Eelgrass Update Spring 2026

Did you know that eelgrass beds are one of the most productive ecosystems on the planet, rivalling tropical rainforests in the biodiversity they support? These underwater meadows provide vital habitat for juvenile fish, filter coastal waters, and store vast amounts of carbon. Yet eelgrass is declining in the Salish Sea. We’re working hard to understand why, and to help bring it back. 

This year, we are continuing efforts to track and restore eelgrass beds throughout Baynes Sound, the K’ómoks Estuary, and the northern Salish Sea. By monitoring their extent and health over time, we can identify where eelgrass is thriving, where it’s struggling, and what’s driving those changes. 

Historic logging and coal mining have left lasting impacts on shoreline habitat and introduced contamination into coastal sediments. Eelgrass also faces ongoing stressors such as climate change, nearby aquaculture, and pollution from stormwater and road runoff, all of which make recovery more challenging. 

What have we been up to recently?

This winter we have been monitoring our previously transplanted eelgrass beds near Gartley Beach and Fanny Bay. Our dive team visited these sites to assess plant density, size, and water quality conditions. We’re happy to report these transplanted beds are establishing well and are hosting fish and invertebrate species in their new homes.  

What’s happening next?

We are preparing for an eelgrass transplant near Oyster River this June. This will be the third and final eelgrass component of a broader habitat connectivity project funded through DFO’s Aquatic Ecosystems Restoration Fund. 

A dive team will be planting shoots to help expand the existing eelgrass beds growing in the area and we need your help to make it happen! We’ll be hosting a series of volunteer events where community members prepare eelgrass shoots for transplanting by attaching small metal washers that anchor them in place on the seafloor. It’s a hands-on way to contribute directly to coastal restoration right in your backyard. Sign up for our Eelgrass Tying Group to receive volunteer dates by email. Details will be sent in May, with events taking place in June. 

We are also working with BC Parks, the Friends of Cortes Island Society, and the Klahoose First Nation to map eelgrass beds in Manson’s Landing Provincial Park and explore future restoration and conservation opportunities this summer.