P.ROJ ECT REPORT NO. 15 DFO - Library I MPO - Bibliotheque Canada. [Dept. of] Fisheries JUN ~ 1984 IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII~ 111111111111111111 Industrial Development Servi~e 69639188 FIClHfRIF'S .. PROJECT REPORT OCF.ANS C.-HAM.

THE GENERAL STATUS OF THE

SEAWEED INDUSTRY IN

By

A.W. Greenius British Columbia Research Council

For

Industrial Development Service Department of Fisheries of Canada, Ottawa December, 1967 5 1984

FI'!IHlltlf S '" OCEANS CANAO_ •

THE GENERAL STATUS OF THE

SEAWEED INDUSTRY IN BRITISH COLUMBIA

By

A.W. Greenius British Columbia Research Council

Opinions expressed and conclusions reached by the author of this report are not necessari ly endorsed by the sponsors of this project , ~ < .,' . " . , ,. ..

, I \ , i ...... ;.,~ .'" 'l'ABLE OF CONTENTS

Page A. INThODUC'l'ION 1

B. SUWlARY 2 C. B.C. SEA\VEEDS AND THE lfiANUFACTUHE OF ALGIN 4 D. THE EXTENT OF THE SEAWEED RESOURCES OF B.C. 9 E. HARVESTING SEAWEED 11 F. HAhVESTING REGULATIONS IN B.C. 16 G. COMPANIES LICENSED TO HAhVEST SEAWEED IN B.C. 19 H. DISCUSSIONS 20 I. REFERENCES 21

APPENDIX A. Survey of Seaweed Beds in B.C. 24 APPENDIX B. Summary Report of Meeting in Halifax, N.S ., April 5-6, 1967 "The Canadian Atlantic Marine Plant Industry 33

A. INTRODUCTION

The unused quantities of seaweed observed along the coast of British Columbia have long raised hopes that this resource could be economically harvested and processed. Although the B.C. coast has many species of seaweeds related to those eaten in various parts of the world, no significant use has been made of the local seaweeds for this purpose. The only serious attempt to harvest and process seaweed reported is the Deer Island ven­ ture of Canada Kelp Company Limited which produced a small amount of dried seaweed from 1946 to the time of its closing in 1948.

Nei-l interest has been shown by the recent information of ... several companies'" which have obtained licences to harvest sea- weed along the B.C. coast. In view of this interest the Department of Fisheries has requested the B.C. Research Council to prepare a preliminary report on the available literature and the general status of the seaweed industry in British Columbia. The present literature study has been restricted to aspects of the seaweed industry as it seems likely to evolve in British Columbia. However it should be noted that the Nova Scotia Re- search Foundation compiled seven Selective Bibliographies on Algae (1 to 6) between 1952 and 1966. The compilations are very comprehensive and include many references to the chemistry of the seaweed derivatives and to patents related to processing. This report was prepared in the Economics and Market Research Section of the British Columbia Research Council by A.W. Greenius.

* Companies listed in Section G of report. - 2 -

B. Sm'lMAFtY

Six companies have been licensed to harvest seaweed in British Columbia. The chief interest in seaweeds today is in the field of marine colloids for food and industrial uses. The dominant sea- weeds in the waters of B.C. are the algin-bearing kelps Macro- cystis integrifolia and Nereocystis luetkeana. Smaller amounts of the agar-bearing marine plants Gr~cilaria and Gracilariopsis are present. The market for alginates in Canada has not been established but gross sales of seaweed colloids in the United States have been estimated at $10 to ~20 million per year. Although some surveys of the extent of the seaweed beds and the amount of harvestable seaweed of the B.C. coast were carried out before lY15 and in the period 1944 to 1~47, the surveys were not comprehensive. They did establish however that there was probably enough seaweed to justify an alginate industry provided that Nereocystis was used. The kelp harvested for alginates in California is mainly Macrocystis pyrifera. Studies in the 1940's showed that the algin content of Macrocystis and Nereocystis- ranged from 14 to 27 per cent of sodium alginate (dry basis) which appears to be generally within the range of contents found in kelps harvested commercially in other places. The ma~ket acceptability of 'algjnates extracted from local kelps has not been established, however. Although mechanical kelp cutting harvesters have been used successfully on the Ca~ifornia coast for many years it has not been shown that similar kelp cutters will be entirely suitable for tue different conditons of rough seas, rocky shores, and - 3 -

inshore seaweed beds of the B.C. coast. The considerable devel- opment work undertaken by the Scottish Seaweed Institute attests to the difficulties in obtaining efficient mechanical harvesters for rocky coasts. It seems likely that much work will be necessary to develop suitable harvesters for the B.C. coast. Storage of ljlet seaweed from a short harvesting season for year-round processing does not appear to be practical and the cost of mechanically drying seaweed for storage will be high.

The study briefly discusses the harvestin~ regulations in B.C., designed to ensure proper cutting of the kelp beds. The regulations are generally similar to those in effect in California and to those used in the Tasmania operation several years ago. It is believed that the regulations will protect the seaweed beds from damage. Hm',rever, the effect of harvesting on other marine life is not known and a continuing study would seem to be re­ quired to ensure that no serious ecological disturbance occurs. ,The study of the available literature indicates a lack of information in the following areas: a. The extent and density of the seaweed beds and the amount of physically harvestable seaweed. b. The market for and market acceptability of alginates derived from the B.C. kelps Nereocystis luetkeana and Macrocystis integrifolia. c. The suitability of mechanical harvesters to harvest seaweeds efficiently under west coast conditions. d. The rtstorabilitylT of cut seawepd for year-round pro­ cessing of material cut in a three-month harvesting

period 0

8. The eff~':'!ct of harvestin£:; on the marine ecolo~y. - it -

C. B.C. SEAWEEDS AND THE MANUFACTUP~ OF ALGIN

Although there appears to be a market for soil conditioners and sf'ecialty horticultural fertj.lizers made from seav"eed, and although seaweeds can be used as bulk fertilizers and stuffine materials, these are not considered to be good large-scale end.­ use products from tht"! sea,,,eeds of British Columbia. There is no doubt that thp chief market of interest to seaweed harvesters today is in the field of plant colloids for food and industrial uses. The chief colloid products obta ined from sp.aweeds are carrageenin, B.gar, Clnd algin. Although carraGeenin is a colloid extract much in demand the abundant seaweeds of thA west coast are not sources of this product. Agar may be obtained. from

Gracila.rja and Gracilariopsis which Scagel (7) considers to be fairly abundant in British Columbia. However ~3cagel empha.sizes that the amount and distribution of any agar-bearing seaweeds in B.C. have .not been comprehensively determined. The cost of harvesting will undoubtedly prevent it being an economic source for some time. The abundant kelps of Britisil Columbia, however, are potentially importa.nt sources of algin (the general term for \rlater-soluble derivatives of alginic acid). The soluble salts are mainly sodium, 8.mmonj.um, potassium, and propylene glycol alginates and the relatively insoluble salt is calcium alginate.

The generally a ccepted structure of alginic acid is tha t of a linear polymer of 1,4 - linked / -D-mannuronic acids with asso­ ciated nonuronide polysaccharides. (8) - 5 -

A detailed description of the alginate process is beyond the scope of this study but the following excerpt and production flow diagram from the Sncyclopedia of Chemical Technology, Kirk­

Othmer (9) provides the general principles of manufacture for alginates from the kelps of the Pacific Ooast. "Commercial preparation of algin is based on the prin9iple that the natural 'algin' in the kelp, probably a combin~tion of calcium alginate' anJ alginic acid, is in­ soluble in water, but is easily converted by soda solution into the water-soluble sodium salt. Kelp is therefore digested with s odium carbonate or hydroxide solution, the resulting viscous liquor separated from the residue, and alginic acid subsequently precipitated by the addition of a strong mineral acid. '1'0 facilitate purification and bleaching of the product, some manufacturers adopt an intermediate procedure lnvolving precipitation of calcium alginate prior to the acid precipitation. Since alginic acid is rather unstable, sodium alginate is generally the product manufact.ured. By simply dissolving the acid in sodium carbonate solution, sodium alginate is obtained. Other salts, such as ammonium alginate and calcium alginate, are also prepared commercially. II heference 9 provides additional details. There are un- doubtedly many variations of the process and much technical

"know-howlt which determine whether or not a ~,atisfactory product can be made economically. The market for alginates is chiefly in the food industries but a considerable portion of the production is now being used in the rubber, paint, and other non-food industries. Statistics for the annuRl tonnage of algin produced in tne U.S.A. and Canada are not available. In 1954 it was estimated that the United States produced over 2 million pounds. (9) The growth rate of

the market for seaweed colloids is high. Idson (10) report.ed in 1956 that tl-1e gross sales of seaweed colloids in 1945 were ;;52 million and in 1955 .p10.3 million. He estimated that gross sales - 6 -

in 1975 would be

Company: Output, p millions!y:ear

1. Kelco Company, San Diego, $5 of Algin and algin California derivatives 2. Algin Corp. of America, hockland, $1.5 of carrageenin Maine $0.25 of algin 3. Seaplant Chemical Corp. New Bedford, JViass. $1.5 of carrageenin 4. Kraft Foods Co., South Portland, Maine $1.0 of carrageenin 5. American Agar and Chemical Co., San Diego, California $0.5 of high grade agar

Companies '2 and 3 are reported to have merged to form Marine Colloids, Inc. of hock ford , Maine. Scotia !vlarine Products, a subsidiary of Kelco Company, now produces alginates in Nova Scotia.

