jess newley photo options are not available , anchor deeper than 15 feet at low tide in bays , and in more than 30 feet of water in more open areas . You can explore an eelgrass depth map at sanjuans . org / greenboating and see for yourself where eelgrass is growing around the islands . Lastly , avoid chemicals when cleaning your boat and if you live near the shoreline , limit the use of lawn and garden chemicals .
Kelp is another important habitat found around the islands . Bull kelp beds , also known as “ the rainforest of the sea ,” are one of the fastest growing organisms on earth , growing up to a foot a day . Bull kelp grows in subtidal waters to depths of over 60 feet and is the most well-known of the kelps due to its high visibility at the surface . Clusters of bull kelp can be seen offshore of almost any high energy rocky coastline in the San Juans . There are also numerous species of understory kelps that grow along rocky bottoms , providing additional habitat complexity to the kelp forest . Kelp shelters urchins , otters , seals , crabs , juvenile rockfish and salmon , anemones , starfish , sea cucumbers , octopuses , and many other marine creatures .
Kelp needs clean water and light to thrive . It is very sensitive to pollution from small and large oil spills , soil erosion , and yard chemicals . If you live near the shoreline and have a septic system , you can help by making sure your septic system is working properly and reducing your use of chemicals . If you are a boater , keep your boat in good condition , and clean even the smallest of fuel spills using absorbent pads — not soap . And of course , for your safety , and for the kelp , always steer clear of kelp beds when underway .
Forage fish , or bait fish , are small schooling fish that are eaten by larger fish , seabirds , and marine mammals . Primary species in the Salish Sea are Pacific herring , Pacific sand lance , and surf smelt . Each of these forage fish plays an essential role in marine food webs by transferring energy from plankton to larger species . Forage fish are staples in the diets of fish , seabirds , and marine mammals , including chinook and coho salmon , lingcod , Marbled Murrelets , Rhinoceros Auklets , and Minke whales .
Forage fish do not spawn just anywhere . Pacific herring deposit transparent , adhesive eggs on eelgrass and marine algae close to shore . Surf smelt and Pacific sand lance incubate their eggs on beach sand and small gravel near the high tide line . These spawning forage fish utilize the same shoreline areas that we humans also concentrate our activities on , making them vulnerable to shoreline alterations such as armoring or bulkheads , docks , roads , and the removal of vegetation . You can help forage fish by keeping beaches natural with plenty of overhanging native trees
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