It started with a tip from the local #FirstNation of a “bump on the sea floor” where the fish liked to be & led to the #discovery of #Canada’s only known live #CoralReef.
Deep sea #ecologist Cherisse Du Preez worked with the #KitasooXaixais & #Heiltsuk First Nations & began searching for the #Lophelia coral #reef in 2021, taking a remote-controlled submersible deep into the ocean in #FinlaysonChannel, about 500 kms NW of Vancouver.
Most northern known’ coral reef off B.C. coast shouldn’t exist: expert
The Fisheries Department announced last week it had closed the area on B.C.’s central coast over the coral reef to all commercial and recreational bottom-contact fisheries, including mid-water trawl.
We use a variety of intelligence-led enforcement methods including air, ocean, river, and ground surveillance,...”
Today the beauty and peace and pristine nature of Teahupo’o is in danger. It's #France 's turn to host the '24 #Olympics so the logical place to hold the #surfing is at the world's most beautiful wave, here in Teahupo'o.
Because of powerful economic incentives for the local government and numerous local contractors, the project has been rammed through with no ecological impact study.
But plans for the over sized aluminum judging tower that will sit over the #reef require building a new base. Every year a wooden tower is erected and taken down. It uses the same foundation that is in place. The new tower requires #drilling into the reef and redoing the previous work that has been functioning well for two decades. The 72 drill holes will be 4m long.