Mobile Menu

  • Destinations
    • Canada
      • British Columbia
      • Alberta
      • Yukon
    • U.S.A.
      • Alaska
      • Washington
      • Oregon
      • California
    • Indigenous Tourism
    • West Coast Galleries
  • Things To Do
    • Staycation Secrets
      • Canada
        • Vancouver Island, B.C.
        • Okanagan
        • Lower Mainland, B.C.
        • Northern B.C.
        • Interior B.C.
        • Alberta
        • Yukon
      • U.S.A.
        • Alaska
        • Washington
        • Oregon
        • California
    • Adventure
      • Hiking
      • Camping
      • Beaches
      • Biking
      • Skiing
      • Fishing
      • Rafting
      • Adrenaline
    • Sip & Savour
    • Family Activities
  • Share Your Experience
    • Join Our Team
    • Contests
      • Okanagan Summer Getaway
      • Win Round Trip Flights
      • 10 Adventures Contest
      • Winter Road Trip With RVezy
      • Paddle Tour 2021
    • The Armchair Traveller Newsletter
  • Nature & Wildlife
    • Nature Photography
    • Wildlife Photography
  • About
    • Impressive West Coast
    • West Coast Partners
    • Contact Us
  • Search
  • Facebook
  • Flickr
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Menu
  • Skip to left header navigation
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Before Header

  • Facebook
  • Flickr
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

West Coast Traveller

  • Destinations
    • Canada
      • British Columbia
      • Alberta
      • Yukon
    • U.S.A.
      • Alaska
      • Washington
      • Oregon
      • California
    • Indigenous Tourism
    • West Coast Galleries
  • Things To Do
    • Staycation Secrets
      • Canada
        • Vancouver Island, B.C.
        • Okanagan
        • Lower Mainland, B.C.
        • Northern B.C.
        • Interior B.C.
        • Alberta
        • Yukon
      • U.S.A.
        • Alaska
        • Washington
        • Oregon
        • California
    • Adventure
      • Hiking
      • Camping
      • Beaches
      • Biking
      • Skiing
      • Fishing
      • Rafting
      • Adrenaline
    • Sip & Savour
    • Family Activities
  • Share Your Experience
    • Join Our Team
    • Contests
      • Okanagan Summer Getaway
      • Win Round Trip Flights
      • 10 Adventures Contest
      • Winter Road Trip With RVezy
      • Paddle Tour 2021
    • The Armchair Traveller Newsletter
  • Nature & Wildlife
    • Nature Photography
    • Wildlife Photography
  • About
    • Impressive West Coast
    • West Coast Partners
    • Contact Us
  • Search
You are here: Home / Travel / After 150 years, sea otters return to Haida Gwaii

K̲uu (sea otters) have been spotted in Gwaii Haanas after a 150-year absence.

After 150 years, sea otters return to Haida Gwaii

December 8, 2020 //  by Amy Attas

Share this:

The colourful underwater world thriving off BC’s coast just got a little more cute.

Parks Canada has announced that k̲uu, (sea otters) have been spotted in Gwaii Haanas after a 150-year absence. It’s an encouraging sign, and local researchers hope it signifies a return to balance in the marine ecosystem.

Sea urchin populations exploded once their main predator, the k̲uu, were decimated by the maritime fur trade. Urchins have since devoured local kelp forests, essential habitat for other species like abalone, herring, rockfish and salmon. Thanks to the Haida Nation, Parks Canada and other partners using a combination of scientific research and traditional knowledge, new kelp forests are now thriving. The return of the k̲uu is an exciting development, and project partners will continue to study their impacts on the ecosystem.

LEFT: Without the k̲uu (sea otter) to keep populations in balance, sea urchins consumed much of Haida Gwaii’s kelp forests creating urchin barrens. RIGHT: Copper and black rockfish in the foreground and background, respectively, in a lush kelp forest with a diversity of seaweeds and attached invertebrates living on the temperate rocky reef. (Photo: Lynn Lee of Tlell, Haida Gwaii)

3 Unforgettable BC dives

Who needs to visit tropical reefs when Jacques Cousteau himself has said BC’s diving is “the best temperate-water diving in the world, and second only to the Red Sea.”

If the return of the k̲uu has you itching to swim like an otter in the ocean, BC’s coast has plenty of spectacular destinations. Here’s a look at three awesome experiences, once we’re travelling again.

The view from the kayak — above the surface — in Burnaby Narrows on Haida Gwaii. (Photo: Amy Attas)

The Galapagos of the North

Haida Gwaii is often called the Galapagos of the North thanks to its rich biodiversity and an astonishing mix of rare species, and it puts on a dazzling display both above and below sea-level. There are a few diving outfits on-island who can show you the sights, but you don’t need to be Open Water Certified to see under water. At low tide in Burnaby Narrows (over a day’s boat ride from the nearest town) you can float in a kayak and gaze down on dense ocean life less than a metre underwater. Don’t forget to keep your eyes peeled for the cute creature that just moved back to the neighbourhood, the k̲uu!

