Metchosin residents are going to get to the bottom of whatB次元官网网址檚 in their ocean.

Metchosin council gave its OK to create a survey on shoreline habitats surrounding the district based on a sustainabiity report generated by an environmental advisory committee.

B次元官网网址淥ur coastline and marine waters are invisible. People donB次元官网网址檛 understand whatB次元官网网址檚 under the water,B次元官网网址� said Coun. Moralea Milne, who sits on the advisory committee. B次元官网网址淲e have about 45 to 50 kilometres of shoreline, mostly undisturbed.B次元官网网址�

The survey plans to map and identify marine species that live in near-shore eelgrass beds or bull kelp forests, on the beach, or creatures that inhabit both worlds.

B次元官网网址�(Eelgrass beds) are little nurseries for many fish species,B次元官网网址� Milne said.

Milne has researched possible plants and animal life that could be on the coastline, but she would like experts in the field help with the project.

Council has approved the project, and now the environmental committee is looking into ways to begin the survey process using volunteers. B次元官网网址淚 am not sure how we are going to do that though. I donB次元官网网址檛 scuba dive,B次元官网网址� Milne admits.

Once coastal marine information is collected, Milne said it can be used to monitor change in the district after an emergency, such as an oil spill.

B次元官网网址淚t will be used as a baseline of what is there right now,B次元官网网址� Milne said.

reporter@goldstreamgazette.com