INTRODUCTION TO
ENHANCING CETACEAN
HABITAT AND
OBSERVATION (ECHO)
PROGRAM
Presented to:
Port Community Liaison
Committee – Delta
April 7, 2015
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COMMERCIAL VESSEL RELATED ACTIVITIES AND WHALES
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WHY HAS PMV INITIATED 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
collaborative regional
solutions
SRKW critical
habitat map
COMMERCIAL VESSEL RELATED ACTIVITIES AND
WHALES
• 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
Killer whale distribution (2008 - 2010) and shipping traffic
(August 2008).
Cumulative noise level (all vessel sizes and
classes)
ENHANCING CETACEAN HABITAT and OBSERVATION
PROGRAM
What? 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
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ECHO PROGRAM: STRUCTURE
ECHO
Program
(PMV Lead –
Program
Management)
Other
Relevant
Interests
Technical
Committee(s)
Federal
Government
Advisory
Committee
Advisory
Working
Group
Acoustics technical committee:
DFO, TC, NOAA, JASCO, SMRU, Vancouver Aquarium,
Robert Allan Ltd., Oceans Networks Canada, UBC,
Washington State Ferries, University of St. Andrews
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
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ECHO PROGRAM: KEY STEPS
Key issues and threats
• Physical disturbance
• Acoustic disturbance
• Environmental
contaminants
Targeted research and
monitoring initiatives
Threat mitigation and
management actions
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ECHO PROGRAM: SHORT TERM ACTIVITIES
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
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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
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THANK YOU
For more information contact:
[email protected]
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