Swim inside an airplane in Chemainus! The Artificial Reef Society of British Colombia has installed nine vessels along BC’s coast that are safe for the environment and safe to explore. (Photos: Dirk De Keersmaecker/ARSBC)

Swim in a Boeing 737

The Artificial Reef Society of British Colombia is in the business of sinking ships. Why? Large steel vessels make excellent artificial reefs, creating new habitat for marine life. The society removes any equipment that would be dangerous to divers or toxic to the ecosystem, then safely sinks old vessels in thoughtfully accessible locations. Of their nine BC reefs in coastal waters off Vancouver Island, the Lower Mainland and the Sunshine Coast, all but one are ships. And then there’s the Boeing 737 near Chemainus, which originally flew with the now-defunct Canadian Airlines. In this video you can see the life flourishing on the fuselage 11 years after the plane was installed.

Resist the urge to scratch your name into the hull of these artificial reefs. When you scrape away the ‘dirt’ you destroy a fine coating of growth that feeds all life on the ship.

Scuba in the City

Easy-to-access just around the corner from Horseshoe Bay is Whytecliff Park, a popular spot for divers of all skill levels. You’re sure to see colourful anemones, rockfish and massive sun stars, and if you’re lucky you might get a visit from a seal or octopus. The underwater views are phenomenal, and so is the convenience: shore access, bathrooms, a rinse station, parking, and a short commute to the big city in Vancouver.

Divers removed 75 per cent of the urchins from sections of Gwaii Haanas to restore kelp forests. (Photo: Ryan Miller/Millermarine.ca)

Share this:

Category: TravelTag: British Columbia Destinations, Canada, Diving, Haida Gwaii, Things to do, WCT Intro, Wildlife

Related Posts

You may be interested in these posts from the same category.

Pigeon Lake draws community curlers to outdoor rink

Despite a pandemic keeping community members physically distanced, Pigeon Lake neighbours have been creative this…

Pigeon Lake draws community curlers to outdoor rinkRead More

Mystery Mountain Hop: Documentary recounts quest for largest peak on the B.C. coast

It’s the largest peak on the B.C. coast and the namesake of Vancouver Island’s most…

Mystery Mountain Hop: Documentary recounts quest for largest peak on the B.C. coastRead More

BC provincial camp reservations start March 8

If you’re planning for summer nights under the stars in British Columbia’s provincial parks, camping…

BC provincial camp reservations start March 8Read More

Island wildlife viewers thrilled by close view of passing Orca pod

It was a wildlife photographer’s bonanza on Feb. 27 when a pod of orca passed…

Island wildlife viewers thrilled by close view of passing Orca podRead More

Cow moose rescued from frozen pond east of Williams Lake

Williams Lake residents and a conservation officer rescued a cow moose after it fell through…

Cow moose rescued from frozen pond east of Williams LakeRead More

All aboard! Train traces the epic Klondike journey

What do the Eiffel Tower, the Panama Canal and the Statue of Liberty all have…

All aboard! Train traces the epic Klondike journeyRead More

Year-long logging halt aims to bolster northern spotted owl habitat near Hope

The last known wild northern spotted owls in Canada have been given a new shot…

Year-long logging halt aims to bolster northern spotted owl habitat near HopeRead More

Summer is sweet at Sugar Lake (and winter’s pretty cool, too!)

Emerging from winter, you may be dreaming of a vacation with sunny skies, warm water…

Summer is sweet at Sugar Lake (and winter’s pretty cool, too!)Read More

VIDEO: New Mt. Cain ski documentary eye-candy for powder lovers

A freeskiing documentary set at Vancouver Island’s Mount Cain is making waves online. Frozen in…

VIDEO: New Mt. Cain ski documentary eye-candy for powder loversRead More

Previous Post: « Soaking in the Senses: Whistler’s Scandinave Spa
Next Post: Ambassador’s Guide to Banff: Sip and savour your way through these must-try spots! »

Primary Sidebar

Things To Do

Pigeon Lake draws community curlers to outdoor rink

March 2, 2021

Mystery Mountain Hop: Documentary recounts quest for largest peak on the B.C. coast

March 2, 2021

BC provincial camp reservations start March 8

March 2, 2021

Island wildlife viewers thrilled by close view of passing Orca pod

March 2, 2021

Recent Posts

Pigeon Lake draws community curlers to outdoor rink

March 2, 2021

Mystery Mountain Hop: Documentary recounts quest for largest peak on the B.C. coast

March 2, 2021

BC provincial camp reservations start March 8

March 2, 2021

Island wildlife viewers thrilled by close view of passing Orca pod

March 2, 2021

Footer

The West Coast Traveller has an immense social media footprint, with eight social media sites and 100,000+ Facebook followers.

Join us on social media and Join Our Community by sharing your stuff!

Get Inspired

News Media Groups

Black Press Media
Sound Publishing
Oahu Media Group
Alaska
Boulevard Magazines
Used.ca

Let’s Get Social

West Coast Traveller
I Love British Columbia
I love Alberta
I Love Yukon
I Love Washington
I Love California
I Love Oregon
I Love Alaska

Site Footer

  • Facebook
  • Flickr
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Copyright © 2021 West Coast Traveller and · All Rights Reserved