I NTRODUCTI ON TO ENHANCI NG CETACEAN HABI TAT AND OBSERVATI ON ( - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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I NTRODUCTI ON TO ENHANCI NG CETACEAN HABI TAT AND OBSERVATI ON ( ECHO) PROGRAM

Presented to: Port Community Liaison Committee – Delta April 7, 2015

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COMMERCI AL VESSEL RELATED ACTI VI TI ES AND W HALES

• Mandated by Canada Marine

Act to facilitate trade while ensuring a high level of safety and environmental protection

• Shipping transits key areas
• f importance for SARA listed

whales

• Key anthropogenic threats

identified in DFO SARA Recovery Strategies and Action Plan

• Significant growth predicted

in shipping activity in southern BC

• Opportunity to take

leadership role in developing collaborative regional solutions

W HY HAS PMV I NI TI ATED THE ECHO PROGRAM?

SRKW critical habitat map

COMMERCI AL VESSEL RELATED ACTI VI TI ES AND W HALES

• Endangered killer whale presence is high
• Shipping lanes are already noisy
• Underwater noise is important to whales
• Existing threats of ship strike and environmental

contamination have been identified

Cumulative noise level (all vessel sizes and classes) Killer whale distribution (2008 - 2010) and shipping traffic (August 2008).

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ENHANCI NG CETACEAN HABI TAT and OBSERVATI ON PROGRAM W hat? ECHO Program is a collaborative research and management initiative coordinating the efforts and resources

• f multiple interests

Purpose? To better understand and manage the potential threats to at-risk cetacean species that may arise from commercial vessel activities throughout the southern coast of British Columbia

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ECHO PROGRAM: STRUCTURE

DFO, TC and EC

• Chamber of Shipping
• Pacific Pilotage Authority
• NW Cruise Line Inter.

Assoc.

• BC Ferries
• First Nations
• PMV
• DFO
• TC
• WWF
• Vancouver Aquarium

ECHO Program

(PMV Lead – Program Management)

Federal Government Advisory Committee Other Relevant Interests Technical Committee(s) Advisory Working Group Acoustics technical com m ittee:

DFO, TC, NOAA, JASCO, SMRU, Vancouver Aquarium, Robert Allan Ltd., Oceans Networks Canada, UBC, Washington State Ferries, University of St. Andrews

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ECHO PROGRAM: KEY STEPS

Key issues and threats Targeted research and monitoring initiatives Threat mitigation and management actions

• Physical disturbance
• Acoustic disturbance
• Environmental

contaminants

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Acoustics:

• Monitor ambient noise
• Measure vessel source noise
• Hull cleaning pilot
• Ocean noise budget
• Mitigation scenario modeling

Other threat categories:

• Vessel strike risk assessment
• Monitor contaminant levels

ECHO PROGRAM: SHORT TERM ACTI VI TI ES

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• Threat mitigation and

management initiatives promote conditions for healthy and thriving cetacean populations within an active and prosperous Port

• Quantifiable reduction in the

potential threats that may arise from commercial vessel activities

• Self sustaining, stand alone

program to maintain ongoing commitments ECHO PROGRAM: LONG TERM

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THANK YOU

For more information contact:

• rla.robinson@portmetrovancouver.com