I
;
-
,
The contents of this publication
.
•• y not be reproduced without the
per~ls91on ot the Director.
BRITISH COLUMBIA RESEARCH COUNCIL
TECHNICAL BULLETIN NUMBER "
A REPORT
,
ON THE
LOCATION
.
OF
1
I
MARINE PLANTS of ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE
IN
BRITISH COLUMBIA COASTAL
WATERS
,
\
I
BRITISH COLUMBIA RESEARCH COUNCIL
Offices .and uboratoftes at
THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA
V.ancouver, B. C.
FEB 15 1947
I
..
'-
•
,
'.
~
BRITISH COLlJIBIA RESEARCH COUNCIL
MARINE PLANTS OF ECON<IIIC II1PORTANCE IN
BRlTISR COLltIBIA COASTAL WATERS
Although marine plants grow in apparent abundance in
British Columbia coastal waters. with promise of a valuable harvest,
their use has been almost entirely negJected. Inasmuch as the
economic exploitation of seaweed requires accurate knowledge of
the species existing and their location and quantity, the British
Columbia Research -Council, during the summer of 1946, surveyed a
large part of the coast for marine plants of commercial value.
The more important information collected in the survey, together
with brief notes on the history of the use of seaweeds, are provided
in this bulletin.
Seaweeds, both the entire plant and extracts, have been
used since ancient times as foods and thickening agents. Irish
Moss and dulse have been eaten in the British Isles and the eastern
United States for many years. The Japanese gathered extensive
quantities of seaweeds for use as a vegetable. Indeed the main
collection locally has been for use as food. by the Oriental residents
of the province. Rich in potash and organic matter, seaweeds decay
rapidly in the SOil, forming a valuable fertilizer. Additional
a.ll.ounts of nitrogen and phosphates must however be supplied. The
potash, together with iodine was extracted on a commercial scale
during the last war but when cheaper sources became available, the
process was discontinued. As an indication of the importance of
the marine plant industry, the Scottish Seaweed Research Association
is reported to be devoting over $600)000 to research over a seven
year period.
Algin and agar are the seaweed products with probably the
greatest economic importance at tre present time. The use for these
extracts is steadily growing in many fields of industry. Extensive
facilities for the production of algin and agar exist in Japan, the
United States, Great Britain and elsewrere •
•
2.
Interest in the possibilities of a marine plant processing
industry in British Columbia began in 1944 when inquiries were received from an eastern firm. Since that time,a number of other
companies in the field have become aware of the potential income
from this source. A Vancouver firm is now building a plant for
the manufacture of mineral diet supplements for human consumption
and of feed conditioners for livestock.
Algin forms about twenty per cent of the dry weight of
the British Columbia kelps considered in this report. When extracted as sodium alginate, algin is a hydrophilic colloidal substance. It is in great demand as a thickener of liquids, as a
stabilizer of colloidal emulsions, as a lubricant and as a moisture
preservative. Algin finds application in such diversified fields
as ice cream, toothpaste, hand lotions, dental impression plates,
textiles, sealing muds for oil wel19, and transparent films similar
to ce llophane .In the time available in the summer of 1946 for the survey
of marine plants, the British Columbia Research Council was able to
give detailed attention only to the floating kelps, Nereocystis
and Macrocystis. The non-floating seaweeds, Uracilaria CY~Qpbyllum.,
Laminaria, and Alaria can be studied only at low t,id 9:1" by systematic
dredging. With a coastline estimated at 25, 000 miles, the detailed
study of these plants becomes a problem of some magnitude in British
Cc>lumbia.
The survey was carried out between August 15 and September 7,
by B. K. Farrar of the British Columbia Research Council, assisted
by R. Scagel on loan from the Fisheries Research Board of Canada.
For the purposes of the investigation it was found desirable to divide
the coast into three natural zones:
Northern Zone
From Wales Island south to Cape Caution.
Central Zone
Bounded by Cape Scott, Cape Caution,
Seymour Narrows, and Yuculta Rapids.
Southern Zone
From Seymour Narrows and Yuculta Rapids
south to the International Boundary.
The inside passages from Seymour Narrows north to Wales
Island were covered fairly thoroughly. The region south of Seymour
Narrows was only sketchily examined. The Queen Charlotte Islands and
the west coast of Vancouver Island are not included in the present
re~rl~
.
3.
The following tabulation, and the accompanying charts,
give the location of the kelp beds actually seen and considered
harvestable. Narrow fringes and small patches have been ignored.
The tonnages given are conside~ed to be conservative estimates, and
are based on the harvestable material obtainable at mean low tide.
It is also assmned that only one crop per year can be harvested.
Weather conditions should permit the harvesting of kelp within
each of the above zones for from 20 to 25 days of each month. Crossing
from one zone to another however, presents navigational difficulties.
Northern Zone
.Macrocystis
10,430 tons
Nereocystis
82,765 tons
Macrocystis
Aristazabal Island, Baker Point to Ulric Point ••
Banks Island, North end •••...•.•...•••..•.•.••..
