Southern Resident Killer Whales were listed as Endangered in Canada in 2003 and have legal protection in both Canada and the United States. Canada’s recovery strategy for SRKW was published in 2011 and amended in 2018 to include additional critical habitat. Both a Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat report and a science based whale review completed by Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) identified re-routing of vessel traffic or “moving” shipping lanes as options that should be explored to help protect and recover the species. Building on the work of the Oceans’ Protection Plan, the Government of Canada introduced a 5-year $167.4 million dollar Whales Initiative to address threats to at-risk whales in Canada, including the SRKW.
Transport Canada has been working closely with many partners and stakeholders to accomplish and support research, trials, and new measures that reduce the impact of physical and acoustic disturbance from vessels on SRKW. Over the past two years, on-water trials have been carried out in which vessels have been asked to voluntarily reduce speed and/or modify their route within certain shipping lanes. While comprehensive analysis is underway, preliminary results indicate positive implications from these measures for reducing underwater disturbance in key identified portions of critical habitat that are important for particular behaviors or feeding.
Building on the knowledge developed through research and trials, TC is now considering the feasibility of making formal modifications to the TSS and adopted traffic lanes within critical habitat, likely with a focus on some of the identified key areas of importance located in the Strait of Juan de Fuca and at Swiftsure Bank, Haro Strait / Boundary Pass and the Strait of Georgia near the mouth of the Fraser River.
Portions of the TSS in this geographic area lie across the international border with the United States and the vessel traffic in this trans boundary area is cooperatively managed by Canada and the United States through existing agreements. The TSS also passes through the traditional territories of several Indigenous groups and Tribes.
Should any of the options identified by this feasibility study be considered for implementation in the future, collaboration between Canada and the United States may be required in order to bring forward amendments for adoption at the International Maritime Organization. Amendments or modifications could also result in a formal duty to consult Indigenous groups in Canada (and comparable action by the US government with Tribes in the US) whose traditional territories overlap with the TSS.
In recognition that this feasibility study may well lead to contemplated actions related to the TSS in the future, advancing the work to support these modifications will involve:
Coordinating Canadian, US and international jurisdictional considerations and decision-making processes
Assessing a range of navigation safety, socio-economic, environmental and cultural implications and benefits of potential modifications
Engaging a diverse and potentially large number of Indigenous groups, maritime industry operators and other stakeholders
