Kudos to Transport Canada

[searun]

Kudo's to TC for doing the right thing for SRKW and contacting Commercial vessel charter operators to help increase public awareness of measures that come into effect today, June 1 to help protect SRKW. Here's the communication I got today from TC:

A reminder that as of June 1, 2020, Transport Canada’sInterim Order for the Protection of Killer Whale (Orcinus orca) in the Waters of Southern British Columbia, 2020is in effect including:


Minimum 400 metre approach distance (year-round)

Vessels are prohibited from approaching any killer whale within a 400-metre distance in all southern BC coastal waters between Campbell River and just north of Ucluelet.

·Certain whale watching and ecotourism companies who receive an authorization from the Minister of Transport, will be allowed to view non-Southern Resident Killer Whales from 200 metres, in recognition of their ability to distinguish between ecotypes. Authorized companies will have a purple flag with ‘AV’ denoted in the middle. This measure is in addition to the 200-metre approach distance for all killer whales in Canadian fisheries waters in the Pacific Ocean and BC, other than in the area described above.


Interim Sanctuary Zones (June 1 – November 30)

·Interim Sanctuary Zones will be in effect off Pender Island, Saturna Island and at Swiftsure Bank.

·No vessel traffic and no fishing will be allowed in these areas, with some exceptions including: vessels accessing local residences, business or services; vessels in distress or providing assistance to a person or vessel in distress; vessels avoiding immediate or unforeseen danger; Indigenous peoples exercising existing rights. Additionally, a 20 metre corridor along the shoreline of the Pender and Saturna Island Interim Sanctuary Zones has been created to allow those in human-powered vessels to transit safely through these areas.


Additional measures:

Fisheries Management Measure

·Area-based fishing closures will be in effect in the Juan de Fuca Strait and Southern Gulf Islands for recreational and commercial salmon fisheries through the summer and fall.

·More information on specific dates will be announced in June.

·Fishers are also asked to stop fishing within 1,000 metres of all killer whales.


Best practices to Be Whale Wise

·Reduce speed to 7 knots or less when within 1000 metres of the nearest marine mammal.

·Turn off echo sounders and fish finders when safe to do so.

·Place engine in neutral idle and allow animals to pass if you find yourself within 400 metres of a killer whale.


ECHO Program (http://www.portvancouver.com/echo)large commercial vessel measures

·Haro Strait and Boundary Pass voluntary vessel slowdown(potential effective date June 1 – Oct 31, based on whale presence)

oLarge commercial vessels slow down to speed through water targets: 11.5kn (bulkers, tankers, general cargo) or 14.5kn (containers, car carriers, cruise)

Strait of Juan de Fuca voluntary inshore lateral displacement (June 1 – October 31)

oInshore vessels (tugs) move further away from shore into lateral displacement zone


We need your help to get the message out. Please consider sharing key information with your contacts:


Interim Order - Tweet


Interim Order - Facebook


2020 Management Measures to protect Southern Resident Killer Whales (measures and maps)


Interim Order FAQs


Be Whale Wise


Additional educational materials are being developed, including brochures, posters, and a postcard. These will be distributed electronically, with an option to request physical copies that will be distributed by mail.We will be in contact when these are available and hope you will help us by sharing them!


Lastly, a reminder to please be aware of ongoing rules and guidance under theTransport Canada COVID-19 Interim Orderand theTransport Canada Guidance for Pleasure Craft.


Sincerely,


Transport Canada

Government of Canada/Gouvernement du CanadaTC.SRKW-ERS.TC@tc.gc.ca

 

[ziggy]

I don’t see the establishment of Whale Sanctuaries as “doing the right thing”. I hope I’m misinterpreting your post?

 

[searun]

Doing the right thing is posting the information so that people are aware. One of the issues isn't the actual protective measure, its ensuring we help shift behaviours on the water through outreach and awareness. People need to see whales and avoid them, as opposed to what usually happens today where they see whales and move towards them. Education and awareness are the first steps in shifting the on-water culture.

You and I may not agree as to the effectiveness of a measure such as Sanctuaries, but for the moment they are a reality that must be respected. For the record, I am opposed to sanctuaries unless there is strong science that establishes a specific area is indeed critically used by SRKW for foraging or other significant activity. Today's choice of sanctuary locations are also IMO not aligned to where whales actually forage in most cases. The 400m mobile avoidance zone or "bubble" is IMO the most effective level of protection under the avoidance category of protective tools we have available to us.

So many folks actively engaged in this issue have been suggesting/asking for TC and DFO to turn their attention and actions towards creating better education and awareness....thus the kudos to them for hearing those concerns and acting. I like to give credit where it is deserved.

 

[ziggy]

Doing the right thing is posting the information so that people are aware. One of the issues isn't the actual protective measure, its ensuring we help shift behaviours on the water through outreach and awareness. People need to see whales and avoid them, as opposed to what usually happens today where they see whales and move towards them. Education and awareness are the first steps in shifting the on-water culture.

You and I may not agree as to the effectiveness of a measure such as Sanctuaries, but for the moment they are a reality that must be respected. For the record, I am opposed to sanctuaries unless there is strong science that establishes a specific area is indeed critically used by SRKW for foraging or other significant activity. Today's choice of sanctuary locations are also IMO not aligned to where whales actually forage in most cases. The 400m mobile avoidance zone or "bubble" is IMO the most effective level of protection under the avoidance category of protective tools we have available to us.

So many folks actively engaged in this issue have been suggesting/asking for TC and DFO to turn their attention and actions towards creating better education and awareness....thus the kudos to them for hearing those concerns and acting. I like to give credit where it is deserved.

Sounds to me like we are both in agreement about the establishment of Sanctuaries, which is the part of your post I wanted clarified. The lack of Science supporting them, arbitrary implementation and the randomly chosen areas for establishing them is nothing more than response to ENGO pressure. I just wanted to be sure we both were recognizing the Sanctuary for what it is or more importantly what it isn’t! I applaud the governments attempts to educate the general population and hope at some point they also extend it to educating the Ministers and Senior bureaucrats who make the decisions.

 

[agentaqua]

Protecting Killer Whales in the Waters of Southern British Columbia - SSB No.: 19/2020
From: Transport Canada

RDIMS No .: 15682274
Date (Y-M-D) : 2020-08-06
https://tc.canada.ca/en/marine-tran...ters-southern-british-columbia-ssb-no-19-2020