Presentation Abstract
Part B Presentation Topic: Understanding and Managing Underwater Noise from Vessel Activities. Abstract A complex mix of threats have resulted in nineteen of Canada’s whale populations being listed under the Species at Risk Act, including eight as endangered. Factors such as insufficient access to food, contaminants, and acoustic and physical disturbance – including vessel noise and vessel strikes - have contributed to population declines and hindered recovery, particularly for three of these endangered species - the Southern Resident Killer Whale (SRKW), the St. Lawrence Estuary Beluga, and the North Atlantic Right Whale. In November 2016, the Prime Minister of Canada launched the $1.5-billion Oceans Protection Plan (OPP), the largest investment ever made to protect Canada’s coasts and waterways, and placed a priority on protecting endangered and at-risk whale populations. Transport Canada, the regulator of Canadian vessels and vessels operating in Canadian waters, is responsible for ensuring a transportation system that is safe and secure, efficient and environmentally responsible. Transport Canada, in partnership with Fisheries and Oceans Canada, is committed to addressing underwater noise from vessels. Collaboration is the cornerstone of programs and initiatives under the Oceans Protection Plan, and over the past several months, Transport Canada has been working in close collaboration with a diverse group of stakeholders to improve our understanding of the issues as we develop a strategy to address underwater noise from vessel activities. A combination of trials, research, expert input, consultation and modelling has been crucial to building Transport Canada’s understanding of underwater noise from vessels and the SRKW, and we will present key findings from our work. In so doing, we will emphasize the importance of collaborating nationally, regionally and internationally to more effectively address underwater vessel noise.
Session Title
Collaborating to Reduce Impacts of Underwater Noise from Vessels on SKRW: Understanding and Managing Underwater Noise from Vessel Activities
Keywords
SRKW, Vessel noise
Conference Track
SSE14: Vessel Traffic: Risks and Impacts
Conference Name
Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference (2018 : Seattle, Wash.)
Document Type
Event
SSEC Identifier
SSE14-156
Start Date
6-4-2018 11:45 AM
End Date
6-4-2018 12:00 PM
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)
Harbors--Traffic control--Canada; Whales--Effect of noise on--Canada; Coastal zone management--Canada
Geographic Coverage
Canada
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
Included in
Fresh Water Studies Commons, Marine Biology Commons, Natural Resources and Conservation Commons, Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology Commons
Understanding and managing underwater noise from vessel activities
Part B Presentation Topic: Understanding and Managing Underwater Noise from Vessel Activities. Abstract A complex mix of threats have resulted in nineteen of Canada’s whale populations being listed under the Species at Risk Act, including eight as endangered. Factors such as insufficient access to food, contaminants, and acoustic and physical disturbance – including vessel noise and vessel strikes - have contributed to population declines and hindered recovery, particularly for three of these endangered species - the Southern Resident Killer Whale (SRKW), the St. Lawrence Estuary Beluga, and the North Atlantic Right Whale. In November 2016, the Prime Minister of Canada launched the $1.5-billion Oceans Protection Plan (OPP), the largest investment ever made to protect Canada’s coasts and waterways, and placed a priority on protecting endangered and at-risk whale populations. Transport Canada, the regulator of Canadian vessels and vessels operating in Canadian waters, is responsible for ensuring a transportation system that is safe and secure, efficient and environmentally responsible. Transport Canada, in partnership with Fisheries and Oceans Canada, is committed to addressing underwater noise from vessels. Collaboration is the cornerstone of programs and initiatives under the Oceans Protection Plan, and over the past several months, Transport Canada has been working in close collaboration with a diverse group of stakeholders to improve our understanding of the issues as we develop a strategy to address underwater noise from vessel activities. A combination of trials, research, expert input, consultation and modelling has been crucial to building Transport Canada’s understanding of underwater noise from vessels and the SRKW, and we will present key findings from our work. In so doing, we will emphasize the importance of collaborating nationally, regionally and internationally to more effectively address underwater vessel noise.