In 1963,. the Fish and '~vildlife Service Bureau of Commercial

Fisheries of the U.S. Department of the Interio~ listed the pro­ ducers of seaweed products as follows:

Kraft Foods, South Portland, Maine Irish moss extract Marine Colloids, Inc., Rockland, Maine Irish moss extract American Agar and Chemical Co., San Diego, California Agar Kelco Co., San Diego, California Kelp products Kopco Inc., Los Angeles, California Kelp products Phillip H. Park Inc., San Pedro, Kelp products California - 7 -

fRESH KELP

Acidul.atcd cold Ylater ____>-l Leaching tank (0.33% Hel) (one to several hr.)

Digestion tank (30 min .. 50°f.. pH 10)

Fresh water Second digestion tank (100 gal. per ton kelp) (30 min., 50°F., pH 10)

Permutited 'vlater Dilution tank (six parts to one) ----}~ (50°F., pH 9.6-11)

Clarirying tank filter-aid ------>-1 (50°F.)

-< Sludge ....:;'--___J

CaClz 501n. (100 lb. in 800 lb. __ Precipitation tank water pcr 8 tons liquor) (i.n constant agitation)

...<~ __ Waste watcr (with soluble....:; salts and organic matter)

Bleaching powder 50In. ___._> Same Jank (I;; NaOCI soln.) •

-E- Wasle water ....:;'--___J

5% Hel (42 parts to, ____>-l Acid precipitation tank 1 part Ca alginate) (in agitation)

;.-__Excess acid - (in agitation)

-<;----- Waste water -<- .. ---~ y ALG!NIC ACID

Creen's col<1 process or !\I:~in manuracturc --'pbnt flow slt1~d diatral1l .lE-

'X- SOIrccl?: EneJI':lop-.o:uin c.f Cher'J:;.ca]. 'L'cch.nolocy, Kirk­ Othmer, Vol. 1, ]:95)~, p .. 3)~7. - $ -

The cIlief potential sources of algin in B.C. waters are the giant floatint; kelps Macrocystis jntegr.ifo.li.~ and Nereocystis luetkeana. In addition, some of the smaller kelps, such as .Laminaria, are potentially important sources of algin.

Rose (11) ranks the several kno~~ seaweeds occurring on the Canadian coasts as sources of alginates in order of decreasing suitability as: Landnaria digitata,' Nereocystis luetkeana, Macrocvstis integrifolia, Ascophyllum nodosum, and Fucus vesiculosis. Wort (12) claims that the first three are equal to seaweeds used cowmercially elsewhere. Although research on the kelps of B.C. has not been intensive, some work has been undertaken to determine the alginate contents of Nereocystis and J'lIacrocystis. In 194$, Wrignt (13) reported on t he algin re- coveries from samples from several areas in B. C. collected and dried in 1946. The r8coveries ranged from 14.1 to 27.0 per cent sodium alginate for Macrocystis integrifolia and from 17.3 to 24.4 per cent for Nereocystis luetkeana. Fronds and stipes vJere analysed separately. The results were compared with the algin content of California kelps l'-1acrocystis pyrifera, and Nereocystis luetkeana, reported by Hoaglund, (14) which ranged from 16.0 to 21.2 per cent sodium alginate. Wort (12). studied the seasonal variation in the algin content (as well as dry matter, ash, sul- phur, copper, zinc, iron, ether-solubles, mannitol, fucoidin, and laminarin) in samples of Macrocystis and Nereocystis collected monthly between October 194..9 and September 1951. The ranges of algin contents on a dry weed basis over the period were as follows: Macrocystis - fronds 14.5 to 36 per cent sodium alginate - stipes 1).5 to 30 per cent sori.ium a Igina te Nereocystis - fronds 16 to 32.5 per cent sodj_um a le:lna te - stipes 13 to 39.7 per cent sodium alginate - 9-

The algin content showed no well-marked maxima and minima but did show a tende.ncy to rise in early summer.

D. THE EXTENT OF THE SEAWEED RESOURCES OF B.C.

The most useful recent study of the marine plant resources of British Columbia is that of Sca.ge,l (7) who in 1961 reviewed the literatur~ specific to the north-west coast of North America from 1915. He also reviewed the literature relating to the pro­ cessing and end-use of seaweed products. Scagel confined his study to the economically importDnt species which he considers to be the alginophytes Nacrocvstis and Nereocystifl, with the possible addition of the smaller forms such as Laminaria, Alaria, and He dophyllurn , and th8 agarophytes Gracilaria and Gracilariop­ sis. In an earlier work Scagel (15) provided a comprehensive annotated list of the mArine algae of British Columbia and nor­ thern Washiri[-',;ton.

Cameron, (16) in an early 1916 p3per, reported on a pr~­ liminary survey of the s~Rweed beds of the Pacific Coast and estim.:lt.ed their commercial value. In view of the changed em­ phasis from seaweed as a source of potassium, the economjc aspe cts of the re~ort are mainly of histortea 1 inter(-'st. From 191+4 to

19L~7 the B.C. hesearl;n Council (17,1$) carrjed out. fir·>ld surveys, chem~ cal analyses) and labor8tory studies to assess the extent

&nd economic vr-d.ue of m.qri.ne plants growing in 8ritish Colul"1bia

Nate rs. It 1",a~; cone luded t ha t ;:J.n a l[in inductry W·R.S jus tified provided that Nereocyctis was U30d. Scagel, (7) on the basis 0f - 10 -

a more detailed jnvestiBation rpForted in 1~4$, (19) estimat~rt that the c1mOtmt of floatjnt; readily access:i.hle kelps availR.ble in Bri. tish Columbi.a ".".a tert:~ may a pproa. c b 1 mLllicn tons annually. Because of the preLiminary nature of th(-:> surveys it is difficult to provide specific useful informEltion on the geo- graphic distribution of harv8stB.ble seaweed. HOH8ver some idea of t hl; dist.rtbu t 1.011. is given by the 'b. C. ~:e~ 8arch Council studies (17,18) which divided the coast jnto three zones:

Northern Zone: from Wales Island south to Cape Caution.

Central Zone: bounded by Care Scott, Cape Caution, Seymour Narrows and Yuculte hapids.

Southern Zone ~ from ~~eymour Narrov!}'S and Yuculta Rapids south to th~ International Boundary.

The insi.de passages from Wales Island to Seymour Narrows were covered fairly thoroughly but the region south of Seymour Narrows ,,"as only sketchily examined. The (.:ueen Charlotte Islands and the west coast of Vancouver Island were not included in the rp- port. The ke,lp beds considered harvestabl~ are shown in the areas listed in Table I of tl~ Appendix. Cameron, in 1914, chartered Districts A to C and examined Districts D to G described in Table 2 of the Apvendix.

Hutchinson (20) and Scagel (7) discuss the various ecologi- cal and other conditions for the gro~~h of the economic species of marine plants. The environmental factors classified by Dawson

(21) as physical, chemical, dynamic, and biological include ocean currents, temperature, salinity, coastal topography) type of sub- strate, wave action, nutrient~, light penetratj.on, desict;2tion, - 11- and many other interrelated fa.ctors. Althuugn much research is required to assess these factors in reference to the growth of mQrine plants, the conditions for growth of marine plants in British Columbia are considered to be generally favourabie.

