An international team of oceanographic scientists and researchers have developed a sustainable way to increase biodiversity and increase production of our coastal waters using cremated remains.  These people have developed an underwater structure, or artificial reef, that increases the biological production of our marine life, while creating a monument for those who have passed.

California Project manager Rob Sarnie states that “the consumption levels of our ocean will not decrease so we must increase biological production in a sustainable way.”  Overfishing on our coastal waters, both in Canada and the US is causing the imbalance in our marine ecosystems.  Declining fish counts and the demands on our fisheries doesn’t paint a very bright future for our ocean but years ago Mr. Sarnie founded an innovative way to reduce species extinction rates, increase biological diversity, and boost production.  Living Reef Memorial Canada has now brought this wonderful concept to Canadian waters.  Additionally, they have done this without costing the taxpayer a dime and it replaces a traditionally harmful practice.

Living Reef Memorial Canada is a company on Vancouver Island that manufactures these artificial reefs and they market these reefs, currently in British Columbia, Nova Scotia and PEI, and are working to expand to Ontario, New Brunswick and Newfound Land, as a green burial alternative to traditional burials.  Traditional burial is still big business and it continues to cause a tremendous amount ecological debt to the next generation.  90 million board feet of rainforest hardwoods are used each year for the sole purpose of casket manufacturing.  All of the paints, adhesives, and solvents used in manufacturing eventually leach into our drinking water.  Embalming fluid is used to temporarily preserve a body and it is extremely toxic.  This toxic cocktail has been found in our water supply and it has been proven to cause cancer and birth defects.  It is certainly time for a change.

The ocean provides us all with so much, whether we know it or not.  Much of the products we use in everyday life come from our ocean. So little is being done to replace what we are taking it doesn’t take long to figure out that this resource is going to dry up.  A sustainable kind of approach to aquaculture is the first of its kind and this kind of technology has been proven to be of enormous socioeconomic and environmental benefit to the communities they serve. With more fish means more fishing and more fishing means more commerce.  All of the surrounding or associated industries that support the fishing industry benefit from this sustainable fishery.  All of this is great news for the health of our oceans and it is good news to those who choose this kind of burial.  A Living Reef Memorial Canada is a completely permanent because there is no economic motivation to disturb the reefs.  Once installed onto the sea floor it takes only a short while for fish to start colonizing the reefs.  Once the reefs become colonized which usually only takes a few days, the reefs grows in size and bloom with an abundance of marine life.  If you would like to learn more about how you can be a part of this wonderful solution visit their web site www.livingreefmemorial.ca. or phone 250-252-0476