Renewing the Oceans Protection Plan

Noise regulation

Underwater noise standards should be implemented for all types of vessels in Canada.

Prioritize local trade and minimize ocean travel if it cannot be conducted without damaging the health of our waters.

Have and enforce a speed limit in Desolation Sound and adjacent areas for all vessels, including commercial ones.

Hi there, I am a sailor that is on B.C. waters approximately 75% of the calendar year. I spent 5 to 9 months in the Desolation sound and adjacent areas per year. Many times a year I witness excessive speeds in very close proximity to grey whales, Orca whales but especially the 8 to 12 humpback whales with their calves that have begun to enhance our "inside waters". In addition to excessive speeds by jet skies and up to 120 foot vessels in very close proximity, many 30 to 50 foot boats follow the whales around especially in the whale passage area, between Cortes Island and Read island , approaching within several feet causing stress behaviors such as breaching and tail flapping. It's outright whale harassment, one foggy day we watched a 20 foot vessel chase and repeatedly approach the same whale for 3 to 4 hours often touching its back with the bow of the boat. It's time to do something, there needs to be a speed limit of 6 knots maximum in the entire area, for all vessels including commercial vessels. All of the time, not just when whales are visible. And in addition enforcement! There needs to be consequences for this egregious behavior.

Having ships scrub the sulfur out of their air emissions and then dumping the water into the ocean does nothing to help the environment.

Ships need to burn low sulfur fuel or be battery powered

Integrate land use and marine use planning so that spatial plans can support the reciprocal relationship between land and water systems.

Include wildlife centres in rescue and education

Please watch out for wildlife. Please work with Wildlife rehabilitation centres to rescue animals in oil spills. www.hopeforwildlife.net Please watch out for marine animals. Ships can be noisy and confuse whales and other marine mammals. An electric ship with a quiet engine is better. Please add microphones to the ship to hear marine mammals and to get an idea how loud the ship is. Please also use an app like iNaturalist to identify whales in the area. Please work with Hope for Wildlife and the Marine Animal Response/Rescue Society to rescue any animals who are harmed or in danger. I hope the National Wildlife Emergency Response Framework is focused on saving animals. https://tc.canada.ca/en/initiatives/oceans-protection-plan/report-canadians-investing-our-coasts-through-oceans-protection-plan https://letstalktransportation.ca/opp-renew Walrus have been persecuted in countries like Norway (Freya was shot as a nuisance animal after she was spotted sitting on yachts). The UK has taken a more humane approach, by providing walrus who show up with their own “yachts” (rubber platforms). All hunting of walrus in the Atlantic should be banned, and please work with organizations like Hope For Wildlife and Marine Animal Response Society to protect and care for any walruses who show up in the Atlantic ocean.

Implement contract offshore fire, salvage, and recovery service for BC West Coast

In October 2021, there was a cargo ship fire off the coast of Vancouver Island. American contractors were dispatched to fight the fire and undertake salvage operations because western Canada lacks the capacity. Canada should adopt requirements for commercial vessels to have contracts with offshore fire services for Canadian waters. This is already done in the USA (and most other maritime trading countries) as a for profit, non agency business. Atlantic Canada has 2 such contractors thanks to offshore oil and gas exploration. The west coast has 2 vessels operated by the Coast Guard, but that is a lot of area to cover (27000km of coast line). It would require seed money to get implemented. Capacity charges from contracts with shippers and potentially adding port fees would allow 24/7 stand by service. I would propose 2 bases each with 1 AHTS vessel with FiFi3 with oil recovery systems, 1 rapid response fire boats, and 1 offshore equipped helicopter with hoists. One base on Vancouver Island, and the other at Queen Charlotte or Prince Rupert ports.

Protect wildlife

Please engage with wildlife rescues like Hope for Wildlife.

Use only cruelty free ways to study pollution

Please avoid animal methods of testing for sewer effluent and other contamination. Canada is phasing out highly expensive, cruel, and inaccurate animal toxicity tests. Please also stop using lethal sampling methods for fish, frogs, etc, and switch to humane bio monitoring of wildlife, using the same methods used for humans and pets. https://www.change.org/p/stop-testing-sewer-water-on-laboratory-fish