Assessment of Impacts to Natural Beaches and Culturally Modified Clam Gardens in the Broughton Archipelago

Description

Concern has been raised by Broughton Archipelago First Nations (‘Namgis and Kwicksutaineuk-Ah'kwak'ah'mish First Nations) about changes to the productivity of a number of clam beaches and culturally modified clam terraces within their Traditional Territories. The concern centers on the possibility of impacts to clam populations from commercial salmon farms in the Broughton Archipelago. In addition to salmon farming, the range of possible human disturbances in this region includes forestry impacts, such as watershed logging and sediment deposition, log handling and storage activities, and woody debris buildup in the marine environment.

Desired outcomes of this project are to understand the forces that shape and impact the populations of bivalves in the study area with special reference to the potential effects of salmon farms. Of equal importance is the development of a hierarchical ranking of factors that influence intertidal clam populations. In addition, future considerations for long-term monitoring or mitigative procedures to suspend or reverse further loss of clam productivity and quality standards will be outlined.

Program Name

Aquaculture Collaborative Research and Development Program (ACRDP)

Year(s)

2007 - 2010

Ecoregion(s)

Pacific: Vancouver Island West Coast

Principal Investigator(s)

Terri Sutherland
Email: Terri.Sutherland@dfo-mpo.gc.ca