Marine ecosystem around Prince Rupert at risk – WWF-Canada

“Professor Short’s work provides important lessons for the area around Prince Rupert,” said Michele Patterson, Director, Pacific Conservation Programs, WWF-Canada. “The study identifies human activities as the most important factor in seagrass decline which means we have an opportunity to modify our behaviours in order to protect this valuable marine ecosystem.”

The study identified activities such as dredging, the use of boat propellers, the development of commercial, residential and forestry industries, sedimentation from adjacent land use, destruction from coastal developments, marinas and log rafts as the main factors in seagrass decline. Many of these actions have resulted in the destruction of seagrass along the British Columbia coastline.

Recently the Federal government approved the expansion of Prince Rupert’s Fairview Terminal into an ultra-modern high capacity shipping container-handling facility. This expansion will bring increased pressure on the local marine ecosystem.

WWF-Canada has been working on an eelgrass monitoring program to identify and conserve critical seagrass habitat before development activities cause irreversible negative impacts on the environment. These efforts are coordinated out of WWF-Canada’s Prince Rupert office.

“By working with stakeholders including industry and Aboriginal communities in the Prince Rupert area, we hope to build a case for supporting seagrass protection. If we can achieve this, we will help ensure that this marine ecosystem remains productive now and into the future.”