Banner Photo: Annapolis (Credit: Doug Pemberton)

2020 Rating

2020 Rationale

Increases in the number of marine animals but decreases in marine plants and moss animals (bryozoa) have been noted. Ongoing monitoring is needed.

Annapolis 2020 Article

2017 Rating

2017 Rationale

In April 2015, a decommissioned naval ship sunk off of Gambier Island became B.C.’s newest artificial reef. More than a year later, marine species are populating the Annapolis, bringing new life to an area of Howe Sound once devastated by the logging industry.

Annapolis 2017 Article

The following is an excerpt from the full updated article. Download the full 2020 article for all content and references.

Former HMCS Annapolis: artificial reef harbours many species

Authors: Donna Gibbs, Marine Taxonomist, Howe Sound Conservation and Research Team, Ocean Wise Research Institute

Aroha Miller, Manager, Ocean Watch, Ocean Wise Research Institute

With contributions from: Doug Pemberton, Director for Biological Monitoring Programs, Artificial Reef Society of BC

Reviewer: Jeff Marliave, Senior Research Scientist, Howe Sound Conservation and Research Team, Ocean Wise Research Institute

Excerpt from 2020 article

In 2015, the Annapolis, a decommissioned naval ship, was sunk in Ch’á7elsm/ Halkett Bay, on the south-east of Chá7elkwnech/Gambier Island to create an artificial reef. Due to historical log boom storage in this area, habitat potential was reduced compared to other nearby sites. The sinking of the Annapolis was thus designed to provide usable habitat to increase species abundance and diversity in the area, and is monitored by the Artificial Reef Society of BC (ARSBC) through their citizen science program, the Annapolis Biodiversity Index Study (ABIS).

Read the full article to see what else is happening.

Background: Divers on the Annapolis. (Credit: Diane Reid)

What’s been done since 2017?

The table below reports on progress made on recommended actions from the previous 2017 article, where identified. Many of these require ongoing action.

2017 Action	Action Taken
Government Action and Policy
Support citizen science efforts.	The 2018 (August) to 2019 (March) term for the ABIS project was funded by BC Parks.

What can you do?

A detailed overview of recommended actions relating to climate change is included in The path to zero carbon municipalities. In some cases, no progress was identified on previous recommended actions; these remain listed below. Additional actions marked as NEW also follow.

Individual and Organization Actions:

- Learn about the monitoring project through the ARSBC website.
- NEW If you are a diver, take the course offered by Ocean Wise to improve your identification skills.

Government Action and Policy:

- Monitor and assess the effectiveness of artificial reef habitat.

Download

Annapolis 2020 Article

Annapolis 2017 Article

Full OWHS 2020 Report