Renewing the Oceans Protection Plan

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.

Visualize for the public

1% to 14% Canadian oceans protection from 2015 to 2021 is amazing, however given the size of our country's borders and ocean territory this may be hard to visualize. Can we get a map? Some easy-to-understand statistics? For example, "Canada's protected oceans cover an area the size of X" or "in the last year Canada has added X km squared to our protected oceans, that's an area bigger than ____!" It would also help to highlight some of the protected areas with snapshots of some kind, focusing on key protected species and perhaps a photograph of the area. Looking on our government's own website is a nightmare. While all the information may be there, finding it is a pain, and it's almost entirely told through words and data. People will be hard-pressed to care about something they can't comprehend the significance of. For an excellent example of what clear, impactful messaging looks like check out WWF's page dedicated to the "Coral Triangle" about marine protection efforts in the Philippines: https://wwf.panda.org/discover/knowledge_hub/where_we_work/coraltriangle/ I've also attached one of their key infographics showing at a glance where, what, and why they're protecting areas.

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

Noise regulation

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

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.

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.