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

I NTRODUCTI ON TO ENHANCI NG CETACEAN HABI TAT AND OBSERVATI ON ( ECHO) PROGRAM Presented to: Port Community Liaison Committee – Delta April 7, 2015 p o r t m e t r o v a n co u v e r.co m

COMMERCI AL VESSEL RELATED ACTI VI TI ES AND W HALES p o r t m e t r o v a n co u v e r.co m

W HY HAS PMV I NI TI ATED THE ECHO PROGRAM? • Mandated by Canada Marine Act to facilitate trade while ensuring a high level of safety and environmental protection • Shipping transits key areas of 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 SRKW critical habitat map collaborative regional solutions

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 Killer whale distribution (2008 - 2010) and shipping traffic classes) (August 2008).

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 of 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 p o r t m e t r o v a n co u v e r.co m

ECHO PROGRAM: STRUCTURE ECHO Federal Program Government DFO, TC and EC (PMV Lead – Advisory Program Committee Management) • Chamber of Shipping Other Advisory • Pacific Pilotage Authority Technical • NW Cruise Line Inter. Relevant Working Committee(s) Assoc. Interests Group • BC Ferries • First Nations • PMV • DFO • TC Acoustics technical com m ittee: • WWF DFO, TC, NOAA, JASCO, SMRU, Vancouver Aquarium, • Vancouver Aquarium Robert Allan Ltd., Oceans Networks Canada, UBC, Washington State Ferries, University of St. Andrews p o r t m e t r o v a n co u v e r.co m

ECHO PROGRAM: KEY STEPS • Physical disturbance • Acoustic disturbance • Environmental contaminants Key issues and threats Targeted research and monitoring initiatives Threat mitigation and management actions p o r t m e t r o v a n co u v e r.co m

ECHO PROGRAM: SHORT TERM ACTI VI TI ES 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 p o r t m e t r o v a n co u v e r.co m

ECHO PROGRAM: LONG TERM • 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 p o r t m e t r o v a n co u v e r.co m

THANK YOU For more information contact: orla.robinson@portmetrovancouver.com p o r t m e t r o v a n co u v e r.co m