Event Title
Creating a Mariner’s Guide to Whales of Western Canada: A Collaborative Approach to Cetacean Conservation
Presentation Abstract
British Columbia is home to 23 species of cetacean and four species of sea turtle, 12 of which are listed “at risk” under the Species at Risk Act (SARA). Vessel disturbance is listed as a threat in the SARA Recovery Strategies or Management Plans for the latter 12 species. We created a comprehensive Mariner’s Guide to Whales of Western Canada to address this and other threats associated with large vessel traffic. The guide, contributed to by a diverse set of organizations and industry partners, identifies and describes key cetacean species, summarizes known impacts of vessels on those species, and provides information on how vessel operators can minimize those impacts. By combining whale density estimates with comprehensive vessel traffic data collected by the Canadian Coast Guard, the guide also provides maps estimating the probability of whale-vessel encounters in various regions to heighten mariner awareness. This information will provide mariners with resources that will aid in navigation decisions to decrease negative impacts on species at risk. Additionally, this project will set the groundwork for further threat mitigation strategies, including the creation of an alert system to notify large vessel captains when whales are in the area.
Session Title
Understanding and managing potential cumulative threats to marine mammals and their habitats from commercial vessel activities
Conference Track
Species and Food Webs
Conference Name
Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference (2016 : Vancouver, B.C.)
Document Type
Event
Start Date
2016 12:00 AM
End Date
2016 12:00 AM
Location
2016SSEC
Type of Presentation
Oral
Genre/Form
conference proceedings; presentations (communicative events)
Contributing Repository
Digital content made available by University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Subjects – Topical (LCSH)
Whales--Conservation--British Columbia
Geographic Coverage
Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.)
Rights
This resource is displayed for educational purposes only and may be subject to U.S. and international copyright laws. For more information about rights or obtaining copies of this resource, please contact University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA 98225-9103, USA (360-650-7534; heritage.resources@wwu.edu) and refer to the collection name and identifier. Any materials cited must be attributed to the Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference Records, University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Type
Text
Language
English
Format
application/pdf
Creating a Mariner’s Guide to Whales of Western Canada: A Collaborative Approach to Cetacean Conservation
2016SSEC
British Columbia is home to 23 species of cetacean and four species of sea turtle, 12 of which are listed “at risk” under the Species at Risk Act (SARA). Vessel disturbance is listed as a threat in the SARA Recovery Strategies or Management Plans for the latter 12 species. We created a comprehensive Mariner’s Guide to Whales of Western Canada to address this and other threats associated with large vessel traffic. The guide, contributed to by a diverse set of organizations and industry partners, identifies and describes key cetacean species, summarizes known impacts of vessels on those species, and provides information on how vessel operators can minimize those impacts. By combining whale density estimates with comprehensive vessel traffic data collected by the Canadian Coast Guard, the guide also provides maps estimating the probability of whale-vessel encounters in various regions to heighten mariner awareness. This information will provide mariners with resources that will aid in navigation decisions to decrease negative impacts on species at risk. Additionally, this project will set the groundwork for further threat mitigation strategies, including the creation of an alert system to notify large vessel captains when whales are in the area.
Comments
Port Metro Vancouver’s (PMV’s) Enhancing Cetacean Habitat and Observation (ECHO) Program and Prince Rupert Port Authority’s (PRPA) Marine Mammal and Underwater Noise Program are working with the Vancouver Aquarium’s Marine Mammal Research Program and the DFO Science Branch to develop this whale guidance document.