Bamfield Community Huu-ay-aht
Abalone Project

| broodstock | DNA analysis | hatchery | settlement | outplanting |

- Outplanting - Fall 2003

On November 7, 2003
Bamfield Huu ay aht Community Abalone Project (BHCAP)
carried out Canada’s first out-planting of abalone.

In the cold ocean waters of Barkley Sound, in the heart of Huu-ay-aht First Nations’ territories, an exciting experiment in species at risk recovery is unfolding. November 7th, the Bamfield Huu ay aht Community Abalone Project (BHCAP) carried out Canada’s first out-planting of abalone. Community divers released thousands of young abalone into their natural habitat and the delicate operation was recorded on video, underwater. The divers are really thrilled with the technical aspects of the dives and optimistic about the future of wild abalone in Barkley Sound. The progress of these abalone will be monitored by volunteer divers and with a Remotely Operated Vehicle owned by the Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre. Close observation of these abalone will provide essential information for future out-planting events. The Endangered Species at Risk Fund managed by the World Wildlife Fund and Environment Canada funded this out-planting effort.
BHCAP was established in response to a request from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and is dedicated to the recovery of abalone. BHCAP draws its strengths from the entire community and oversees a large “Abalone Coast Watch” group made up of more than 70 people who live, work or play on the water and keep an active watch out for poachers. Coast Watch is based on block watch, a successful, passive crime prevention program.
BHCAP is a national leader in abalone aquaculture with a team of local aqua-culturists led by Guy Whyte.
BHCAP is also diving into raising awareness about abalone with the Marine Sciences Centre’s education program. This year we celebrated the world premier of ”Abalone Odyssey” a film by Simon Schneider on BHCAP and the plight of abalone in Barkley Sound. The film was taken “on the road “ for the second annual “Ab Fab” traveling abalone road show. A teacher’s guide to accompany “Abalone Odyssey” has been developed and is being distributed to school districts in Canada and the US. Another resource for middle school teachers and their classes is “ Abalone Advocates” an action learning resource.
BHCAP is indebted to the hundreds of volunteers that make this project run. We could never accomplish this much without the wonderful people who give their time to the restoration of this threatened mollusk.

more outplanting events:

November 2003 | Summer 2004 | March 2005

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