Scagel (7) states that lVlacrocystis is restricted to areas near the open ocean and grows attached to large rocks from zero tide level or slightly a bove down to' a depth of a bout 30 feet. At Deer Island (19) he found it attached to rocks from 3 feet above to 20 feet below zero tide level with the majority being in less than 12 f t~et of water at zero tide. He estimates that nearly 50 per cent of the a va. ila ble Ma crocystis in th-9.t. vicinity is in less than 6 feet of water. No Macrocystis is found on muddy or sandy bottoms. The Nereocystis beds occur on rocky bottoms usually in 20 to jO feet (21) of water anrl .the inflated upper end of the stipe (terminal pneumocyst) floats horizontally at the surface of the water with the blades hanging down. Scagel (19) found t.hat Nereocystis grows attached to rocks in water betv·;een 24 and 30 feet at zero tide bl..rt can extend into shallower .water and mingle with the 10vler limits of the plants of M8r.rocystis. Nereocystis appears to be more tenacious than Macrocystis and when the two occur together the former is inva riably in the deeper water.

Although this study is specific to Hritish Columbia, des­ scriptions of harvesting operations ~nd tne economic factors in somewhat similar c:ircumstances lTIay provide a useful per~pectiv€ for 11 B.C. seaweed industry. - 12 -

In 1959, Scofield (22) reviewed the cociplex history of kelp harvesting in California. The giant kelp Macrocystis pyrifera has furnished most o.f the kelp materjal harv~sted to the time o.f his writing. Although Nereocystis luetkeana is abundant along the Monterey Coast and northward it has not been harve'sted in large amounts. Also, the large northern kelp Alaria sp., plenti­ ful in Alaska, has not been used. Surveys o.f the individual ke lp beds o.f the Pacific Coast o.f North Arne rica from the Gulf o.f

California to western Alaska between 1910 a.nd 1'115 showed that the beds of giant kelp o.f ~out.hern California c.ffered the best opportunity .for heavy cutting. The southern beds were larger, more dense, in purer stands , lived .for several years, and allowed harvesting as o.ften as three or .four times a year. The northern beds were smaller, more scattered, of mixed species, and mainly annuals. In addition the economic factors o.f established popu­ lation, l&bour supply, and transportation facilities .favoured the southern coast. Finally, the smoother water o.f the southern coast permitted a greater number of operational days at sea each year. Since the mid-1920's the harvesting of seaweed has been a stable operation involving only three firms, two of which have operated continuously for over 30 years. The t\"IO companies are the Philip H. Park, Inc. of San Pedro for kelp meal for stock and poultry feed and the Kelco Company (formerly Thornley &

Company and K~lp Products Corporation) of San Diego for algin products. - 13 -

Scofield (22) and Baxter (23) have reviewed the many rules and regulations made to ensure proper harvesting of kelp in California. Although it is not necessary to discuss these it is interesting to list a few of the regulations of lY50 and lY56 which provided:

a. for cutting no deeper than four feet under the water surface, b. that loss of loose ends is kept to a minimum by cutting in the direction that the winds or currents cause the fronds to drift or directly aGainst the drift, c. that one-third of the kelp beds are to remain unleased If to a void any form of monopoly",

d. that designated beds were to be leased for Ij years by negotiation rather than competitive bidding "to ensure harvesting by responsible firms", . e. that the beds leased not exceed a total of 25 square miles in area to anyone lessee.

f. that the tax on kelp be 10 cents per '.let ton from leased beds Hi th a minimum annua 1 feG of ,plOO per square mile, and that the tax on kelp harvested from unleased beds be 5 cents per wet ton.

The following data have been taken from descriptions (24, 25,26) of a seaweed .harvesting industry set up in Tasmania in 1963.

Company: Albina tes (Australia) Pty., Ltd. 1I:1arrickville and Sydney.

Ke Ip to be harvested: r.'ia. cr()cy~. tis pyri fera Potential annual yield: 355,000 tons from 29,5y6 acres leased on l}50 survey.

t':xI-,ected harvest: 4 tons per acre, three times p2r year. Plant c3.pacity: 3u,000 tons per y:::;ar. First unit would cut at 10,000 to 15,000 tons of weed per year. - 14 -

Harvest me~hod: 66-foot converted motor barge with cutter, 300 tons per day.

Capital expenditure: £750,000 (about ~l,BOO,OCO Can.) in first staee for establishment of factory, construction of highly specialized harvesting vessels and equipment, and l'or developmental laboratories.

Fresh water requirements: 2 million gallons per ".feeL i',rith an ultimate requirement of 5 million ballans per week for the factory.

Yie Id: 1 ton alginc. te from 100. tons I'fe t '!vee d •

Average alginic acid content: 21 per cent on dry weight oRsis ..

1\ verage mann itol content: 8 .. 7 per cent on dry weight basis.

The terms of licence prov1.cied, Rmong oth2r things, that the licensee Silould:

1. Insure thcit a fringe of kelp 10 feet wide is left around all beds narvested.

2. Limit cutting operation!:) to thl"ee narvests of the same area each year.

3. Limit cuttin€,; to a depth of 3 feet below water at 1m·, t i.de ..

4. '.take no S'3':1.';!8ed m" ke] p during the cra,y fish spawning seas·on ..

5. Pay a royalty of ~l per ton of dry kelp.

Before the industry \'Jas (~~:n:.;;;blh.h c d the company, \.,rith tnl:~

Ti'i~'herie~; Di vision of the l)epartment of AGriculture, undertook a study to establish tilE' :=:e3.\\Teed potential, gro'-/t;l ,~l!ld regenera-- tion rate, thF: ali.~i,n content of the rav-! material as well as possible p:ffects of harvesti:Jg on fisl1, !:· toc~\.~~. ,\ ':.iJ0t Ecale

engint'ers devised speci21 t0cilYliolleS Laspd on pi.lot plant - 15 -

It has since been reported thr:tt the plant has closed rio,m, a lack of seaweed, a lack of skilled colloid chemists, and a world 8urplus of el[inates being cited as causes of closure.

(The Australian Trade CO~lissioner in Vancouver was unable to

confirm this report.)

Harvesting directly from the seabed is essential for economic

utilization of the seaweed resource and the choice of harvesting

machinery is of great importance. Th8 hal'vester is considered to be more or less one of the "trade secrets" of the industry in operations in the United States And in the Canadian Maritimes and no informative articles on the harvesters used have been found. The Scottish Institute of Seaweed hesearch (27-31) has supported considerable developmental research into the harvesting

of sublittoral seaweeds by mechanical methods. The development

of the continuous grapnel method, reaper-type reciprocating

cutter method and th~ "Eotoscythe II method are c;ui te well docu­ mented in the literature. (27,28,29,30,31) Performance curves are provided for the reaper-type ·operation. Harvesting regula-

la tions on the west ·coast would not permit grapnel methods. The

reaper-type re c iproca ting cutter, mounted and prote cted af..8 inst

damage by rocks, was considered to be a suitable device for cutting whole bro\m seaweed plants of the species Laminaria cloustoni. The "Hotoscythe" method was considered to be sound in principle

provided it could be developed to increase the harvesting rete

and to elimin?te mechanical breakdown. Rocks appeared to offer considerable problems to the development of a truly successful mechanical harvester. -16 -

Dawson (21) describes the modern kelp cutter "Kelmar" of the Kelcc Company as a motor-driven barge equipped with a mO\'1ing machine capable of cutting kelp about three ft~et below the sur­ face of the wa.ter and elevating the cut material onto the barge.

He claims that some .300 tons of wet kelp- can te handled in a single load. Although both the Tasmania and California harvesting opera- tions are superficially similar to operations envisaged in b.C. waters there is no evidence to inciicate that similar narvesting craft "-lOuld be entirely suitable for the perhaps rougher waters and rockier shores of B.C. A thorough study of this aspect should - be undertaken before building or purchasing harvesting craft.

hose (.32) has pointed out the importance of storage if sea­ weed cannot be supplied when needed and used when supplied. He states that efforts to store quantities of seaweed in the sea have been conspicuous failures and that treatment of fresh sea- weed with sulphur dioxide or forn:aldehyde has proved impractical for long storage on a large scale. The cost of mechanically drying the seaweed for storage is likely to be prohibitive.

F. HAhVESTING HEGULATIONS IN B.C.

The Fishe ries Act of british Columbia (Chapter 150, Clausfl

.30) provides regula tions for the harvesting and processing of marine kelps. Several provisions relate to conservation and maintenance of tne ma-rine resources. ~)ome of these are as follows: 1. Stalks must be cut cleanly. - 17 -

2. Harvesting methods which tend to s train or break t he pla.nt from its holdfa.st on the sea-bottom are prohibited. 3. The species l/;acrocystis inl.,egrifolia. must not be cut at a greater depth than five feet below the surface of the water. 4. Harvesting apparatus must cut a swath with vertical edges from the bottom of t he cut to the sur'face of the water. 5. All cut kelp must be removed· from the water at the time of cutting. 6. Harvesters must leave undisturbed an uncut strip not less tnan 50 yards long and the full width of the bed being cut for each lineal mile harvested, uncut strips to· run at right angles to the tidal currents at that place. 7. Harvesting may be prohibited i1\ in the opinion of the Minister, harvesting of kelp or other aquatic plants would tend to impair or destroy any bed or part thereof upon which kelp or other plants grow, if harvesting of kelp or other aquatic plants would tend to impair or destroy the supply of any food for .f'ish, and if harvesting of kelp or other aquatic plants would be detrimental to fish life.

