“Sponges are not primitive. They are simple, yet sophisticated organisms. The value of sponges to humans is their capacity to build habitats that provide food for other marine life as well as us, and they hold a diversity of chemical structures significant for the development of antiviral drugs. Surely these are reasons enough to protect the sponges and their habitats.”
Category: Updates on Sponge Research
Sponge Bioherm Monitoring Project – https://mlssbc.com/programs/sponge-research/sponge-research/
Reefs and Rockfish Protection
The MLSS, Marine Life Sanctuaries Society, is focused on protecting unique marine reefs and underwater environments.
Larval Settlement Project and Volunteer Divers 2020 by Sheila Byers
Larvae of the cloud sponge, Aphrocallistes vastus, the key reef-building species in Howe Sound (partnered with the fingered goblet sponge, Heterochone calyx), are known to disperse and mix genetically across the sponge reefs in the Salish Sea. But where are these larvae? Not only are the larvae microscopic and difficult to see or find, little…
Update: Straight of Georgia and Howe Sound Glass Sponge Reef Conservation Initiative
From: Finn, Deirdre Sent: January 27, 2020 5:13:02 PM Cc: Mar, Amy Subject: Update: Strait of Georgia and Howe Sound Glass Sponge Reef Conservation Initiative Dear Stakeholder, The purpose of this email is to provide an update on recent activities of the Strait of Georgia and Howe Sound Glass Sponge Reef Conservation Initiative (the Initiative)…
Ground-truthing Glass Sponge Reefs from the CCGS Vector
On May 27, 2019 an early morning ride on BC Ferries from Horseshoe Bay to Langdale quickly found me on the Sunshine Coast heading for nearby Hopkins Landing. A Coast Guard zodiac with the Chief Research Scientist from DFO Habitat Ecology Program, Dr Anya Dunham, was at the dock waiting for several of us to…
8 More Glass Sponge Reef Refuges Created in Howe Sound
WE DID IT – THE GLASS SPONGE REEFS IN HOWE SOUND ARE PROTECTED!! March 6, 2019: Marine Life Sanctuaries Society and the Underwater Council of British Columbia are incredibly pleased and proud to learn that our hard work, dedication and commitment to protect the delicate glass sponge reefs in Howe Sound has come to fruition…
Exploring the World Below: A Dive in Halkett Bay Provincial Marine Park
Exploring the World Below: A Dive in Halkett Bay Provincial Marine Park By Lora McAuley, Subsea Society of Howe Sound – October 27, 2018 It was like a mini-vacation, diving above a city of clouds. Upon submersion, I felt the cool relief of Howe Sound washing away the heat of an unusually warm autumn sun. Megan, Glen…
Brigade Reef Rockfish Conservation Area (RCA) Project
Howe Sound Rockfish Seek Protection Rockfish Conservation Area status vital for Brigade Reef. By Bridget John – November 28, 2018 170 years old, is the age some rockfish species live to, including the dwindling populations in our backyard, the Howe Sound/Atl’kitsem. The Underwater Council for British Columbia (UCBC), is requesting the DFO to move the Brigade Reef…
Exciting News From DFO for MLSS and Howe Sound
DFO Ecosystems Approach Officer, Aleria Ladwig, made an important announcement on Friday (September 21, 2017) to fisheries stakeholders for which MLSS has been waiting with great anticipation!! DFO has determined that the 13 glass sponge reefs discovered in Howe Sound by MLSS and partners between 1996 and 2015 are sufficiently biologically significant to warrant a…
Glass Sponge Temperature Monitoring Updates
May 7, 2017 MLSS divers, Glen Dennison and Viviana Lee, recovered and replaced the temperature logger installed for long-term monitoring on the artificial reef, HMCS Annapolis, in Halkett Bay. The logger is mounted on the ship at a depth of 23 m (75 ft) with this period of data extending from August 6, 2016 to…
Glass Sponge Larval Settlement Study 2016-2018
MLSS launched a field-based experiment funded by DFO to study settlement (recruitment) of larval glass sponges and other sessile biota (algae and animals) within the Halkett sponge reef ecosystem. With DFO scientists, MLSS designed and built artificial ‘larval settlement trees’ to emulate the live glass sponges within the reef. MLSS divers installed the trees on…
PADI Bioherm Sponge Diver Distinctive Specialty
Exciting news!! Be one of the first divers to become certified for the Bioherm Sponge Speciality Program! There is limited space in the upcoming launch of the program. In partnership with MLSS and UCBC (Underwater Council of British Columbia), Ocean Quest Dive Centre is now offering this Specialty Program as an introduction to diving sensitive…
Marine Life Sanctuaries Society 