Miss Jasmin Schuster1,2, Dr Amanda E. Bates1, Helen Berry3, Dr Danielle Claar3, Dr Megan Dethier4, Dr Hilary Hayford5, Lynn Lee6, Dr Joanne Lessard7, Dr Dayv Lowry8, Dr Chris Neufeld9,10, Luba Y. Reshitnyk2, Ross Whippo11, Dr Margot Hessing-Lewis2
1University Of Victoria, Victoria, Canada, 2Hakai Institute, Campbell River, Canada, 3Nearshore Habitat Program, Washington State Department of Natural Resources, Olympia, USA, 4Friday Harbor Laboratories, University of Washington, , USA, 5Puget Sound Restoration Fund, Bainbridge Island, USA, 6Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve, National Marine Conservation Area Reserve, and Haida Heritage Site, Skidegate, Canada, 7Pacific Biological Station, Fisheries and Oceans Canada/Government of Canada, Nanaimo, Canada, 8National Marine Fisheries Service, Lacey, USA, 9University of British Columbia, Kelowna, Canada, 10Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre, Bamfield, Canada, 11Oregon Institute of Marine Biology, Charleston, USA
Kelps are integral components of nearshore benthic communities in temperate regions, providing complex biogenic habitat, resources that support biodiversity, and ecosystem functions such as nutrient cycling. The health and distribution of kelps are threatened by anthropogenic (e.g., pollution), environmental (e.g., temperature), and biological (e.g., overgrazing by sea urchins) stressors across their range, and variation in the intensity of and interactions among these factors can result in a wide array of ecological impacts. Understanding, protecting and restoring kelp ecosystems requires collaboration and a common framework. Building on other international initiatives, a cross-boundary (US – Canada) network of kelp practitioners (First Nations stewards, researchers, managers, policy makers, educators, and citizen scientists) is emerging in the Pacific Northwest. Our network aims to: (1) advance kelp conservation, management, and recovery in the transboundary waters of British Columbia (Canada) and Washington (USA) through implementing and expanding collective actions for kelp; and (2) serve as a forum for communicating about and organizing relevant research activities. Working groups are structured as clusters of actions that will form a basis for knowledge exchange, data collation, and novel research. Our emerging network can provide a roadmap for expanding kelp ecosystem planning and conservation in the Pacific Northwest. We present the ideas, structure, and goals of our kelp network, hoping to attract collaborators, knowledge exchange, advice, and inspiration from and for similar initiatives around the world.
Presentation Slides – Jasmin Schuster