Banks Isl.and, Norway Inlet •.•.•••••••••••••••.••
Baron Island, Mouth of long channel on the
~1
west side
~~
••••
Dundas Island, South end •••••••.•.•....•.•••.•••
West \ shore, ." ~ ...... " ....
fir
~
..
"
. . . . ,.
"
a ...
Melville Island, Knee Hill Bay
.
South west shore •.•••.•.••.•.•.
~ ..
Porcher Island, Jap Inlet
Creek Point to Table Point .•••••
Welcome F.arbour •..••••.•••••....
West shore of Refuge Bay ....•...
.
Prescott Island, Prescott Channel
Stephens Island, Small bay on the N. W. shore •••
Skiakl Bay •••...•••••••••••..••
Centre of East shore .•.•..••.••
If
-
..
Tons
Chart
160
5000
500
7
6
1
20
260
10
15
600
50
5
3500
80
150
5
50
25
4
4
4
4
4
5
5
5
5
1
5
5
5
100
375
75
100
10500
1800
30000
2
Nereocystis
Aristazabal Island, Baker Point to Tildesley Point
Arthur Island, South east tip ••.•••••.•••••.•..••
Bardswell Group, Cape Swain east 5 miles ••••••••
Baron Island, Long channel on west side ••.••.•••
Campania Island, Uncharted reef on W. side ••••••
Duckers Island
-.. .,.
lli
of
"
•
4
..
Dundas Island, South end ••.•••...••••••..•..••.•
5
2
4
7
7
4
4.
Dundas Island, West shore ••.....
North west corner ..•••.•......•.
Dunira Island, West shore ••••••..• , .....•••.••.
Gaudin Island Reefs •••••••••••.. '; .••••••.'•.••.•
0
Hodgson Reef
'
"
!'
,.
••••••••••
~
"
' . ' ..
'# ..
~
0
•••
"
..
Klemtu Passage, West bank .••••..•.••••••••••••.
Lady Douglas Island, Reef off shore ••.•••.••...
Melville Island, Knee Hill Bay ••..••
J
••
••••••••
I' . .
,.
South shore ..... "."." ....
••
"
....
"
..
"
South west shore ••.•••.••••.••
Metlakatla Village, Tsimpsian Peninsula ••.••••.
Meyers Narrows
,., ..
Meyers Narrows north above Swindle Island ••..••
McCauley Island, Table Hill Inlet ••••.•••••••••
Ba'ird Point . "
_" -. " . " .. ~
'
It
..
Hankin Point
.
Beaver Passage ..•..••.••..•••.
Nabannah Reef in Grenville Channel •.•.•.••....•
Passage Island (Mouth of Mathieson Channel) .•.•
Porcher Island, Welcome Harbour .•...•....•.•••.•
Creak Point to Table Point •..•.
T.able Point
.
P~ar~e Point .......••.....• '~~ .. ~.
Prescott Island, East shore
.
Princess Royal Island, Dallain Point ••.•••••••.
Seabrook Point •..•.•....
Stephens Island, Riel Point •.•••
Skiakl Bay •..••••.•••••••••.••.
0
East shore " ..
••••••••••••••
oJ
,.
'
"
Tugwell Island Reef
.
Tree Kno·b Group """""""
" ..
!'
'. "
"
'" '. "
"
.
Wctles Island, South tip •••••••••••••••.••••••••
Tons
Chart
6000
200
600
25
1700
185
25
35
950
23700
5
250
750
150
25
100
200
30
1000
425
45
200
25
1200
60
25
30
250
550
375
200
500
4
4
4
2
4
2
2
4
4
4
4
2
2
6
6
6
6
1
2
5
5
5
5
5
2
7
5
5
5
4
4
4
Tons
Chart
700
3850
20
8
4000
8
Central Zone
l'1acrocystis
8,570 tons
Nereocystis
50,815 tons
Macrocystis
Hope Island, Turn Point to Cape James ••.•••••..
Malcolm Island, all along north shore ••••••••••
Shelter Bay, due north of Hardy Bay .~
.
Vancouver Island, Shore from Port McNeill to
Hardy Bay ''II''.'"
'!
yj ..
"
.,
~
"
. . . . . . !It ..
•
......
3
3
.'
.
i
5.
Tons
Chart
15
500
400
1500
120
800
1700
50
50
20
400
150
2000
40
100
700
25000
6510
1500
7000
40
1000
500
30
20
25
445
200
3
3
3
3
Nereocystis
Allison Harbour ..••..•..••••..•...•.•.••••.•.•.
Blunden Harbour ••.•••••••.•••...•.•..•••.•.••••
Broughton Island, Cullen Harbour ••..•.••••••••.
Cordero Channel, Green Point Rapids •••..•••••••
Cormorant Island, south shore •••••••••.•• ~ •••••
Domville Point, south entrance to Port Harvey •.
