented a canopy kelp monitoring program in 2022—assessing changes in kelp canopy species extent, identifying drivers of change, and exploring opportunities to improve kelp ecosystems in collaboration with First Nation partners.
Pacific Rim NPR previously monitored kelp ecosystems in the Broken Group Islands Unit using subtidal scuba assessments from 2007 to 2016. The renewed kelp monitoring program now fills the gap in the reserve’s Ecological Integrity program through collaborative, informed decision-making with First Nation partners.
Tools Used
Several existing tools and resources were particularly valuable in supporting the kelp monitoring program:
MaPP Regional Kelp Monitoring Methodologies: These standardized regional protocols provided a strong foundation for consistent field methods, data collection, and reporting across sites and partners
Hakai’s Habitat Mapper: This segmentation tool was instrumental for processing drone imagery, automating kelp canopy detection, and increasing consistency in spatial analysis
Kelp Node: This platform supported data sharing, collaboration, and access to regional kelp‑related datasets, helping align monitoring efforts with broader initiatives along the coast
To collect environmental data, participants used:
CastAway CTDs to measure conductivity, temperature, and depth
YSI Pro Quatros to measure temperature, conductivity, pH, and dissolved oxygen
Star-Oddi permanently moored temperature loggers
To collect data on the spatial extent of canopy kelp, project participants used a combination of aerial imagery and digital mapping tools, including:
Mavic 3E drones for capturing aerial imagery
Agisoft software for stitching imagery into georeferenced mosaics
Hakai’s “Habitat Mapper” segmentation tool to map canopy kelp
To collect data on kelp health and density, researchers used:
To collect subtidal information—analyzing invertebrate and fish communities, urchin abundance, and substrates—participants trialed several tools and techniques, including:
ROV transects, conducted in collaboration with the UVic Spectral Lab
Drop quadrats with Go Pro cameras mounted to PVC pipe quadrats
Baited Remote Underwater Video (BRUV) systems will be tested in 2026
Outcomes
The program established a new method of monitoring the health of kelp forests in Pacific Rim NPR and tracking how they are changing over time. The approach incorporated multiple forms of knowledge, particularly Indigenous and local knowledge, into the monitoring program. This strengthened relationships with partners and contributed to a growing understanding and knowledge of kelp within the Barkley Sound region. Reports on the status and trends of kelp ecological integrity within Pacific Rim NPR are now informing co-management of these ecosystems.
Timeline
The project began in 2022 and is ongoing.
Image Gallery
Images credited to Nina Moodley, Krista Bohlen, and Parks Canada.