The reasons for these regulations are generally self-evident. Cleanly cut stalks minimize mangling, bleeding and possible in­ fection of the remaining plant. Cutting only to a depth of five feet below the surface of the Hater protects the short immature stipes of the perennial plant IvIacrocystis. This regulation does

not protect those plants growing near the vJater T s edge but it is a more convenient regulation than stipulating the distance from the sea bottom. Nereocystis, on the other hand, is an annual

and there is no real need i\)r the depth regulation. both plants reproduce by spores and the 50-foot undisturbed and uncut strip is believed to be enough to provide adequate spore development and implantation even though harvesting is carried out in other area~ before the spores reach maturity. Also mature spores are liberated over an extended period. Finally, the irregular ocean bottom makes complete harvesting of all areas impossible. - 18 -

Because of the above factors, harvesting is not restricted to periods after the liberation of the spores. However, harvested , areas should be observed p-Jriodically to insure that the ho.rvest­ ing methods are not ciamaging the seaweed beds with a resultant loss of future crops. The time of harvesting has some signifi­ cance because of sea~onal variations in algin content but studies suggest that such variations are small in Iviacrocystis and Nereocystis of B.C. The effect of kelp harvesting on other marine life has not been satisfactorily resolved. It is felt that harvesting will not deplete the food supply significantly. Hmvever, the ecology will certainly be disturbed. ivlany organisms, such as crabs, have been found attached to harvested seaweed fronds. Further studies seem to be necessary to determine any significant disturbance of the marine ecology. LimLaugh (31) of the Institute of l\ iHI'ine Besources (University of California) carried out an extensive study from rv~ arch 1948 to 1954 into fish life in kelp beds and the effect of }J;:irvestinE: .in California. His comprehensive report was pub­ lished in 1955 but is now out of print. hecurring complaints tha.t harvesting was harming fishing resulted in c.tdditional research on the effects of harvesting, the reasons for changes in abundance of kelp, and ways to improve the kelp beds. The results of this research have not teen published as far as can be ascertained. - 19 -

G. COMPANIES LICENSED 'l'O HARVEST SEAWEED IN B.C.

1. Sidney Seaweed Products, Box 1000, Sidney, B.C., ilr. M.P.R • • Woodford, Owner. This firm reportedly holds licenses to harvest seaweed in Area Nos. 14, 17, 10,6 lY, 20, and 21. * 2. Int-er-Tidal Industries Limited, ]0$ - 510 West Hastings Street, Vancouver 2, L.C., Mr. M. Judd, PrinCipal, ~lr. R. Brown, r..'lana ge r. This firm reportedly holds licenses to harvest seaweed in Area Nos. 4, 5, and 6. 3. M<:.rine Cher.1ical Harvesters Limited, 999 Beach Avenue, Vancouver 1, B.C., Mr. J.K. Campbell. This firm reportedly holds licenses to harvest seaweed in Area Nos. $, 9, 10, and 11. 4. North Pacific Marine Products Limited, 225 West First Street, North Vancouver, B.C. This firm reportedly holds licenses to harvest seaweed in Area Nos. 1, 2A West, 2A East, 2B West, and 2B East. 5. Pacific h.elp Company Limited, #913 -1030 West Georgia Street, Vancouver 5, B. C., Mr. W.f"I. Huff, President. This firm reportedly holds licenses to harvest seaweed in Area Nos. 12 to 21 and 23 to 29. 6. Can-Kel Industries Limited, #512 - 535 West Georgia Street, Vancouver 2, b.C., Mr. Peter Harris, Presid.ent. This firm held licenses to harvest seaweed in Areas 3 and 7 but they had been allowed to lapse.

Except for Sidney Seaweed Products which makes soil additives and animal feeds, bhe above firms appear to have been formed to partially process kelp or to make sodium alginate or other algin deri va ti ves.

>:< These areas evidently refer to areas described in the Statu­ tory Orders and Regulations, Consolidation 1955 of the Canada Fisheries Act for Salmon Purse-Se~ne Fishing. See Table 3 of the Appendix A. - 20 _

H. DISCUSSION 1. The published information related to the seaweed industry in British Columbia is not extensive. Government surveys of the extent of the seaweed beds and of the tonnage of physically harvestable sea\veed are neither recent nor compre­ hensi ve and may be an inadec:ua te basis for proceeding with large-scale harvesting operations. Companies planning to harvest seaweed should be prepared to carry out additional detailed surveys of this resource. 2. The available information on mechanical harvesters now in use is scant. These me chanical harvesters may not be suited to the rough "iaters, inshore beds, and rocky coast of British Columbia. Considerable development work and modifications may be necessary for their use in the economic harvesting, of seaweed in B.C. 3. The major proc.uct envisar;ed by seaweed harvesting companies is a It;in<:lte • Early analytical work has shown that the sodium alginc.. te contents of the seaweeds Nereocystis luetkean8. and MacrocYf.;tis integrifolia range from about 16 to 30 per cent (air dry), within the overall yield range cited for other sources of alginate. No information has been found to show whether or not such properties as colour and viscosity of alginate extracted from B.C. seaweeds are acceptable to users of this product. 4. Although it may be the intent of narvesting companies to ship seaweed processed only to the extent of drying to a moisture content of about 20 per cent, further processing to extract sodium alginate requires "technial knovl-how". This is especially true if finished products ready for the individual consumer are planned. Dryine of seavleed will be costly. Ex­ traction of aleinates without the intermediate drying step is possible and would. protably h; ve an economic advantage. Any company pl.anning to store seaweed harvested over a short period for processing on a year-round basis should investigate the "storability" of cut seaweed and the means of preserving cut wet seaweed. 5. The effect of harvesting seavveed on the marine ecology is not known.. Some preliminary studies before harvesting is commenced and continui~g s~udies should be underta~en to protect the seaweeds and ·other .marine resources from damcige.

In conclusion, the sur"v-ey indicates the need for additional more accurate surveys of the exient anu density of the Kelp beds, lLaboratory .:,nc. pilot-plant production of alginates, studies to assess the present and flJ.ture mal·h.et for Cl. nei the market accepta.­ ability of alginate from }j.C. seaVJeeds, and feasibility studies

seaweed hnrvestel"2 anu plc."tntc- !It t 1 . of proc·;ossl·'-' - •ng -.J' 0 ··a -e n[:';ln2e re d !I for economic utilj~atinn_ - 21 -

I. REFEREIICES

1. Nova Scotia Resenrch Foundntion, S~lected Biblio8raphy on 'Algae, Number One and 'I.... iO, 1952 - 1953.

2. Ibid. , Number Three, 1955.

3. Ibid. , Number Four, 1958.

4. Ibid. , Number Five, 1960.

5. Ibid. , Nwnber Six, 1965.

6. Ibid. , Number Seven, 1966.

7. Scagel, R. F., Marine Plant Resou~'ces of British Colwnbia, Bulletin No. 127, The Fisheries RescQl'ch Board of Canada, OttmfB, 1961.

8. Sto10ff, L., Sem-feed Colloids, Er..eyc10pcdia of Chemical Technology, Kirk-Oth..'11cr, Vol. 12, 1954, 116-125.

9. TsenG, C. 'K., Algin, ibid. Vol. 1, 195 .J., 343-353. ' 10. ldson, B., Sem'feed Colloids: $10 !-1ilUon r,low - and Grm'ling l"ast, Chemical Heck 79, July 21, 1956, 57-Bo.

11. Rose, R. C., Extraction of Alginrltes from C8n~ldi~n Sem-Teeds, Can. J. of Technology, 29; 19-2B, 1951.

12. I'Tort, D. J., The SC35011al V~ri3.tion in Chemical Composition of N:lc~ocystis Inte2;~if~lia and Nc!:'cocystis Luetkeona in British C01Ul!lbio C08stol Haters, Can. J. 01' Botnny, 33: 323-340,. 1955.

13. vT-right, R. H., S,?me Aspects of the H:n"inc Plant Investj.[;ations by the Britj,sh ColUlnbia R~se[)rch Council, Proc. Conference on Utilization of Sefmecds, Hnlifux, Sept. 191~8. lh,. HOGslund, D. R., Organic Constituents of the Pacific CO,'lst Kelps, J. ACr. Research 4: 39-58, 1915.

