The federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans is asking West Coast residents for their views on proposed rule changes for vessels approaching southern resident killer whales.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada is considering amendments that would increase the minimum approach distance for vessels from 200 metres to 1,000 metres.
Currently, the allowable approach distance is set annually through interim measures issued by Transport Canada. Fisheries and Oceans Canada said the proposed change would create greater certainty through permanent regulations.
“The proposed Amendments would mitigate the threats posed to the SRKW by physical and acoustic disturbance related to some vessel traffic,” a notice published in the Canada Gazette on March 7 said.
Southern resident killer whales are one of several orca populations in Canadian Pacific waters and are listed as endangered.
“Despite its protected status and ongoing conservation efforts and interventions, its numbers continue to decline. In 2018, and again in 2024, the Ministers of Fisheries and Oceans and the Ministers of the Environment determined that the SRKW population was facing imminent threats to its survival and recovery,” the Gazette notice said.
The proposed 1,000-metre distance would apply only to southern resident killer whales and not to other marine mammals.
The proposal also states the rule would not apply to stationary vessels or vessels that are simply transiting through an area.
Comments are open on the Canada Gazette post until April 6 to gather feedback on the proposal.
