Renewing the Oceans Protection Plan

We can ban the dumping of all waste in our coastal waters and our marine economic zone including all waste from scrubbers.

Planet before profit

Protection of planet, ecology and biodiversity must be at the forefront of every decision. We cannot continue to pollute poison and destroy habitat and exterminate other species. All other species follow natures blueprint and that is how they have remained viable and sustainable all the while keeping the most pristine conditions. We are the only species not following this blueprint. We are at a point of NO return. Make things work for the planet and ecological balance. That also includes maintaining balance between our population and available resources. All other species it’s manage this except for humans who are behaving as a mutant gene/species.

Stop discharge of sulphur compounds from exhaust scrubber systems into our waters.

Ocean acidifcation is damaging many marine organisms. Sulphur compounds are acidic. Oil companies can remove sulphur from marine fuels at refineries, and stockpile the sulphur where it will not damage the oceans. Don't let ships dump sulphur in the oceans.

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

Fish research must be humane

Far too often, fish research involves invasive methods like capturing fish, and often even involves killing fish. Canada is moving away from research methods that harm other animals, it is about time we use Environmental DNA, photography, sound recordings, and other cruelty free ways to study fish. Canada is phasing out toxicity testing on animals. Please switch to animal free methods of testing effluent and other substances. For wild fish and birds, please stop lethal sampling and switch to humane non lethal bio monitoring like is done in humans. https://www.change.org/p/stop-testing-sewer-water-on-laboratory-fish

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.

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.

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

Protect wildlife

Please engage with wildlife rescues like Hope for Wildlife.