Hecate Strait and Queen Charlotte Sound Glass Sponge Reefs Marine Protected Area
Dive into the Hecate Strait and Queen Charlotte Sound Glass Sponge Reefs Marine Protected Area off the coast of British Columbia, Canada.
Transcript
Off the coast of British Columbia, Canada, in the deep, cold waters of the Hecate Strait and Queen Charlotte Sound, ancient glass sponge reefs create a vibrant and unique ecosystem. With origins dating back roughly 200 million years ago, these beautiful glass structures provide a living window to an ancient world.
The complex reef structure these sponges create provides an important water filtration service as well as refuge, habitat, and nursery grounds for a wide range of aquatic species like shellfish, rockfish, and other finfish.
These reefs allow for continuing research to better understand glass sponges, a species that was once thought to be extinct worldwide!
The Hecate Strait and Queen Charlotte Sound Glass Sponge Reefs were designated as a Marine Protected Area in 2017. Co-managed by Fisheries and Oceans Canada and First Nations partners, these biological and ecological wonders will be protected and conserved for generations.
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