Marine Life Sanctuaries Society of BC

📢New paper alert!📢

"Causes of historical decline of the glass sponge reefs in British Columbia, Canada" by Dunham et al. (2026) used core samples, radioisotope dating, and bottom contact fishing maps to help determine when and why three reefs within B.C. died.

Their results indicate that these reefs likely died due to bottom contact fishing that occurred within the past 70 years. This means that human actions directly led to the destruction of these biodiverse and ecologically significant habitats.

Unfortunately live reefs within B.C. are still facing these same fishing pressures, particularly those in Átl'ka7tsem / Howe Sound due to the uniquely shallow depths they can be found at. Swipe to see the devastating impact bottom and mid-water fishing (ex. trolling) can have to reefs ...

This paper, and our own observations, reinforces the need for better glass sponge protection, something MLSS is dedicated to achieving through monitoring, education, and research.

Learn more about this study here: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecss.2026.109851

🐠Graphical abstract by Dunham et al. (2026)

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Introducing MLSS toques in the wild!

Last week our partner, Adam Obaza, from shared this photo with us repping MLSS all the way from Antarctica!

This made us wonder - where else have our toques traveled to?

Help us find out by sharing with us your photos of MLSS toques in the wild ! Where will we see them next 👀

Smiles all around because herring spawn in Southern Howe Sound has been spotted!🐟 Last Friday our team not only documented the first 2026 report of spawn south of the Squamish area, but located it at a site that has no historical records of spawn!

This sighting is a confirmation that herring are utilizing Howe Sound in areas previously unknown or undocumented, underscoring the importance of the entire region to this amazing keystone species. This can have important implications for management initiatives in the area and we are excited to be able to contribute these data to Searching for Slhawt’ program.

The day was also a success in more ways than one as what started as a gloomy, rainy day turned into a sunny calm day on the water. This allowed us to extend our efforts and survey the shoreline by paddle while divers surveyed habitat at depth.

While no eggs were spotted along the shore it was a great chance to do some impromptu shoreline cleanup and remove some harmful debris from our waters! We are looking forward to that we might accomplish next weekend.

As always we are so grateful for our volunteers, our partner , and the Pacific Salmon Foundation for funding this work.

Sharing for our friends and !

Wonders of the Salish Sea is back with the first talk scheduled for TONIGHT!
Don't forget to register to learn from diverse speakers about the amazing place we call home.

While this is a four part series tonight you will have the opportunity to hear from Maureen Welton, a founding member, and President of SIMRES to learn about: "Saturna Island in the Centre of the Salish Sea. A Convergence of Unique Geography, Biodiversity, and Human Activity"

You'll also get to learn about: "The Resilient Salish Sea" from award winning journalist, Lynda Mapes.

We're looking to this year's talks and hope to 'sea' many of you there!

To close out the week we're celebrating another successful day of herring spawn surveying!

Last Friday March 6th we targeted another two survey sites - one with historical observations of spawn and one with signs of bird activity and key spawn habitat.

Well we didn't find any spawn it was still a successful survey day and another opportunity for our volunteers to hone their skills with transects and quadrats!

While Southern Howe Sound hasn't seen any spawning activity yet, the herring are definitely here with multiple spawn events being documented around the Squamish estuary. Follow to learn more about these events!

A huge thank you to our crew for braving some typical PNW weather, to for chartering us, and to for funding this important work.

Stay tuned to see what the rest of the month has in store ....

📸Underwater photos

On February 27th we were lucky enough to participate in the seventh Howe Sound Conservation Network gathering hosted by the

This event was a great way to celebrate the amazing conservation and educational organizations throughout the Átl'ka7tsem/Howe Sound region, learn more about each other's work, and discuss how we can work together to enact greater change.

We are so grateful to have been a part of the day and are looking forward to seeing what we can accomplish together 💪

Learn more about this event here: https://www.howesoundbri.org/howe-sound-conservation-network-1/2026/3/2/february-27-2026-celebrating-the-big-conservation-moves or by following !

📸 and .photography

A huge thank you to all our volunteers who spent their Saturday learning how to conduct herring spawn surveys with us!

February 21st will be our first o-fish-al survey day of this new MLSS program and we can't wait to actually get in the water to support Searching for Slhawt’ / Herring Spawn Survey Program! Stay tuned to see what we find...

An extra special shout-out to PhD student Virginie Chalifoux for teaching us about her research on climate change and herring, and to the Pacific Science Enterprise Center for hosting our crew 🐟

Lingcod Egg Mass Survey season is in full swing!

Have you encountered any egg masses on your dives yet? Don't forget to submit survey data here - https://arcg.is/0OXm1O - and help contribute to Lingcod conservation!

Want to learn more about the LEMS program and how to participate? We offer free training seminars (virtual or in person) to interested dive clubs and shops. Send us a message to schedule one!

📸 and Brian Caron

Calling all divers, dive shops, and clubs!

It is o-fish-ally the most wonderful time of the year - Lingcod Egg Mass Survey (LEMS) season! And we need your help ....

Lingcod remain at-risk and more work is needed to ensure their protection. Through the LEMS program, and volunteers across BC, we can help achieve this goal.

As part of these efforts MLSS provides free online or in-person educational seminars and training to interested dive shops and clubs throughout the coast (not just in Vancouver!).

Want to learn more? Send us a DM or reach out to [email protected].

Together we can help conserve this mighty fish 🐟💪

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Our 2025 Annual Report is here!

We are so grateful for our volunteers, funders, and supporters who make our work possible.

Access the full report on our website (https://mlssbc.com/news/) to learn about what we accomplished in 2025 and what we are looking forward to in 2026.

All in the name of marine conservation 💙🐟

#2025 #2026

Wishing everyone a very merry fishmas and happy holiday !! 🎄🐟

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