Pacific Harbour Porpoise (Phocoena phocoena vomerina), 2016 to 2022: progress report of management plan implementation 2025

Official title: Report on the Progress of Management Plan Implementation for the Pacific Harbour Porpoise (Phocoena phocoena vomerina) in Canada for the Period 2016 to 2022

Document information

Recommended citation: Fisheries and Oceans Canada. 2025. Report on the Progress of Management Plan Implementation for the Pacific Harbour Porpoise (Phocoena phocoena vomerina) in Canada for the Period 2016 to 2022. Species at Risk Act Management Plan Report Series. Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Ottawa. iii + 26 pp.

For copies of the progress report, or for additional information on species at risk, including Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) Status Reports, recovery strategies, residence descriptions, action plans, and other related recovery documents, please visit the Species at Risk Public Registry.

Cover photo: Christie McMillan. Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

Également disponible en français sous le titre
« Rapport sur les progrès de la mise en œuvre du Plan de gestion du marsouin commun du Pacifique (Phocoena phocoena vomerina) au Canada pour la période de 2016 à 2022»

© His Majesty the King in Right of Canada, represented by the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans and/or Minister responsible for the Parks Canada, 2025. All rights reserved.
ISBN 978-0-660-73794-2
Catalogue no. En3-5/3-1-2024E-PDF

Content (excluding the cover photo) may be used without permission, with appropriate credit to the source.

Preface

The Species at Risk Act (S.C. 2002, c.29) (SARA) requires reporting on the implementation of the management plan for species listed as special concern (via a progress report) and the progress towards meeting its objectives within 5 years of the date when the final management plan was posted to the Species at Risk Public Registry, and in every subsequent 5 years, until its objectives have been achieved.

The Minister of Fisheries and Oceans and the Minister of Environment and Climate Change Canada, as the Minister responsible for the Parks Canada are the competent ministers under SARA for the Pacific Harbour Porpoise and have prepared this progress report.

Reporting on the progress of management plan implementation requires reporting on the collective efforts of the competent ministers, provincial and territorial governments, and all other parties involved in conducting activities that contribute to the species’ conservation. Management plans identify conservation action categories (categories) and approaches to achieving the management goals and objectives for the species. Some of the categories and approaches identified in the management plan are sequential to the progress or completion of others and not all may be undertaken or show significant progress during the timeframe of a report on the progress of management plan implementation (progress report).

As stated in the preamble to SARA, success in the conservation of species at risk depends on the commitment and cooperation of many different groups that will be involved in implementing the directions set out in the management plan and will not be achieved by Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) and Parks Canada or any other jurisdiction alone. The cost of conserving species at risk is shared amongst different contributors. All Canadians are invited to join in supporting and implementing the management plan for the Pacific Harbour Porpoise for the benefit of the species and Canadian society as a whole.

Acknowledgments

This progress report was prepared by Aisha Uduman and Shayla Sopracolle-Tate (DFO). This report is dedicated to the memory of Aisha, for her outstanding passion and contributions to marine conservation. To the extent possible, this progress report was prepared with inputs from DFO, Transport Canada, Porpoise Conservation Society, Ocean Wise Conservation Association, Marine Education and Research Society, and the North Coast Cetacean Society. DFO would also like to express its appreciations to all individuals and organizations who have contributed to the conservation of the Pacific Harbour Porpoise.

Executive summary

The Pacific Harbour Porpoise (Phocoena phocoena vomerina) was listed as a species of special concern under the Species at Risk Act (SARA) in 2005. The “Management Plan for the Pacific Harbour Porpoise (Phocoena phocoena^{Footnote 1}) in Canada” was finalized and published on the Species at Risk Public Registry in 2009. This report provides updates on progress made between 2016 and 2022 by Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), Parks Canada, and the broader conservation community towards implementing the management plan and achieving its objectives.

The main threats identified for the Pacific Harbour Porpoise include: entanglement and entrapment in fishing or other gear, habitat degradation, toxic spills, underwater acoustic disturbance, contaminants, prey reduction, and vessel strikes. Progress has been made toward addressing these threats, most notably through (i) strengthening protections for Pacific Harbour Porpoise through amendments to the Marine Mammal Regulations under the Fisheries Act, (ii) investments in equipment and training that increase marine mammal response capacity, skills, and preparedness when responding to oil spills, and (iii) outreach and education programs to raise awareness about threats and to encourage reporting of sightings and threat mitigation.