15. SCElgc1, R. F., An Annotated List of the l'~arine i;lgae of l3ritish ColuJIlbi8. ,md I'~ol·thcnl Hnshinston, Bulletin No. 150, Biological Series, Nationnl Museum of Cnnndn, No. 52, 1957.

16. C3mt~:r:on, A. T.) The CO:;l;;'lerc :i,c\J, V3luc of the Kelp Beds of the Cr'm::ldi3n P;'1.cii'ic C03st. A P:ccl:l.min:=:!'ry ECP01't

11. British Colw!".bia Research Council, A .Report on the Locntion of ?·lorine Plants of Economic Imports.llcc in Br1 tish Columbia Coast3l Haters, Technical Bulletin No. 11-, February 19'+1. lB. British Columbia Research Council, rv!::rine Plonts of Economic Import.ance in British Columbia Coastal Haters, Technical ~ulletin No. 10, August 191~B.

19. Scagel, R. F., An InvestiGation on I'brine Plants Near Hardy Bay, B. C., British Columbio Department of Fisheries, No. 1, 10 pp., 194B.

20. Hutchinson, A. H., 1-1arine Plants of Economic Importance of the Cam.dian Pacific Coastal Haters, Proc. Seventh Pacific Science Congress of the Pacific Science Association, New Zealand 1949, He11ington 1953, 62-66.

21. Dmlson, E. Y., r,larine Botany , Holt, Rinehart, and Hinston, Inc., New YOl'k 1966.

22. Scofield, H. L., HiDtory of Kelp Hnrvesting in California, California Fish and G8me, Vol. 45, 135-151, 1959.

23. Baxter, J. L., California's Hnrine Resources Species Reports - Plant Resources - Kelp, California Oceun Fisheries Resources to the · year 1960, St3te of California Depnrtrncnt of Fish. and Game, Sacramento, 1960.

211-. Anon, Triabunn:3. Site for Sea\.lCed Industry, Australian Fisheries Ne',ls le tter, 22, 11, 19, January 1963.

25. Pmmall, P. C., Harvesting Broun Kelp - I'Jc"\{ Industry for TaGTfania, ibid., 23, 11, 13, 15, November 1961~.

26. Anon., T:1sJn3.nian Ser:nreed, FOOd. Technolosy, 18, 119, April 1961~.

21. Mackenzie, l-lm., Sem-recd HGrvestin8 ~lcthods, The Engineer, Lond., 18)~, 331-339, 313-315, 387-389, 19!~1 ..

2B. Jack1)on, P., Harvesting of BrO'olll Sublittoral ScmTeeds, I, Assessment of t:1C Problem ::Irld Revic\·r of' Prel imin:lry Experiments, ibid., 193, 118, 750, 1952.

29. Hay, J. H., Harvest.ing of 13rO'.m Sub1itto:c,,1 Sernreeds, II, The Con tinuOlls Grapnel Hethod, ibid., 193_, 811~, 8'~6, 1952.

30. JCle~son, P. Dnd . t.kIvel', R. F., Harvest:tn:i of 111'0',111 Sublittoral Scm·Teeds, III, Use of Hecj . pl"oc:~tj"(lg Cutters, ibid., 19~, 2-5, 1952. - 23 -

31. ,Jncr~son, P. and Holff, R., Sublittoral Scmrced He.rvest€r, Research ~, (11), 435-!1!~!~, Hovcrubcr 1955. '. 32. Rose, R. C., The Requiremcnts for a Suc'ccssful Semrccd Industry, Proc. Seventh Pacific Science Con81~ess of the Pacific Science Asnociation, New Zealand 19!1-9, Hellington 1953, 66-70. - 24 -

APPENDIX A

SURVEY OF SEAHEED BEDS IN B.' C.

Table 1: Location of Kel.p Beds and Estimated Harvestsble Tonnage (E. C. Research Council 1947 (11))

Northern Zone

Macrocystis 10,430 tons

82,765 tons

J.bcrocystis Tons

Arista Z ~t b .:tl Island, Baker Point to Ulric Point 160 Banks Island, North end 5000 Bnnks Island, Non"ay Inlet 500 Baron Island, Mouth of- long channel on the ,,,est side ·20 Dundas Island, South end 260 West shore 10 Helville Island, Knee Hill Bay 15 South west shore 600 Porcher IsL'2l.nd, Jap Inlet 50 Creek Point to Table Point 5 Helcorne Harbour 3500 West shore of Refuge Bay 80 Prescott Island, Prescott Channel 150 Stephens Island, Small bay on the N. H. shore 5 Skiakl Bay 50 Centre of East shore 25

Nereocystis

Arist::lzabnl Islend, Baker Point to Tildesley Point 100 Arthur Island, South eost tip 375 Bards\'lell Group, Cape Swain east 5 miles 75 Baron Island, Lonr; chnnnei on ,{est side 100 Campunia Island, Uncharted reef on W. side 10500 Duckers Island 18co Dundas Island, South end 30000 Dundas Islond, Hest shore Gooo North vest corner 200 - -25 -

Tons

Dunira Island, Hest shore 600 Gaudin Island Reefs 25 Hodgson Reef 1700 Klemtu Passase, West bank 185 Lady Douglas Island, Reef off shore 25 Melville Island, Knee Hill Bay 35 South shore 950 South west shore 23700 Metlakatla Village, Tsimpsian Peninsula 5 Meyers Narrows 250 Meyers NarrmlS north above S,dndle Island ;50 1-1cCauley Island, Table Hill Inlet 150 Baird Point 25 Hankin Point 100 Beaver Passage 200 Nabannah Reef in 30 Passage Island (}'1outh of r·1athieson Channel) 1000 Porcher Islend, vlelcome Harbour 425 Creek Point to T~ble Point 45 Table Point 200 Pearce Point 25 Prescott Island, East shore 1200 , Dallain Point 60 Seabrook _Point 25 Stephens Island, Riel Point 30 Skiakl Bay 250 East shore 550 Tugt-lell Island Reef 375 Tree Knob Gr~up - 200 \~ales Island, South tip 500

Central Zone

tJIac rocys t is 8~570 tons

Nereocystis 50,815 tons

Nacl"ocystis Tons

Hope Island, Turn Point to Cope James 700 M~lcolm Island, all along north shore 3850 Shelter Bay, due north of Hardy Bay 20 Vancouver Island, Shore from Port HcNeill to Hardy Bay l~OOO - 26 -

Tons

Nereocystis

Allison Harbour 15 Blunden Harbour 500 Broughton Island, Cullen Harbour 400 , Green Point Rapids 1500 Cormorant Island, south shore 120 Domville Point, south entrance to Port Harvey 800 Domville Point, the Broken Island Light 1700 l"oster Island 50 Gordon qroup of Islands 50 Halford Island 20 Hanson Island, east end 400 Hardwick Island, tmlards York Island 150 Earl Ledge 2000 Helmecken Island, opposite the light I{.O east end 100 Hope Islnnd, Turn Point to Cape James 700 Nalcolm Island, west end 25000 along the nocth shore 6510 Haddingt.on Reef ,"1500 Donegal Head 7000 NiSei Island, Bay S. H. of Mt. Lemon tfO Port Neville Day 1000 R:::ynor Group of Islands 500 Schooner Pass8gc, "entrance to 30 Shelter B3Y 20 S"Tanson Is1:md, rocks nt north end 25 Vancouver Island, Port HeNcHl to Ibrdy Bay 445 Hells Pass) entrance 'to 200

Southern Zone

MacrocyHtis None found, none indicated.

Nereocystis 21,000 tons off Cape Lazo.

(Survey inco~plctc in this zone) - 27 -

Table 2: Districts Charted Iln(l Ex:,lT)I:Lnl~d by Cmnel'on (10)

------~,------~-~~ ..------.------~----~----~------.~ Distr:ic: 1;0 Sem-feed I------~------.. ______~~ __ _+.----~~~~------~ Charted A. Southeast coast o~' Vancouver It,land, 60 miles with from North,.,rest Bely l',o north of 3'.j. 1 oeo tons of Saanich peninsula IInu the islands to Nereocystis (570 the east of this r 'om the Ballenas tons pcr mile). group to the Intcr'tUltional Boundary. 4q·0 miles ,vi th (Typical of wotero of moderat€ 89,000. tons of salinity, abound1n~ in reefs, Nereocystis (200 comprises 500 milc.'u of coa·stline.) tons per mi le ).

