Sustainability

Shellfish aquaculture depends on pristine water quality and is the “canary of coastal health”. As such the CSR feels it is incumbent upon it to demonstrate the highest calibre of environmental stewardship in the design and implementation of this project.

Construction of the Deep Bay Marine Field Station will employ sustainable building design technology and practices, including LEED certification, and will serve as a model of how various coastal and marine activities can coexist harmoniously.

During site development and as per provincial regulations, I.R. Wilson Consulting Ltd. was contracted to provide archaeological oversight. Representatives of the Qualicum and Comox First Nations participated in this investigation. Important historical middens were discovered and protected. The IR Wilson report will be sent under separate cover.

Sustainable Design Principles

Principles established to guide the project have been established and include:

• Demonstrate best practices to raise public awareness of issues affecting coastal environmental health
• Protect the foreshore from negative impacts from human activity
• Protect and enhance riparian and species-at-risk habitat
• Protect and respect archaeological resources from development impact
• All planting to be indigenous species only
• Utilize natural resources of the site: Sun, Wind, Rain, Ocean
• Restore damaged ecosystems resulting from previous land tenure
• Safeguard the quality of ground, surface and marine water.