Mlss Marine Life Sanctuaries Society of British Columbia

Mlss participates in the establishment of marine conservation areas around the coast of british columbia. Mlss endeavours to educate the public through hands-on experiences and interpretation of the natural history of subtidal animals and algae that inhabit our coastline through beach interpretation programs. Mlss also communicates directly with parks canada bc parks and fisheries and oceans canada staff to provide science-based evidence supporting the value of establishing marine protected areas (mpas) rockfish conservation areas (rcas) an marine sanctuaries. We work with local communities to advocate for the better protection of sustainability of marine life and ocean ecosystems. Mlss also contributed recommendations to bc parks for updates to marine management plans to further protect glass sponge reef ecosystems. Mlss contributed citizen sciecne- based data in the form of reports and publications to fisheries and oceans canada to support the establishment of new marine refuges to protect glass sponge reefs. Mlss participated in the divers' weekend at the vancouver aquarium (ocean wise) 2500+ and continued to provide presentations to wide-ranging audiences including nature clubs to raise awareness to the importance of protecting and sustaining our local marine life. Efforts continue on organizing research projects to support conservation efforts to protect sensitive benthic habitats such as the glass sponge reefs. Additional funding was received in the year that has been used for a young of year rockfish monitoring program temperature logger deploy and purchase and retrofit of a project vessel.