B. Rouc Sound !;ind BUl'card Inlet. Negli~ible (Typical of large tnlets with brack­ kelp. ish ,-rater, 200 mil'lG of coastline mapped. )

, I· C. North coast of Vancouver Island 211.0 miles \-lith i from Rope IslAnd I.) B3ronet P3ssage. 225,000 tons, (Typical of watere of fairly high m~inly Nereocystis. sa lini ty, compri!3~~.: 2!~0 miles of Extensive beds of coastline. ) ~I~crocystis near Hardy Buy (936 tons per mile). .

Examined D. The coastline of V:lt1collver Island Probably much and the islands adjacent, south of like ·District A. District A, to Vic; I~oria.

E. The channels beb-/f.'I:n Vancouver Only small beds Island and the m:.l.1 nland, from of Nereocystis I Texoda Island, nOll;ln'18rd to seen. Johnston Strait.

F. Bnrkley Sound and I;lte Alberni Canal Some M:::crocystis (selected as typic.:tl of the inlets and Nel'cocystis, of the ,·rest coast ()t' V[~ncouver considered Island) • uneconomic.

G. North of Banh:s IS.he.d to Prince Incomplete e:mmi­ Rupert and IIodgsol reefs. nntion. Consider3ble beds of Nereocystis and r.bcrocystis.

II. Queen Cbnrlottc I~·l.nnds. Not examined, esti­ n~ated at 1 million tons. - 2$ -

Table 3: Description of Areas Used in Seaweed Harvesting Licenses

Area No.1 The waters of that portion of the north and west coasts of Graham Island from Rose Spit to Tian Head, and including Massett Inlet and Naden Harbour. Area No. 2A The waters of that part of the west coast of Queen Charlotte Islands lying between Tian Head and Sunday Inlet; also the waters of the east coast of Queen Charlotte Islands lying be­ tween Rose Spit and the southerly point of Copper Bay, including Skidegate Inlet and . Area No. 2B The waters of that part of the east coast of Queen Charlotte Islands from the southerly point of Copper Bay to Cape St. J ames and the waters of the west coast of Queen Charlotte Islands from Cape St. James to Sunday Inlet. Area No.3 The waters of the Nass River salmon gill-net area as defined in these Regulations excepting the waters adjacent to the mouth of the ~ ass River inside an area bounded on the north by a straight line drawn across Observatory Inlet at a point approxi-· mately fivc (5) miles above North Point, marked by fishing boundary signs, and on the south by a straight line drawn across Portlnnd Inlet from Trefusis (Ten-mile) Point on Mylar Pcnin­ sub to Lizard Point on Pearse Island, and on the west by a straight line drawn from Ramsden Point on the mainland to Portland Point on Pearse Island. Area No.4 Tuck Inlet and that portion of Prince Rupert Harbour lying northerly and easterly of a straight line dravm between Wolfe' Is'la~d and the Pri~c~ Rupert dry-dock. Area No.5 The waters of that portion of the coast included in the following described boundaries: Commencing at Cape George on Porcher IsI~nd, thence to Archibald Point on Banks Island, continuing along the west coasts of Banks Island and Estevan Island to Ulric Point on Aristazabal Island, thence northerly to Fawcett Point on , following the west and north coasts of Gil Island to Maple Point, thence to Cape Farewell on Promise Island, following the western shore of Promise Island to Dawson Point, thence to Halsey Point on , thence westerly along the coast of Stewart Narrows to Camp Point, thence along the northerly coast of Grenville Channel to a point . on the mainland due east from the most northerly point on Gibson Island, thence to the most northerly point on Gibson .. Island, thence in a straight line to Peninsula Point on Porcher Island following the southerly coast line of Porcher Island to the point of commencement; including those waters of Nepean Sound und Otter Channel bounded by a line, running from the most southerly point of Banks Island straight to Marble Rocks at the northwesterly extremity of Campania Isbnd, thence fol­ lowing the northwesterly shore of to Fanny Point, thence str:1ight to Steep (:\1 cCreight) Point on , thence following the southerly and westerly shores of Pitt Island, - 29 -

to Flcishmann Point, thence straight to Deer Point on Banks Island, thence following the easterly shoreline of Banks Island to the most southerly point of that Island; but not including Curtis Inlet, Mikado Bay, Union Passage, nor the waters of Principe Channel gill-net or drift-net area, except those de­ scribed herein, and except as provided in section 44 of these • Regulations . Are£', No.6 The waters of that portion of the coast, including the islands opposite, as well as Douglas Channel, from the easterly and southerly boundaries of Area No.5 hereinbefore described, to a straight line drawn from Day Point on Price Island to J orkins Point, thence to Legace Point on Susan Island, thence along the south shore of Susan Island to Miall Point, thence along the westerly shore of Mathieson Channel to the most northerly point on James Island, thence due east across Mathieson Channel to a fishing boundary sign established on the mainland, but not in­ cluding Gardner Canal, Kildala Arm, Gil-To-Yees, Rivers Bight Old , that portion of Kitimat Arm north of the most northerly point of Coste Island, Griffin Pass, Talamosa Inlet on ' Laredo Channel, and Qua-Qua on Swindle Island. Area No.7 The waters of that portion of the coast, including the islands opposite, from the southeasterly boundary of Area No.6 herein- - befor'e described, to a strai'gnt line from a fishing boundary sign on the mainland opposite the most northerly point of Stokes ' Island, thence in a straight line to Sunny Island, thence in a straight line to George Point on Denny Island, thence following the easterly shore of Denny Island to Start Point, thence across Lama Pass to Kaiete Point, thence along the easterly shores of Hunter Island and Nn.lau Islands to Bayly Point, thence to the most southerly point on Stirling Island, and including all waters north of Hn.kai Pass. Area No.8 ,The waters of that portion of the coast lying easterly and southerly from the eastern and southern boundary of Area No.7 hereinbefore d~scribed, including all the bays and inlets thereof to Hanbury Point on Blair Island thence to Truman Point on Calvert Island, thence through Calvert Island to Herbert Point, but not including Port J olm, Koeye Bay, Kisemete Bay, Cousins Inlet, Jenny Bay, Elcho Harbour, that portion of Dean Channel ' above, that is, northeasterly of a straight line due north from Edwards Point on King Island to a point on the mainland oppo­ site mn.rked by a fishing boundary sign, Labouchere Channel, that portion of Burke Channel above, that is, northeasterly of a straight line drawn due north from the eastern side of the en­ trance to Kwatna Inlet to a point on King Island, opposite, marked by a fishing boundary sign, that portion of south Ben­ tinck Arm up to Hot Spring Island, approximately five (5) miles above the entrance theleof. Area No.9 The waters of the Area, hereinbefore described, only as provided by section 44 of these Regulations but not in­ cluding Hole-in-the-\Vall. - 30 -

Area No. 10 The waters of Smith Inlet area hereinbefore described but only as provided by section 44 of th~se Regulations. ' District No.3 embraces the remainder of the Province. District No.3 is subdivided as follows: West Coast Area - Embracing all the territorial waters of British Columbia on the west coast of Vancouver Island between Beechey Head on the south and Cape Scott on the north. East Coast Area - Embracing all the territorial waters of British Columbia between the east coast of Vancouver Island and the mainland from Beechey Head on the south end of Van­ couv~r Island to a straight line drawn from Cape Scott to Cape CautIOn on the north, except those portions thereof as are specially exemr>ted elsewhere iJ? these Regulations. The following subdivisions of District No.3, for the purposes . of the methods of fishing hereinafter designated, consist of the areas described after their names: Area No. 11 The waters of that portion of the coast from the southern boundary of Area No. 10 hereinbefore described, to a straight line drawn from the northerly side of Shelter Bay to Secretary Point on Hope Island, thence extending due west, including Seymour and Belize Inlets, but only as provided by section 44 of these Regulations. Area No. 12 The waters of that portion of the coast between Vancouver Island and the mainland between a straight line drawn from Cape Scott to Secretary Point on Hope Island to the northerly side of Shelter Bay and a straight line drawn from Tuna Point at the easterly entrance of Blinkinsop Bay due south magnetic to a' point on Vancouver Island but not including the waters between Cape Scott and Beaver Cove, which comprise amongst others, Goletas Channel, Labouchere Channel and Boughton Strait, before June first in each year; Drury Inlet, Acteon Sound, McKenzie Sound before August first in each year; Wake­ man Sound, that. portion of that is easterly of a straight line joining MacDonald Point at the westerly entrance of Glendale Cove and a fishing boundary sign erected on the shoreline of Knight Inlet directly opposite j P01~t Neville, and Blinkinsop Bay. . Area No. 13 The waters of that portion of the coast between Vancouver Island and the mainland between the southeasterly boundary of Area No. 12 hereinbefore described, and a straight line drawn from George Point at the easterly entrance of Ramsay Arm to the most southerly point of Cortez Island, thence in a straight line to Shelter Point on Vancouver Island; but not including , Phillips Arm, and Ramsay Arm, after August thirty-first in e:lch year, Deepwater Bay before August twentieLh in er-ch year, , Forward Harbour, the waters of at the mouth of Campbell River bounded on the south by a straight line drawn from Cape l\ll1dge due west to a point on Vancouver Island and on the North by a - 31 -

