September 16, 2022 

We received a disappointing response from the Ministry of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard (DFO) regarding our May 23rd letter ‘MLSSBC Letter of Concern Regarding Howe Sound Marine Refuge Infractions’ to the Honourable Joyce Murray. Sadly, the sponge reefs destruction continue despite finely worded responses from DFO. We will continue to urge the Canadian government to protect the sponge reefs. 

Click here to view a copy of the letter from The Honourable Joyce Murrey, P.C., M.P.

May 25, 2022

MLSSBC Letter of Concern Regarding Howe Sound Marine Refuge Infractions to Honourable Minister Joyce Murray

Marine Life Sanctuaries Society of BC‘s Letter of Concern addressed to the Honourable Minister Joyce Murray imploring immediate attention and action regarding the on-going infractions and violations due to bottom-contact fishery activities in the Marine Refuge Glass Sponge Reefs of Átl’ka7tsem / Howe Sound.

Are Marine Refuges Protecting Sensitive Glass Sponges or Are Better Management Tools Required?

Presentation by Sheila Byers (MLSS BC) at the 2022 Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference. 

Exciting news received on July 13, 2021!! 

They outlived dinosaurs, but can glass sponge reefs survive man-made warming?

They outlived dinosaurs, but can glass sponge reefs survive man-made warming?

OPP and NOTH 2021 Conferences

Mid-February was a busy week for the MLSS President and Vice-President who attended two virtual conferences that ran simultaneously: The Ocean Protection Plan (OPP) Dialogue Forum Winter 2021 was the 7^th Forum organized by Transport Canada, and Nature on the Hill 2021 (NOTH) was the 3^rd annual event organized by Nature Vancouver. Glen and Sheila split our time to cover as much of the conferences as we could.  Read more here: OPP and NOTH 2021 Conferences by Sheila Byers