It's Lions Bay for MLSS-BC this time

Marine Life Sanctuaries Society's (MLSS) first Beach Interpretation Program for 2013 was at Kelvin Grove, Lions Bay last April 7, 2013. Beach Interpretation Program is an MLSS activity that engages local communities to be aware of their local marine environments.

Dr. Deng Palomares and Dr. Nicolas Bailly joined this activity. According to Dr. Bailly, it was an informative event for locals on different organisms that are found just right under where they live. He also added that it was not destructive because all organisms taken from the bay was returned to approximately where they were collected.

Beach Interpretation Program is an annual event of MLSS.

Marine Life Sanctuaries Society's (MLSS) Beach Interpretation Program

At one of the Marine Life Sanctuary Society's (MLSS) recent Beach Interpretation Programs in Porteau Cove, BC, a Big skate (Raja binoculata) was found washed up on shore.  Attendees were treated to an impromptu dissection of the skate by MLSS director, Dr. Chris Harvey-Clark, which proved very educational. MLSS was a key organization in the creation of the marine protected area in Whytcliffe Park in West Vancouver almost 20 years ago, which to this day remains one of the few no-take MPAs in Canada.  Their core mission is to create more similar such marine sanctuaries throughout BC through voluntary and community managed initiatives.  Their beach interpretation program strives to further these goals through increased awareness of marine ecosystems. For more information, please visit their website at www.mlssbc.com.

Written and contributed by:

Beau Doherty

Reseach Assistant

Sea Around Us Project

University of British Columbia