straight line drawn from Wilfred Point through the northwesterly point of Maude Island to the mainland of Quadra Island at the entrance to Seymour Narrows, nor that portion of known as Salmon Bay, at the mouth of Salmon River, inside of a straight line drawn from a fishing boundary sign placed on the shore of Vancouver Island approximately one (1) mile northwesterly from Kelsey Bay Wharf to a fishing boundary , sign placed on the Vancouver Island shore approximately one­ half mile easterly of Port Kusam. Area No. 14 The waters of that portion of the east coast of Vancouver : Island, including Hornby and Denman Islands and the southerly · coast of Lasqueti Island from Point You~g on the south to the most northerly point of Finnerty Island on the north, between a straight line drawn from Shelter Point to the most southerly point of Cortez Island and a straight line drawn southwesterly from Point Young at the southern end of Lasqueti Island, to a fishing boundary sign on Dorcas Point on Vancouver Island; but not including the waters of that portion of the coast of Vancou­ ver Island within two (2) miles thereof between a point two (2) miles southeasterly of Englishman River to a point two (2) miles northwesterly of Big Qualicum River, within two (2) miles of the mouths of Oyster and Black Rivers; nor that portion of between a straight line drawn from Union Bay Wharf on Vancouver Island to Long Beak Point at the north end of Den­ man Island and a straight line drawn from the most easterly point of Deep Bay due north to a fishing boundary sign placed on the shore of Denman Island, approximately two miles west of Boyle Point; nor that portion of the waters adjacent to the east coast of Vancouver Island lying inside of a straight line drawn from Cape Lazo to Long Beak Point at the north end of Denman Island, thence in a straight line to Union Bay Wharf on Van­ couver Island, before October first in each year. Area No. 15 The waters of that portion of the mainland coast, including Hernando, Savary and Harwood Islands between a straight line drawn from George Point at the easterly entrance of Ramsay Arm to the most southerly point of Cortez Island and a straight line drawn from the most southerly point of Harwood Island to Powell River, but not including , Malaspina Inlet, Theodosia Arm, L:mcelot Arm and Okeover Arm. Area No. 16 The waters of that portion of the mainland coast including Texada Isbnd and the northerly coast of Lasqueti Island from Point Young on the south to the most northerly point of Finnerty Island on the north, between the southeasterly boundary of Area No. 15, hereinbefore described, and Reception Point on Sechelt Peninsula; but not including Queens Reach, Princess Royal Reach, and that portion of Prince of Wales Reach lying north of a straight line drmvn from a fishing boundary sign placed on Saumarez Bluff due east, true beal;ing to a fishing boundary sign placed on the opposite shore, after September fifteenth in each year; nor the Sakinaw area from a fishing bound:1rY sign plnced on the eastern shore of Agamemnon Channel, thence one (1) mile in a northern direction from Sakinaw Creek, thence in a straight line to Fe~U'ney Point, thence in a straight line to Norman Point, thence following the shore line to aforesaid fishing boundary sign; nor Pender Harbour. - 32 -

Area No. 17 The waters of that portion of the east coast of Vancouver Island and the Gulf of Georgia included in the following de­ scribed boundaries: commencing at Point Young on Lasqueti Island in a straight line to a fishing boundary sign on Dorcas Point on Vancouver Island thence following the easterly shore of Vancouver Island in a southerly direction to Grave Point, thence following a straight line through Erskine Point on Salt­ spring Island to the head of Ganges Harbour thence to the westerly side of the entrance of Active Pass, thence in a straight line to the most westerly point of the International Boundary on the forty-ninth parallel of north latitude, thence in a straight line to the most northerly point on Valdes Island, thence in a straight -line in an easterly direction to the southerly point of Gabriola Reefs, thence in a straight line through Thrasher Rock Light to Reception Point on Sechelt Peninsula, thence to the point of commencement at Point Young on Lasqueti Island, but not induding Ladysmith Harbour (Oyster Bay) inside of a straight line drawn from Sharpe Point to Boulder Point; nor that portion of between a straight line from Erskine Point to Grave Point and a straight line from Bare Point Light to North Reef Beacon and then to Parminter Point on Saltspring Island. Area No. 18 The waters of that portion of the east coast of Vancouver Island including the islands opposite, between the southeasterly. boundary of Area No. 17 hereinbefore described extended by a straight line drawn from Active Pass to the most westerly point of the International Boundary Line lying on the forty­ ninth parallel of north latitude in the Gulf of Georgia and a straight line drawn from the northerly entrance of Tsehum Harbour on Vancouver Island to the most northerly point of Domville Island, thence due east magnetic to its junction with the International Boundary Line; but not including Fulford Harbour, , Cowichan Bay, and that portion of Satellite Channel including Sansum Narrows between a straight line drawn from Cape Keppel on Saltspring Island to Moses Point on Vancouver Island and a straight line drawn from Grave Point on Vancouver Island to Erskine Point on Saltspring Island. Area No. 19 The waters lying between the coast of Vancouver Island and· . the International Boundary Line from the southern boundary of Area No. 18 to a straight line drawn from William Head through Race Rocks to Angeles Point but not including Victoria Harbour inside a straight line drawn from 1-1acaulay Point to Clover Point, the Inlet of Victoria Arm. Area No. 20 The waters lying between the coast of Vancouver Island and the International Boundary Line from the western boundary of Area No. 19, hereinbefore described, to a straight line extending as far as the International Boundary drawn in a southerly direc­ tion between Bonilla Point on Vancouver Island to Tatoosh Lighthbuse. Area No. 21 The waters of that portion of the west coast of Vancouver Island between the western boundary of Area No. 20, herein­ before described, and Pachena Point, but not including Nitinat Arm. - JJ -

Area No. 22 The waters of Nitinat Arm after September thirtieth "in each year. Area No. 23 The waters of that portion of the west coast of Vancouver Island from Pachena Point to the southwesterly entrance of Florencia Bay (O.C. June 14, P.C. 1956-911) but not including " Ucluelet Arm or Uchucklesit Harbour and that portion of Alberni Canal above, that is, east of a straight line drawn from Assists Island to Chup Point and thence to Ecoole after August fifteenth in each year. Area No. 24 The waters of that portion of the west coast of Vancouver Island from the southwesterly entrance of Florencia Bay to Estevan P.oint including . Area No. 25 The waters of that portion of the west coast of Vancouver Island from Estevan Point to Tatchu Point including Nootlm Sound and Esperanza Inlet. Area No. 26 The waters of that portion of the west coast of Vancouver Island from Tatchu Point to Cape Cook including . Area No. 27 The waters of that portion of the west coast of Vancouver Island from Cape Cook to Cape Scott, but not including that portion of and the inlets and bays tributary ' thereof, lying easterly from a straight line drawn from Hankin Point to Sorensen Point, thence to Kultah Point at the moutli of Marble Creek. - 34 -

AP?EiiDIX 13

,.

APRIL 5} 6,. 1967 - tLU.JH'i\X ~ l'I. S.

The discussions of the meeting. are reported accordin{:; to the items of the Aecnda.

Items 1 and 2

The r!\eeting opened under the chairrn:mship of ~·Ir. Lou Bradbury, Dcp3.rtmcnt of Fisheries) Ottm·ra.

Hr. Grunt CrRbtrce (N.R.C.) and }":!:. Robert Anderson (cin~m3.tics consultant. to B.R.C.) briefly described the fi1Ja on sem{eec1 ,·rhich they ",ere producipg. A considerable footae;e has beCI1 taken bLlt it has not becn completely edited. The films w'ere sho\m at tl1e Thursday mornin:;:; session.

? Itcr.'! ..) '- Resou.rce Su.~vey

Hr. Sandy r.hcLe~:Jn} an economist ·.rith the Dep:.u'tmen"t of Fisheries, discu~sed the valuc of the sc::tvccd hurvest in the Naritjr:tcs. He pointed ou.t th3t the harvested value of Irish Noss lTas nearly $1 million but that the value of the products derived therefrom \·ras unkno\oTn. A mimeographed list of the 3lT!0'.mt. ar.d value of the seaHced h3rvest in the ~-1::1.ritir;l2s i·ras distributed.

