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Vancouver Fraser Port Authority |
Vancouver Fraser Port Authority
Vancouver Fraser Port Authority |
Our vision
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Reducing the effects of shipping on whales Enhancing Cetacean - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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
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Vancouver Fraser Port Authority |
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Commercial shipping activities and whales
Context for the ECHO Program
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Vancouver Fraser Port Authority |
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
- 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
- Voluntary actions to reduce threats
- Educational materials to raise mariners’ awareness.
Photo: Joan Lopez
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Vancouver Fraser Port Authority |
Program highlights
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Vancouver Fraser Port Authority |
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How does slowing or moving ships affect underwater noise?
Ship slowdown and route alteration trials
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Vancouver Fraser Port Authority |
Ship slowdown in Haro Strait and Boundary Pass Trial status: Active until at least Oct 15 Trial start: July 5
2019 voluntary ship slowdown in Haro Strait and Boundary Pass
82%
pilot-reported participation (first 12 weeks)
21
days where southern resident killer whales were confirmed in area
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Vancouver Fraser Port Authority |
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
2019 voluntary route alteration in the Strait of Juan de Fuca
75%
participation (first 14 weeks)
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Vancouver Fraser Port Authority |
- Three locations with two years of
- data. Fourth location installed in
early 2019.
- Measured by underwater
microphones (hydrophones)
- Data analyzed to learn about
background noise and patterns
- Comparison of noise levels
- Measure success of voluntary
actions
- Marine mammal detections
How do different areas sound?
Underwater noise monitoring in the region
- 2. Strait of Georgia
- 3. Boundary Pass
- 4. Haro Strait
- 1. Burrard I nlet
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Vancouver Fraser Port Authority |
Burrard Inlet underwater noise monitoring project
Pilot project: January 2019-January 2020
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Vancouver Fraser Port Authority |
- 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
ECHO program: Formalizing our commitment
Species at Risk Act Section 1 1 Conservation Agreem ent to support recovery of southern resident killer w hales
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Vancouver Fraser Port Authority |
- Evaluation of 2019 voluntary trials to
inform next steps
- Project to understand correlation
between underwater noise and ship characteristics
- Continue to develop real-time
notifications to alert commercial ship
- perators when whales are in the area
ECHO program: Looking ahead
Photo: Joan Lopez
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Vancouver Fraser Port Authority |
Thank you for listening!
ECHO@portvancouver.com www.portvancouver.com/ echo
Joan Lopez
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