Neptune Terminals' bull kelp restoration takes root

Thousands of microscopic bull kelp have been planted on a newly built underwater rock reef in Burrard Inlet, off North Vancouver’s coast. The plantings at the Lynn Creek Estuary mark a new phase in the Bull Kelp Restoration Program, a collaborative initiative by Neptune Terminals and the University of British Columbia (UBC) that aims to preserve the terminal’s water lots and crucial ecosystem components.

The reef was built using approximately 4,000 metric tons of rock transported by tug and barge from Sumas Mountain in Abbotsford, B.C., to the Neptune location. Covering 1,800 square metres (19,375 square feet) – or the equivalent of four basketball courts – the structure creates a more complex underwater habitat in the estuary’s lower reaches. Divers completed the installation by placing young microscopic kelps onto 32 tiles that were secured to the rocks using a marine epoxy.

Neptune Terminals is funding the project as part of its offset measures related to rebuilding its ship loader and conveyor systems. Researchers from UBC are cultivating the kelp and monitoring its development within the estuary.

Bull kelp serves as a foundational species in the local marine ecosystem, offering habitat for fish, seabirds, marine mammals, and invertebrates, while feeding snails, urchins, crabs, and other marine life. Neptune Terminals’ commitment to the restoration project reflects the company’s dedication to protecting, preserving and improving marine ecosystems for future generations.