Page 9 - 2021PSF-ResilientCoastsForSalmon-NewLogo-Primer-Web

Photo by: Mitch Miller

On natural sandy shorelines, you will find large woody
debris (driftwood) that holds sediment in place and
provides ideal conditions for saltwater-adapted plants
such as dune grass to grow, which further assist in
stabilizing the shoreline . Beachgoers and property
owners also benefit from enjoying watching the
wildlife utilizing these habitats .
Photo by: Maria Catanzaro
Did you know that small fish surf their way up with
the tide onto sandy, gravel beaches to spawn? Well,
they do! Surf smelt and Pacific sand lance are forage fish
that rely on pebble and sandy shorelines for spawning,
and require healthy overhanging vegetation along the
high tide line to shade their eggs and provide an input
of nutrients . These incredible fish support the life cycle
of Pacific salmon, shorebirds, and ultimately, even
larger iconic species such as killer whales .

Figure 2.1 – This map shows
the extent of eelgrass and kelp
habitat in the Strait of
Georgia, British Columbia,
including zoomed in regions
of Courtenay/Comox,
Nanaimo, and Greater
Victoria. The map was created
with several datasets including,
kelp bed layers from GeoBC,
an eelgrass layer from Islands
Trust Conservancy, and an
eelgrass later from the
British Columbia Marine
Conservation Analysis. For
more information, check the
Strait of Georgia Data Centre.
The overall dataset does not
represent extent in its entirety,
as data are continually updated
from multiple sources. (Source:
Strait of Georgia Data Centre,
Pacific Salmon Foundation)

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