Mr. Bradbury called upon rCl)X'esent3U.ves of the various provinces to discuss the St3tuS of their province.

~Ir. Andre Cardinalc of Quebec sUGGcsted thnt the supply of Irish r·!oss U2S not very plentiful in (uebec and sUGGested thut there should be some discussion on kelp,.

A represent:t ti ve from N~\v Bruns\orick nlcmtioncc1 e thrce-ye:::r survey by H8rine Colloids, Inc. for the Fishc!'ies Dcp:u·tmcat in i.fhich severHl beds .....'erc fOLmd.

r:liss Cons s~,nce r.1:1c1"';lrlanc rcvic,.rcd the situ8.U.on in Prince Ec1\.fCll'd Is13nd end Trova Scotia. Hiss t·hcI";;'ll-l~lne \'k'\rnc~c1 ::lG~linst tc::.:rin!3 up holdfn"ts oml. er.1p:I.::sizec1 :'hc need fo~' ecolocic:;l ns \Tell 3S economic surveys. A p::"}J'~r "II R<::'POl't. on S()r;1<:~ 1\:..r·2~t~) of the Semrcecl Indus tJ.:Y in the j.;')ritlr;12 Pro'linccs ()~~ C~l!ll::d::1" by r·:is::; l·[,'lcF::ll'lU:1C \T:::S distr'iotlLec1 but not discussed in any dc~nil. - 35 -

Dr. H. Squires and t/!essrs. R. Younc; and R. Prince of Hei'l­ found18nd cor:unented th:}'C a fair omount of survey v70rk hlJd been undc:rt3ken there but that the sem'leed beds vTere not very extensive.

Mr. A. C. Neish ~nd Dr. T. E. Edel$tein of N.R.C. discussed the setting up of 0 sec;.vced herbaritlJn. 'l'hey felt that the sublittoral sem,Teeds, 30 to !~O feet belov the surface in the Halifax area, m8y be more com.'11on than they ,.,ere previously thought to be and may be a good source of alginntes.

NessI's. John He.rrison and Arnqld Greenius from Bri th;h Columbia reported an interest brought about by the recent registration of several comp::mies to harvest seavleed. The latter representative later quoted the carly \-lork of Scac;el and the B. C. Research Council in esthnating ~he .amount of' sem·reed on the vTest coast. The sem.,eeds are mainly NCJ;'eocystis and Iv'J!3.crocysU_s. A possible harvest of some million tons h~-:?d been estirnate

Considerable discussion was presented on the desirability of' standardizing the survey methods. Aerial surveys, infro.-red photOGraphy, b03t and scub3 divers, undenlater TV c~:1meras, and modified Peterson grab vlere discussed. Infra-red surveys are said to. be good but some of the techniques l:18ve been classified by the U.S. government - evidently used to advantage in forest research for spruce bud "'onn surveys.

?-oir. Parker L.'1ite from r·tlrine Colloids, Inc. claimed that survey cstim:ttes vrere much larger than the amounts "lhich it 'faS practical to he.rvest. This vras considered to be good for conservation:

Item 4. Ikrvesting

Miss MacFarlane reported on tests to sec hOH ffi'..lch of a se2vTeed bed could be he. rvested. If a 11 lamina ri8 '.. 7ere harvested, it .,ould be succeeded by another se·"l\-:eed and Imninaria would return the second year. Ascophyllum requires thnt a six-inch sb.lk be left. It fruits in June so th:tt harvestinG should be after th8.t time. Taking all ascophy11um leads to succession by fucus.

The question of quality \WS raised. The purchasers of seaweed appeGred to 1.>e genenlll ~ ' unhappy ,·:ith the Dlnount of sand, f stones) and contamin'lnts in the product. It was claimed th'~ t there was a need for someone to develop a cheap, light, and COrrlP-)ct harvester ,. and a sorter for the fisherm9n.

Items 5, 6, and 8. Prep:'t:::-ation and Proccssin:' and Re ;;:: u13 tory Consider8.tions

lv'..r. Dou:~13s JocLnston of the Marine Plants Experir.1ental Station at Mimine~Dsh} P.E.I. outlined the pro~rDm to up~rDde marine weed products and to assist in harvesting, processinG, and p)ckae;ing techniques. - 36 -

A discussion of the regulation of cont~minDnts in the moss sold bJ the fisherm:m ensued.. Bec'luse of the shortaGe of Ir13h l-10ss there seem~d. to be no cooperntion betMcen ·the buyers to set qU3lity and price standards. It seemed to be generally agreed that government re!iulation and inspection \-Tere not desirable or necessary ,.. except, possibly, where the moss or other .Teeds are exported directly by the fishermen.

Conservation re~ulations '{ere not discussed to any grcat extent but uprooting, too-close cropping, dragCine; sandy bottoms, and the like were mentioned.

Item 7. Report of Miss M.3cFarlane on Trip to Japnn

Miss.VlDc}?arlane presented colour slides and nn interesting description of her recent trip to J:lp9.n. There are over 200 research stations, most of i-Thich hnve a ·sem.,reed pro~r3r.1. The interest and cooperation of the Jap-:mese fishermen \-lith the sem"reed producers and researchers Vf3S vTondcrful. The Japanese are harvesting lamin3ria, undaria, and porphyra, and are cultivs.tinS rhodymenia on nets and ropes. Lar3e concrete cylinders with an L-shaped hole (cylinder dimensions perhaps 1-1/2 x 1-1/2 feet) are used for lmninari~ culture. Porphyra f).!'C grmm on poles a nd nets.

Item 9. Recommendations for Future Exploratory and Experimental Activity

The participants divided into t,m groups for A - Research­ oriented discussion, ann B - Industry-oriented discussion.

Dr. D. Idler sUll1.marized the proposals and recommendations for Group A:

Research needed into "Then, hm" and hO\-T much to h~rvest; nC\·T potentially useful species; H2ed populations, age, and distrl­ butions; reproduction processes; effect of harvesting methods on succession, regrO'.-lth, and other anim9ls; culture under controlled conditions; control of species, e.g. eel grass; pollution studies; ocenl1ogrnph1c studies.

Research into halogenated organic compounds, steroids, lipeds , proteins, carbohydrates, J:1::,nni tol, anti-microbiols, nut.ri tion, vitflmins} animal nutrition, sources of f1.3vours in fish; ne\{ products.

Mr. Robert Hart SLlr(lJT1:~rized the propos:lls €Ind rcco!1!.'lcndations for Group B:

St:)mb !"uiz;Jti.on of survey mcthod~; and techniques for more Genera l applic(,bility. Settin~ up of <:: central infornntion source. - 37 -

Studies into develop~ncnt of neH and improved h8J:'vcstin[,; and procesr. ing cquip,leut ~ GradinG r.t.audards at first sale.

'l.'here was mL.

a. Utilization of laminaria - one Europenn operation using lamina ria only. - several European operations using some lamin~.lJ:'ia. b. Nova Scotia licenses comp~.Hlies to harvest and expects compGnies to usc good practices. - NC\-T BrunsHick, I'Tevfoundlancl) and Quebec do not. issue licenses. c. Vlorld supply of bro'lm sem·Teed - said to be tremendous. - 35 percent of \-lorld alginate capacity said to be idle. d. Horld supply of Irish Moss is short. e. Harvesting rcC}.uircs combined knmlledge of biologists and engineers. - \wyk should be applicable to both coasts. f. Possible need of the marine plants industry for an: ore;anlzlnc; body such as the Fishing Council for better discussions with government on tnriffs, research, etc. g. . Possible groi·,th of extraction p~occsses in CGnada. h. 'l'ne need for quality standards' for '·Teeds - an inuustry responsibility. - regulate qw?lity purchased on basis of processing econo'11ics. i. The need for marketing studies. - ~hrinc Colloids says no need but other speaker suggested government studies \-Tonld be helpflJ.l for Ce.nadian comp::mies.

Further details of the meeting El!'e provided in the official published minutes "Thich have nO\-l been distributed.

In addition to public statements at the general meetinG private di$cuf,sions vith certain knm-Tledgeable participcmts provided an insj.ght into the marine plants industry in the Mnritimes 2.nd some issues ,·rhich might affect a B. C. industry. 'l'hese m::linly pertained to possible \·rorld SU1"I)lus of alGinate, the possibility th:-:!.t Nereocystis •.. is not a suitable source of alginate. Kelco surveyed the B. C. resource before entering the field in Nova Scotin, and closinG t~e AustraliAn industry. The pflrticipo.n"'cs included: