Background (RBCM Press Release) May 8, 1997 Scientists have first peek at artificial reef newcomers Royal British Columbia Museum scientists are in a team that has found sea life flourishing in 270 hollow concrete spheres offshore at Sidney, B.C. It's the first time those spheres, each about two feet tall and three feet wide, have been used to create an artificial reef in northern temperate waters. The reef was laid last fall after residents of Sidney decided they wanted to attract a greater diversity of marine organisms, particularly fish, crab and shrimp, to an increasingly popular public fishing pier on the town's eastern boundary Molds for the balls were donated by Reef Ball Development Group Ltd. in the state of Georgia, which has been involved in the creation of 50 artificial reefs in Mexico, the United Arab Emirates, Bahamas, Georgia, South Carolina, Florida, New York and Newfoundland. The installation at Sidney is the first in Pacific Northwest waters. The company made its gift on the condition that the emergence of marine community on the reef be monitored. Volunteers in Sidney manufactured the biologically inert balls from those molds. The federal Institute of Ocean Sciences, at the invitation of the town of Sidney, came up with the framework for a scientific study that could be conducted by volunteers. The Royal B.C. Museum is training volunteer divers in species identification and monitoring techniques so that long-term records can be established of what's happening around and inside the reef. Observations The first observations, made last weekend (May 3, 1997), suggest animals and plants are enjoying the hollow concrete balls. Fish, sea stars, nudibranchs and crabs are among the early settlers. The first forms of plant life--the red algae--have arrived. The empty balls, which are each a series of micro environments, appear to provide the shade and protection that is attractive to many marine forms. There will be additional shading in the summer and fall when large brown kelps establish themselves. The studies will continue for another two or three years, depending how long it takes to establish a biological community that appears to be stable. Ch'~ Marketing, Royal British Columbia Museum $~$~$8 ù The Town of Sidney ù Royal British Columbia Museum (RBCM) ù Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) ù Eco-Ed Environmental Youth Team ù Frank White's Scuba Shop Ltd. ù Department of Fisheries & Oceans (DFO) 1~35~0(301}~ ]~$8 ù Volunteer PADI divers: J. Bartlett, S. Biggers, S. Boorse, C. Borkent, D. Campbell, J. Carlo, D. Feldman, J. Ritz, M. Hirschbold, M. Kalina, K. Palmer B. Ridout, M. Rutley, K. Sanford, S. Schwann, T. Soley, & D. Zaharychuk ù N. & K. Panter (Co-ordination) ù K. Conley (Eco-Ed EYT) ù P. Lambert, J. Cosgrove, G. Green, K. Sandall, & M. Dickson (RBCM) ù G. Hemsworth & L. Wedgewood (PADI) ù B. Smiley, T. Curran, J. Lessard,& R. Russell (DFO) )$8 ù Kevin Conley/Brian Smiley, SPARS Co-ordinators (250) 363-6551 smiley@ios.bc.ca ù La rry Wed gewood, PAD I Dive r Co - ordi nator (250) 920-5280 Brochure: by Kevin Conley & Brian Smiley Cover drawing: by Elizabeth Bell, grade 1 Brentwood Elementary ~1~] 0$ -$~$~ ù Acronym for USidney Pier Artificial Reef Science". ù SPARS is a volunteer-based science project to study and assess a new artificial reef as improved or new habitat for marine plants and animals in Southern Vancouver Island waters. ~D~V 0$ -$0~ ~02~9 ù The pier was constructed in the town of Sidney atthe end of Bevan St.1993-96. ù The Pier on Bevan Project is a co-operative project by the Sidney Economic Development Committee and community businesses & residents. ù www.nwis.bc.ca/pages/sidneypier ~1~] 0$ -~0703031 ~9 ù Structures placed in the aquatic environment with the intention of creating or improving habitatfor aquatic plants and animals. ù Replace habitat lost due to commercial developments such as marinas. ~D~ 0$ -$302~9 ù Often defined as the deduction of knowledge through the use of accepted, repeatable methods of monitoring, surveying and/or sampling natural phenomena. (Dam 3~] ~] B311$ ù Special type of artificial reef utilized for SPARS Plastic molds made and donated by Reef Ball Development Ltd., Georgia, U.S.A. ù Made of environmentally stable concrete mixtures. ù Habitat for fish, crabs, shrimp, and many other marine plants and animals. ù www.reefball.org 030$b(01278 ù In 1993, the Town of Sidney envisioned a fishing pier for the people of Sidney to enjoy. The Pier on Bevan was intended by Sidney to enable recreational activities such as fishing, SCUBA diving, nature viewing, & walks down the . . scenic pier. ù Phase I (~9Om long) of the pier was finished in 1996, and the 100m long phase 11 is scheduled for completion in 1997 making a pier ~180m long in total. ù September 1996: Fisheries & Oceans was approached by Sidney to assist with monitoring protocols & to conduct an acoustic mapping survey of the reef in the future (Canadian Hydrographic Service). ù November 1996: 270 0.91 x0.61 m Reef Balls_ weighing 170-340kg each were placed along the north & south sides of the pier approximately 1 Om deep. ù March, 1997: First survey dive. Start of a multi- yea‡ volunteer performed survey.