Port authority-led ECHO Program celebrates record-breaking year for participation in voluntary efforts to protect southern resident killer whales

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Port authority-led ECHO Program celebrates record-breaking year for participation in voluntary efforts to protect southern resident killer whales

More than 85% of all large commercial ships slowed down or stayed distanced from key areas of southern resident killer whale critical habitat as part of the ECHO Program's measures.

The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority-led Enhancing Cetacean Habitat and Observation (ECHO) Program today reports record-breaking participation rates in its 2022 voluntary underwater noise reduction initiatives to support the recovery of southern resident killer whales.

During this year's seasonal measures, which ran from June 1 to October 31, a record-breaking 86% of alllargecommercialshipsslowed down orstayed distancedwhile transiting throughkey areas of southern resident killer whale critical habitat atSwiftsureBank,Haro Strait and Boundary Pass,and the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Altogether, more than 80 marine transportation organizationsparticipated in these measures, which coverednearly 80 nautical miles of the Salish Sea.

"This year, the ECHO Program's positive impact not only spanned across the largest geographical area to date-80 nautical miles of southern resident killer whale critical habitat-it also benefited from the highest-ever participation rates by the marine transportation industry to date, in support of an iconic endangered species," said Duncan Wilson, vice president of environment and external affairs at the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority. "These impressive results demonstrate the continued effectiveness of the ECHO Program's voluntary measures-built on strong collaboration between industry, government, Indigenous communities, and environmental groups-at supporting the recovery of at-risk whales in our region."

Launched in 2014, the ECHO Program is one of the ways the port authority works to fulfil its mandate to enable Canada's trade through the Port of Vancouver while protecting the environment and considering local communities. In collaboration with government, the marine transportation industry, Indigenous communities, and environmental organizations, the ECHO Program works to reduce the cumulative impacts of commercial shipping on at-risk whales, with a particular focus on reducing underwater noise, one of the four key threats to southern resident killer whales.

Notably this year, in the ECHO Program's lateral displacement for tugs in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, tug operators participated at a record-breaking rate of 97%-a 9% increase from the previous record of 88%-while in the Haro Strait and Boundary Pass slowdown, a record-breaking 93% of large commercial ships slowed down while transiting through this known area of importance to southern resident killer whales.

In the Swiftsure Bank slowdown trial, which was expanded this year to include both the inbound and outbound shipping lanes, 82% of all large commercial ships slowed down while transiting through this known southern resident killer whale foraging area. The ECHO Program gives special thanks to the Makah Tribe and Pacheedaht First Nation, who were key partners in the development and implementation of safe ship slowdown practices through this important area.

"Even though participating in the ECHO Program's measures adds extra time to ships' journeys or requires them to take an alternate route, this year, more than 85% of all large commercial ships voluntarily participated in these important efforts to reduce disturbance to endangered whales in our region," added Wilson. "These are no small efforts by ship operators and pilots, and we sincerely thank them for their dedication to creating a quieter underwater environment for the whales."

In 2021, as a result of the strong participation rates in the ECHO Program's voluntary measures, underwater sound intensity was reduced by up to 55% in key foraging areas for the southern resident killer whales. In spring or summer 2023, the ECHO Program will publish results on the underwater sound intensity reductions achieved as a result of its 2022 measures.

Quotes:

Shipping Federation of Canada -- "Ensuring the safe co-existence of ships and Southern Resident Killer Whales in the Salish Sea is important and challenging work. We are proud of the efforts that the owners, operators, and agents of ocean ships carrying Canada's exports and imports have voluntarily undertaken to mitigate the impacts of their activities on at-risk whales. The ECHO Program is a world-leading example of how diverse interests can come together and take meaningful action toward a common goal like protecting whales. We look forward to continuing and refining this work in the years ahead." -- Miako Ushio, President, Shipping Federation of Canada

Council of Marine Carriers -- "The Council of Marine Carriers are dedicated supporters of the ECHO Program and are proud of our participation rate and the program's overall success this year. Our membership earn their income from these waters, and we live and play in the communities that surround them so doing the right thing is an easy ask. The real thanks go to the mariners that sail on our vessels and do their utmost to protect the environment and the at-risk whales every day they are out on the water." -- Paul Hilder, President, Council of Marine Carriers

Chamber of Shipping -- "We are very pleased with the high participation rate in the ECHO Program as it demonstrates our members' collective commitment to cetacean protection and marine conservation", said Robert Lewis-Manning, President of the Chamber of Shipping. "Vessel slowdowns also have co-benefits for reducing air pollution in the vicinity of port communities. ECHO's success is the product of strong governance, a science-centric and adaptive approach, and the valuable input from a diverse and committed community of experts." The Chamber's members move all types of cargo and people in support of Canada's international trade and Canadian businesses across the country. These significant achievements were realized in the face of a pandemic, severe supply chain congestion, and span the binational waters of both Canada and the United States. A culture of continuous improvement is the hallmark of this globally recognized initiative." - Robert Lewis-Manning, President, Chamber of Shipping

For more information:

• ECHO Program
• Map of ECHO Program's 2022 seasonal initiatives
• List of participating marine transportation organizations

About the ECHO Program

The Enhancing Cetacean Habitat and Observation (ECHO) Program is a world-leading, first-of-its-kind program led by the port authority to better understand and reduce the cumulative effects of commercial shipping on at-risk whales along British Columbia's southern coast, with a focus on endangered southern resident killer whales.

About the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority

The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority is the federal agency responsible for the stewardship of the Port of Vancouver. Like all Canada Port Authorities, we are accountable to the federal minister of transport, and operate pursuant to the Canada Marine Actwith a mandate to enable Canada's trade through the Port of Vancouver, while protecting the environment and considering local communities. The port authority is structured as a non-share corporation, is financially self-sufficient and does not rely on tax dollars for operations. Our revenues come from port terminals and tenants who lease port lands, and from port users who pay various fees such as harbour dues. Profits are reinvested in port infrastructure. The port authority has control over the use of port land and water, which includes more than 16,000 hectares of water, over 1,500 hectares of land, and approximately 350 kilometres of shoreline. Located on the southwest coast of British Columbia in Canada, the Port of Vancouver extends from Roberts Bank and the Fraser River up to and including Burrard Inlet, bordering 16 municipalities and intersecting the traditional territories and treaty lands of several Coast Salish First Nations. The Port of Vancouver is Canada's largest port, and the third largest in North America by tonnes of cargo. Enabling the trade of approximately $240 billion in goods with more than 170 world economies, port activities sustain 115,300 jobs, $7 billion in wages, and $11.9 billion in GDP across Canada.

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