The management goal for the Pacific Harbour Porpoise is: “to maintain a self-sustaining population within its known range in the Pacific waters of Canada”. While trends in species abundance and distribution could not be evaluated, the 2018 Pacific Region International Survey of Marine Megafauna (PRISMM) survey produced a Canadian Pacific total abundance estimate of 5,207 Pacific Harbour Porpoise (95% confidence interval (CI) = 2,769 to 9,793). Abundance within the Salish Sea was estimated at 3,893 (95% CI = 1,991 to 7,611) and the North Coast abundance was estimated at 1,314 (95% CI = 648 to 2,664).

Key areas of research have included the collection of data on Pacific Harbour Porpoise behaviour, site fidelity, and habitat use across seasons and years; and increased monitoring to measure point source levels of contaminants and assess trends over time.

While progress has been made towards meeting the management goal and objectives presented in the management plan, additional work is required to better understand and mitigate threats to Pacific Harbour Porpoise and its habitat in Canadian Pacific waters. Along with continued population monitoring, priority actions include further studies on seasonally important prey and nutritional needs of Pacific Harbour Porpoise and the threat of fisheries interactions. This information will support the development of measures that reduce fisheries impacts, including the risk of entanglement in aquaculture and fishing gear.

1 Introduction

The “Report on the Progress of Management Plan Implementation for the Pacific Harbour Porpoise (Phocoena phocoena vomerina) in Canada for the Period 2016 to 2022” (progress report) outlines the progress made towards meeting the goal and population, distribution, research and monitoring, and management objectives listed in the “Management Plan for the Pacific Harbour Porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) in Canada” (herein referred to as management plan; Fisheries and Oceans Canada [DFO] 2009) during the indicated time period. This report should be considered as one in a series of documents for this species that are linked, and should be taken into consideration together; including the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) status reports (COSEWIC 2003, 2016), the management plan (DFO 2009), Parks Canada (PC) multi-species action plans (Parks Canada 2016, 2017, 2018), and the previous progress report (DFO 2018). This progress report summarizes information on the threats to the species, the management goal and objectives, and the progress on actions to support achieving those objectives.

2 Background

2.1 COSEWIC assessment summary and threats to the species

The listing of the Pacific Harbour Porpoise under the Species At Risk Act (SARA) in 2005 led to the development and publication of the management plan (DFO 2009). The information in the management plan is based on the information provided in the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) status report (COSEWIC 2003). In 2016, COSEWIC re-examined and confirmed the status of the Pacific Harbour Porpoise as special concern (COSEWIC 2016).

Section 1.5.1 of the management plan identifies threats to the conservation of Pacific Harbour Porpoise. These threats include, and are not limited to: entanglement and entrapment, habitat degradation, toxic spills, acoustic disturbance, and contaminants.

2.2 Conservation

This section summarizes the information found in the management plan (DFO 2009; section 2) on the management goal and objectives that are necessary for the conservation of the Pacific Harbour Porpoise.

Management goal:
To maintain a self-sustaining population within its known range in the Pacific waters of Canada.

Population objectives:

P1 Maintain the summertime inland-waters abundance of Pacific Harbour Porpoise (averaged over 5 years) at, or above the most recent estimate of average population abundance (in Williams and Thomas 2007)
P2 Maintain the summertime abundance of Pacific Harbour Porpoise in the Juan de Fuca Strait (averaged over 5 years) at, or above the most recent estimate of average summertime abundance (in Hall 2004)

Distribution objectives:

D1 Maintain the population’s current range of occupancy and distribution on the coast of British Columbia (BC)

Research and monitoring objectives:

R1 Determine seasonal distribution and abundance for Pacific Harbour Porpoise in BC
R2 Contribute to, or foster the understanding of general aspects of the biology and ecological role of Pacific Harbour Porpoise in BC on an ongoing basis. Of particular importance, are studies on foraging ecology, habitat use in urbanized, coastal areas, and life history
R3 Support, foster and contribute to research addressing knowledge gaps regarding effects of entanglement, coastal habitat degradation, catastrophic spills, and acoustic disturbance, as well as effects of other identified and non-identified threats to this population, on an ongoing basis
R4 Assess available methods and estimate levels of annual human-caused mortality that the population can sustain, while achieving objectives P1 and P2

Management objectives:

M1 Reduce the risk of entanglement or entrapment of Pacific Harbour Porpoise in fishing or other gear in BC
M2 Reduce degradation of coastal habitat such that it does not displace Pacific Harbour Porpoise from known habitats in BC
M3 Reduce the risk of catastrophic spills impacting the Pacific Harbour Porpoise population in BC
M4 Minimize the exposure of Pacific Harbour Porpoise to acute or chronic sound levels in excess of those considered to cause behavioural or physical harm in cetaceans
M5 Reduce the exposure of Pacific Harbour Porpoise to regulated and currently unregulated persistent bioaccumulated chemicals
M6 Promote international collaboration, independent research, education and outreach on management and conservation initiatives

The management plan did not include performance measures. Progress towards achieving the management goal and objectives will be informed by progress made on the actions outlined in section 3.1.