Domville Point, the Broken Island Light ••••••••
Foster Island
CD
,
.,
ill
,
#1
to .'
..
Gordon Group of Islands .••••••••.•••••••••••••••
Halford Island
"-'
"
-
., .,
..
Hanson Is.land, east end ••.••..••••.••.•.••.••••
Hardwick Island, towards York Island •••..•.•.•.
Earl. Ledge ••..•...•..•
Helmecken Island,opposite the light ..•..•...••
east end .•••.•.••..•.•.•.•..•
Hope Island, Turn Point to Cape James ••••••••••
Malcolm Island, we st end .•..•.••.••.•••••.••••••
along the north shore ••••••••.•
Haddington Reef •.•••••••..•••••
Done gal Head •••.•.••.•..••.•.••
Nigei Island, Bay S. W. of Mt. Lemon ...•.....•.
Port Neville Bay •..••..•.....••.•......•••...•.
Raynor Group of Islands .••.•••...••..•......•..
Schooner Passage, entrance to ••..••.•.•...•.•.•
She 1te r Bay ....
0
..
..
..
. . . . "• •'
....
II
..
..
..
..
.. ..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
,
••••
"
..
..
..' ..
Swanson Island, rocks at north end •••••••••..••
Vancouver Island, Port McNeill to Hardy Bay ••••
Wells Pass, entrance to ••..••.•..•..••••.••••••
8
3
3
8
3
8
8
3
3
3
3
3
8
8
8
8
3
3
3
3
3
3
8
3
Southern Zone
Macrocystis
None found, none indicated.
Nereocystis
21,000 tons off Cape Lazo
(Survey incomplete in this zone)
February 1947
/JI"
N
J--------f&-I-_Irltt........-=d'--------.;.--...:!loor-v-jf-o-+--------------~+-___t
Cha ,... #1
Novt-he.
Zone.
t"\
Dott~d
..
.<:4
t
t
i
5echon
,"VC",.(
»",; ~J oJ;" 7
li'llcs i" it4t# 4,.145
&y ,...:1
I
.",.,u
7
.~""" ~
,i!_____________() &,
:~~.:
"'~/
5¥- 0
5;-
;2 $"'''
/Z?"
()
I-----------+-------------I~--H__+--_I+-----------I
~.l."
GueeY\
Cr- ay 10 rre
Sound
.sou rhev n .5 ch'on
. - - - - - - - - - + - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - t ~/"
IV"
12'"
12-7·
N
5
" .... COUVt>
r
.. "'$J~ .. c(
5',..-0""
I'IJlY"ows
*0
Zone
D.tr.J
/i... ,.".IlCofn ",..•• c_.,."J
j'f Ct. ..., I
r.R'I'IIS
I.
,,
J
J
J
J
......
-- , .
.
,~
..•
,
LolA.cy
_~.
~
.. .,'
~
._.i
~.
I
•
II""'O"" '..
1("c..,..
•
1
3
If.
SeAL.& of "', ....
¥
~
.'
•
,,;
I
I
,
t
,
I
I
I
I
r-------litd~~-__+----___lS"fD
oYChey
l5q.
Chayr *" 5
Locahon
()
I
. .,
f
~
.
!
{
millis
of. Ke'r-
MacYocys t-i5
---
NeY-eoc,Y-.shs
III" I
Beds
IJf t';" 1
Ba l\
"6
lse:t .
---f
Chavr #6
Locarion
----3>; .",; f'S
".....
, --L_.l---L-_lf.L...'
of-
Mac YO cy. 5
Kelp Beds
rIS=- ==-
Neveocysh s
11111/
5"3"),,1
Ptl! Ju/..
N
5
PYitlC~5S
Royal
Jsd.
Chavr
LocaJion
#
of
7
Kelt2 Beds
MOCYQcy5hs
Neveocys ris
11I111
-153
0
~
,
'lor
\
"O"FOR P
,
\
,
~
~
","
."
,,•
,/
,,
\
,
\
-If">
./' V ()
,
,
I
,
FOSTWIl
"
I
I
,
-,
I
--
'-,
,•
,,,
,
\
\
- - --
,
I
I
I
." ,
I
j ;'
,
·ti
" ,
-- ... _---- - --
--
--",
1"".
~~
I
--, ..
~qC-t-~.
• S..,y
..,-O....""D
~;~,.
I ••
...
, "-
- _.
... ..... . '
He-ILL
"\
I
,
TOIll '.,
' _,
,
V ... T
l
C>
,'-,
M,,"''''!t
~
:
, 0''
-_.--:::::.
,
"
l • • ~.
Me
- ..,
,
•
Oao~,
e
e;:)
Chart 8
MdCt-ocy s tis
lJIlIVCO'~
~~\\,t\'t
"1.
N(lrtlocJ stis
--V~~
lSi.. L:'t
.--r/V 1)
60·30'
o-
,
5C.A&..
z..
A"
.
~
.,..~.s
...
5.
R.FiS.