Canadian non-profit to create artificial reefs for habitat enhancement and recreation
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The Artificial Reef Society of British Columbia (ARSBC) is a registered non-profit society based in Vancouver, British Columbia (BC), and has been a registered tax-deductible charity in Canada since 1992.[1]
ARSBC Headquarters - Vancouver Maritime Museum
Its aim is to create environmentally and economically sustainable artificial reefs (ARs) in British Columbia and around the world for the protection and enhancement of sensitive marine habitats, while also providing interesting destinations for the enjoyment of scuba divers.
The Society operates without any paid employees. Instead, it is driven by a dedicated volunteer Board of Directors alongside hundreds of volunteers hailing from British Columbia, Alberta, and the northwest United States, all actively involved in its projects, and is based out of the Vancouver Maritime Museum.
Since its founding in 1991, eight ships and one Boeing 737 have been sunk off the west coast of BC.[2] These wreckages act as a safe starting point for creating additional biodiversity, similar to ship graveyards, and other man-made structures that became ARs without the toxic leaching hazardous materials such as paints and heavy metals.[3]
The Artificial Reef Society of BC claims to also be a member of the Association of British Columbia Marine Industries, however, they are not currently listed as one of the members on the ABCMI member directory.[4]
Mission
The organization's primary mission revolves around the establishment and maintenance of artificial reefs. While also enhancing the scuba diving experience and advancing knowledge and awareness regarding the technology and safety procedures associated with artificial reef creation. ARSBC is also dedicated to promoting the use of artificial reefs as a sustainable option to help alleviate the environmental impact caused by scuba diving activities, particularly in historically significant or ecologically sensitive areas. [2]
Media Coverage
On January 24th 2007, an episode of Mega Builders aired featuring the preparation and sinking of the Boeing 737 by the ARSBC.[5]
The Annapolis was one of the main topics in Ocean Wise - Ocean Watch Report in 2020[6]
Method
The Artificial Reef Society of British Columbia (ARSBC) is the leading organization dedicated to converting old ships into permanent marine habitats. These steel-hulled warships undergo a long processes of stripping, recycling, and repurposing, before being carefully sunk to become artificial reefs. The structures quickly support the growth of self-sustaining ecosystems in the marine environment. These man-made reefs eventually transform into environments that closely resemble real reefs, with vibrant and diverse marine life. While also becoming locations for eco-adventure scuba diving and points of interest to the science community.[2]
Completed Projects
Sunk August 11, 1991: MV G.B. Church off Portland Island, near Sidney, BC at 48°43.323′ N, 123°21.339′ W [1][7]
Sunk December 5, 1992: HMCS Chaudière (DDE 235) (II) off Kunechin Point, in Porpoise Bay, near Sechelt, BC at 49° 37.694' N, 123° 48.699' W [2][8]
Sunk September 16, 1995: HMCS Mackenzie (DDE 261) off Gooch Island, near Sidney, BC at 48°40.094′ N, 123°17.170′ W [3][9]
Sunk June 22, 1996: HMCS Columbia (DDE 260) (II) off Maud Island, near Campbell River, BC at 50°8.031′ N, 125°20.152′ W [4][10]
Sunk June 14, 1997: HMCS Saskatchewan (DDE 262) (II) off Snake Island, near Nanaimo, BC at 49°12.96′ N, 123°53.070′ W [5][11]
Sunk October 20, 2001: HMCS Cape Breton (ARE 100) (II) off Snake Island, near Nanaimo, BC at 49°12.88′ N, 123°53.067′ W [6][12]
Sunk January 14, 2006: Xihwu Boeing 737-200 off Chemainus, BC at 48°56.142′ N, 123°43.130′ W [7][13]
Sunk April 4, 2015: HMCS Annapolis (DDH 265) off Gambier Island in Halkett Bay Marine Provincial Park, Howe Sound BC at 49°26.95′ N, 123°19.85′ W [8].[14]
Since its initial sinking, the Annapolis has been used as a center point by the organization to conduct ecological studies and record biodiversity.[6]
Sebastes aleutianus - considered threatened and was one of the key foci of the study
In 2019 a study was released that assessed rockfish and other groundfish abundance and variability between natural and artificial reefs within close proximity to each other. The study, which was done using remotely operated underwater vehicles (ROV), found that while, natural reefs had higher species richness, artificial reefs had greater species abundance. However, the artificial reefs displayed much greater variability when compared to the natural reefs in both abundance and richness. [16] The ARs selected for this study included, M.V. G.B. Church, HMCS Mackenzie, Cape Breton, Saskatchewan, Columbia, Annapolis, and the Boeing 737. As well as two unintentional wreckages, the Capilano, and Shamrock.
Controversy
Annapolis
Tributyltin chloride - the main concern of the Save Halkett Bay Marine Park Society
The project, which started in 2008 with the purchase of the Annapolis from the Canadian Government, almost immediately encountered some issues and sparked controversies. Financial issues, shifting federal regulations, emerging environmental concerns, and legal disputes led to extended timelines and increased costs. Most notable legal challenges posed by the group, Save Halkett Bay Marine Park Society temporarily halted the sinking, citing concerns over environmental hazards posed by the presence of Tributyltin chlorode (TBTs) in the ship's paint.[17] However, the federal court ruled in favor of ARSBC, stating that the amount of TBTs remaining on the hull fell within allowable limits set by legislation.[18]
See also
Artificial reef – Human-made underwater structure that functions as a reef
^"T3010 Registered Charity Information Return". Government of Canada. 2023-04-30. Retrieved 2024-02-11.
^ abc"ARTIFICIAL REEF SOCIETY OF BC". Artificial Reefs ARSBC. Retrieved 2024-02-12.
^Bracho-Villavicencio, Carolina; Matthews-Cascon, Helena; Rossi, Sergio (July 2023). "Artificial Reefs around the World: A Review of the State of the Art and a Meta-Analysis of Its Effectiveness for the Restoration of Marine Ecosystems". Environments. 10 (7): 121. doi:10.3390/environments10070121. ISSN 2076-3298.
^"Association of British Columbia Marine Industries | Company Search Result". www.abcmi.ca. Retrieved 2024-02-12.
^Grison, Guy (January 24, 2007). Mega Builders: Sinking Wings (Television production). Canada: Barna-Alper Productions Mega Builders III Productions.
^ abGibbs, Donna; Miller, Aroha; Pemberton, Doug (2020). "Ocean Watch Átl'ḵa7tsem / Txwnéwu7ts / Howe Sound Edition" (PDF). Ocean Wise Research Institute. 2 (2020): 219. ISBN 978-1-7772408-2-0.
^"G. B. Church". Artificial Reefs ARSBC. Retrieved 2024-02-17.
^Bulger, D. S.; Volpe, J. P.; Fisher, J. T. (2019-12-01). "Differences in fish communities on natural versus artificial temperate reefs, groundfish conservation applications in British Columbia". Marine Environmental Research. 152: 104788. doi:10.1016/j.marenvres.2019.104788. ISSN 0141-1136.
^"Save Halkett Bay Marine Park Society v Canada (Environment) | CanLII Connects". canliiconnects.org. Retrieved 2024-04-10.
^Canada, Environment and Climate Change (2016-04-08). "Minister's response to notice of objection: Save Halkett Bay Marine Park Society". www.canada.ca. Retrieved 2024-04-10.
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