Presentation Abstract
The waters of the Salish Sea encompass habitat of international conservation significance to coastal and marine birds, and include Shoal Harbour Migratory Bird Sanctuary and Victoria Harbour Migratory Bird Sanctuary (MBS; total area ~2000 ha). Both MBS were designated in the early 1900s to protect overwintering waterbirds from urban hunting, but have subsequently seen considerable development within their waters, including marinas, fuel docks, and other marine infrastructure. Vessel disturbances have been identified as a stressor to waterbirds, but traffic rates in these coastal areas are poorly understood for vessels without AIS tracking. We conducted a pilot study using shore-based observers to develop an MBS baseline of small and medium vessel traffic rates and characteristics for the winter months, when waterbird numbers are highest. Shore-based counts from two fixed points worked well to assess vessel traffic characteristics and record local waterbird numbers, and had the benefit of being low-cost to implement. Though surveys took place in winter when traffic volumes are lowest, counts of local vessel transits were sometimes high (max. 137 vessels over a 7-hour day at one site). Local traffic characteristics varied significantly by study site, with vessels at one being smaller, faster and more numerous than at the other. Very few vessels (7% of those recorded) were of the type required to carry AIS transceivers. Although an unknown proportion of small vessels uses AIS voluntarily, our study measured vessel traffic of the type not captured by automated approaches. This pilot study is a first step in identifying impacts of small vessel traffic on coastal waterbirds in the Canadian portion of the Salish Sea.
Session Title
Birds
Conference Track
SSE3: The Circle of Life
Conference Name
Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference (2022 : Online)
Document Type
Event
SSEC Identifier
SSE-traditionals-488
Start Date
28-4-2022 8:30 AM
End Date
28-4-2022 10:00 AM
Type of Presentation
Oral
Genre/Form
conference proceedings; presentations (communicative events)
Subjects – Topical (LCSH)
Sea birds--British Columbia; Bird refuges--British Columbia; Shipping--British Columbia; Marine habitat conservation--British Columbia; Marine biodiversity conservation--British Columbia
Geographic Coverage
British Columbia
Rights
Copying of this document in whole or in part is allowable only for scholarly purposes. It is understood, however, that any copying or publication of this document for commercial purposes, or for financial gain, shall not be allowed without the author's written permission.
Type
Moving Image
Language
English
Format
Video
Included in
Fresh Water Studies Commons, Marine Biology Commons, Natural Resources and Conservation Commons
Using shore-based surveys to assess vessel traffic patterns in two migratory bird sanctuaries
The waters of the Salish Sea encompass habitat of international conservation significance to coastal and marine birds, and include Shoal Harbour Migratory Bird Sanctuary and Victoria Harbour Migratory Bird Sanctuary (MBS; total area ~2000 ha). Both MBS were designated in the early 1900s to protect overwintering waterbirds from urban hunting, but have subsequently seen considerable development within their waters, including marinas, fuel docks, and other marine infrastructure. Vessel disturbances have been identified as a stressor to waterbirds, but traffic rates in these coastal areas are poorly understood for vessels without AIS tracking. We conducted a pilot study using shore-based observers to develop an MBS baseline of small and medium vessel traffic rates and characteristics for the winter months, when waterbird numbers are highest. Shore-based counts from two fixed points worked well to assess vessel traffic characteristics and record local waterbird numbers, and had the benefit of being low-cost to implement. Though surveys took place in winter when traffic volumes are lowest, counts of local vessel transits were sometimes high (max. 137 vessels over a 7-hour day at one site). Local traffic characteristics varied significantly by study site, with vessels at one being smaller, faster and more numerous than at the other. Very few vessels (7% of those recorded) were of the type required to carry AIS transceivers. Although an unknown proportion of small vessels uses AIS voluntarily, our study measured vessel traffic of the type not captured by automated approaches. This pilot study is a first step in identifying impacts of small vessel traffic on coastal waterbirds in the Canadian portion of the Salish Sea.
