Reducing the effects of shipping on whales Enhancing Cetacean - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Reducing the effects of shipping on whales Enhancing Cetacean Habitat and Observation (ECHO) Program Orla Robinson ECHO Program Manager October 7, 2019 Vancouver Fraser Port Authority Vancouver Fraser Port Authority |

Our vision Vancouver Fraser Port Authority | 2

Commercial shipping activities and whales Context for the ECHO Program Vancouver Fraser Port Authority | 3

Enhancing Cetacean Habitat and Observation Program What? A collaboration with marine transportation industries, conservation groups, scientists, Indigenous individuals and Canadian and US governments When? Convened Nov 2014 Why? T o better understand and reduce the cumulative effects of commercial vessel activities on at-risk whales throughout the southern coast of British Columbia Key focus? • Research projects to inform Photo: Joan Lopez • Voluntary actions to reduce threats • Educational materials to raise mariners’ awareness. Vancouver Fraser Port Authority | 4

Program highlights Vancouver Fraser Port Authority | 5

How does slowing or moving ships affect underwater noise? Ship slowdown and route alteration trials Vancouver Fraser Port Authority | 6

2019 voluntary ship slowdown in Haro Strait and Boundary Pass Ship slowdown in Haro Strait and Boundary Pass Trial status: Active until at least Oct 15 Trial start: July 5 82% 21 pilot-reported days where participation southern resident (first 12 weeks) killer whales were confirmed in area Vancouver Fraser Port Authority | 7

2019 voluntary route alteration in the Strait of Juan de Fuca Route alteration (lateral displacement) of tugs in the Strait of Juan de Fuca Trial area: Canadian inshore zone in Strait of Juan de Fuca Trial status: Active until October 31 Trial start: June 17 75% participation (first 14 weeks) Vancouver Fraser Port Authority | 8

How do different areas sound? Underwater noise monitoring in the region 1. Burrard I nlet • Three locations with two years of data. Fourth location installed in early 2019. • Measured by underwater 2. Strait of Georgia microphones (hydrophones) • Data analyzed to learn about background noise and patterns • Comparison of noise levels 3. Boundary Pass • Measure success of voluntary actions • Marine mammal detections 4. Haro Strait Vancouver Fraser Port Authority | 9

Burrard Inlet underwater noise monitoring project Pilot project: January 2019-January 2020 Vancouver Fraser Port Authority | 10

ECHO program: Formalizing our commitment Species at Risk Act Section 1 1 Conservation Agreem ent to support recovery of southern resident killer w hales • First of its kind in Canada • Formalizes role of ECHO Program over five-year term • Focuses on existing and new voluntary efforts to reduce acoustic and physical disturbance from large commercial vessels operating in Southern Resident killer whale critical habitat Vancouver Fraser Port Authority | 11

ECHO program: Looking ahead • Evaluation of 2019 voluntary trials to inform next steps • Project to understand correlation between underwater noise and ship characteristics Photo: Joan Lopez • Continue to develop real-time notifications to alert commercial ship operators when whales are in the area Vancouver Fraser Port Authority | 12

Thank you for listening! ECHO@portvancouver.com www.portvancouver.com/ echo Joan Lopez Vancouver Fraser Port Authority | 13