Gabriola Island Shore Keepers Association
Who We Are
We are a group of volunteers living on beautiful Gabriola Island. We understand the value of our shores, estuaries, bays and beaches, and their importance to ecosystem functioning, carbon sequestration, habitat provision for many organisms, as well as their undeniable beauty!
Our mandate is:
"To promote, maintain, and monitor the health of Gabriola Island uplands, backshore, shoreline and intertidal ecosystems, including beaches, bluffs, estuaries."
LEARN ABOUT OUR PROJECTS
Gabriola Island Shore Keepers Association work both to protect and enhance Gabriola's natural shorelines, estuaries and nearshore habitats, and to educate islanders and visitors as to the importance of these habitats.
FORAGE FISH BEACH MONITORING
GISKA is working with MABRRI and WWF to map forage fish spawning habitat on our beaches
MARINE DEBRIS CLEAN UP
GISKA is working with SeaChange Marine Conservation Society and John Roe of the Dead Boat Disposal Society to remove marine debris, abandoned boats and docks from our marine waters
EDUCATION AND OUTREACH
GISKA hosts speakers on topics such as soft shores approaches, herring populations, and ecological restoration for Gabriola community members
SOFT SHORES PROGRAMMING
We are working with partners to carry out ecological restoration using soft shores approaches around the island
KELP AND EELGRASS MAPPING
GISKA members have carried out kayak surveys, and partnering with Seachange Marine Conservation Society and the PSF Strait of Georgia Data Centre, are creating maps of local eelgrass and kelp beds
EELGRASS SIGNAGE
GISKA is partnering with Seachange Marine Conservation Society to create signage at docks and anchorages to educate boaters about important local eelgrass beds, and to encourage anchoring outside of these areas
