Wai Wah Environmental, a Kitselas First Nation environmental consulting company, has been surveying the seabed along British Columbia’s North Coast.
Wai Wah Environmental (WWE) is a Kitselas First Nation-owned environmental consulting company specializing in conservation-focused projects throughout Northwestern British Columbia.
In 2023, WWE began surveying the seabed to assess biodiversity in coastal waters that the Kitselas people have used for millennia. These waters are also heavily used by the public, with BC Ferries crossing them weekly. In a setting with this level of activity, the lack of ecological data was a critical gap in effective stewardship.
To close this gap, WWE conducted surveys at multiple sites near Prince Rupert, B.C. Divers conducted surveys, recording and counting marine life within pre-placed transects. Survey data included a wide range of species, from bülhaa (abalone) to gyenti (sea cucumber). Species counts and observations were used to measure biodiversity.
Sites were selected based on Kitselas use and logistical needs, such as stable anchorage for the research vessel. Once selected, the sites and their transects remained fixed throughout the project. This matters because marine life can change drastically within a single metre. Sites needed to stay fixed to reliably track change.
Surveys used surface-supplied diving instead of conventional SCUBA. This gave divers more time underwater and continuous communication with surface technicians. A helmet-mounted camera recorded each survey in high-definition, allowing real-time species verification.
All sites were below the tideline, at depths of 30 to 40 feet. WWE’s approach to data collection is less common. In most surveys of this nature, divers use self-contained underwater breathing apparatuses (SCUBA) to access their study sites, but in this project, the divers used surface-supplied systems.
SCUBA diving requires less equipment and training, but it has limitations. Divers have a limited air supply and cannot speak directly with the surface team. However, divers on surface supply breathe from a hose fed by a specialized compressor on the dive vessel, providing them with an unlimited supply. Air is delivered to sealed dive helmets, which also include communication lines, allowing them to speak to the surface. Unlike SCUBA divers, surface-supplied divers can stay underwater for hours. They also provide real-time reports to a technician on the support vessel.
Transects were established as weighted lines anchored by cinder blocks, laid inshore to offshore along the seabed. Observations were recorded within one metre on either side of a 30-metre line — covering 60 square metres of seabed per survey. Surveys are scheduled repeatedly throughout the year to capture seasonal ecological variability.
Species composition and biodiversity can change drastically within even one metre. Conditions change constantly — which is why repeatable surveys matter.
The species recorded reflect the productivity of these waters. A single transect can yield dozens of species, sometimes with counts in the hundreds. Some species might be present at one survey but completely absent at another survey three months later.
Biodiversity is a measure of an area’s ecological productivity and resilience. We analyzed the data using established indices, including Simpson’s Index of Diversity and the Shannon–Weiner Index, to quantify biodiversity at each site. These measurements are tracked over time to understand how conditions change at each site.
The diversity of species recorded across the survey sites reflect the ecological productivity of the Hecate Strait and North Coast Fjords marine ecosystems.
The dataset is a living reference that becomes more valuable with each survey. It can inform the response to an environmental incident, such as an oil spill or the introduction of an invasive species, providing a clear picture of what was there before. It can also guide future habitat restoration. Over time, it builds a long-term record to detect and track the cumulative effects of growing industrial activity along this coast.
WWE Environmental provides marine baseline surveying, remote sensing, and ecological monitoring services across BC’s north coast. To learn more about our marine and nearshore capabilities, visit our services page.