3 Progress towards conservation

The management plan identifies 5 categories of conservation actions to support achieving the management goal and objectives:

Protection (actions 1 to 2)
Management (actions 3 to 7)
Research (actions 8 to 12)
Monitoring and assessment (actions 13 to 16)
Outreach and communication (action 17)

Progress in carrying out actions under each category is reported in section 3.1 (table 1).

3.1 Actions and activities supporting conservation

Table 1 provides information on the implementation of activities to address the categories and actions identified in the management plan (DFO 2009; section 3).

Table 1. Details of activities supporting the conservation of the Pacific Harbour Porpoise from 2016 to 2022.
Actions	Descriptions and results	Objectives	Participants^a
Protection 1) Review of Department of National Defence (DND) protocol for tactical sonar use, revise if necessary	The current DND policy on marine mammal impact mitigation is contained in the Maritime Command Order “Marine Mammal Mitigation Procedures for Active Sonar Use” (MARCORD 46-13). DND updated its active sonar impact management approach in 2021 (Binder et al. 2021). Updates included procedures and policies to control active sonar use in a way that reduces impacts to marine mammals (Binder et al. 2021; Fisheries and Oceans Canada [DFO] 2020b).	P2, D1, M4	DND, DFO
Protection 2) Protect the population from physical disturbance, vessel interaction, chronic noise stress a) Complete Marine Mammal Regulations (MMRs) amendments b) Continue enforcement of MMRs and other regulations, promote regional guidelines	Amendments to the MMRs came into force in 2018 (Justice Canada 2018). The amendments aim to reduce the risk of disturbance, displacement from habitat, collisions with vessels, and the effects of acoustic disturbance to marine mammals, including Pacific Harbour Porpoise. The minimum approach distances were amended to 100 metres (m) to Pacific Harbour Porpoise and 200 m if resting or with a calf. Additionally, disturbance to marine mammals is now defined as approaching, attempting to feed, swimming or interacting with, moving, enticing or causing movement, separating from groups/calves, trapping, tagging, or marking. Mandatory reporting of accidental interactions between marine mammals and fishing gear or vessels, was incorporated as part of these amendments. DFO continues to enforce the MMRs and promote regional Be Whale Wise (BWW) guidelines for marine mammal viewing (DFO 2019a; 2023b). Parks Canada (PC) requires holders of business licences to adhere to BWW guidelines and MMRs while in park reserve and national marine conservation area reserve waters. PC Wardens also enforce the MMRs and promote regional BWW guidelines for marine viewing in park reserve and national marine conservation area reserve waters (Casimir pers. comm. 2024). Through the Straitwatch program and the Robson Bight Marine Warden program, Cetus Research and Conservation Society (Cetus) provides direct on-water education to vessel operators, and continues to record and report harassment and non-compliance incidents in the waters around Vancouver Island and Robson Bight Ecological Reserve (Cetus Research and Conservation Society 2019). The Coastal Guardian Watchmen Program is a territorial stewardship program comprised of First Nations along British Columbia (BC)’s north and central coast and Haida Gwaii. This Indigenous-led guardian watchmen program conducts regular vessel-based patrols and educational presentations to ensure that regulations are followed (Coastal First Nations 2019).	D1, M2	DFO, Environmental Non-governmental Organizations (ENGOs), First Nations, PC
Management 3) Develop cooperative research programs	The Ocean Wise Sightings Network (OWSN) (formerly known as the BC Cetacean Sightings Network) collects opportunistic sightings of Pacific Harbour Porpoise from a network of observers. OWSN has supplied Pacific Harbour Porpoise sightings data to 55 conservation-based research projects from 2016 to 2022 (Robinson pers. comm. 2023). Between 2018 and 2022, Ocean Wise conducted a community Pacific Harbour Porpoise study based on Saturna Island, and also studied behaviour and habitat use in Victoria and Prince Rupert areas. A total of 87 surveys were completed, with a total of 673 Pacific Harbour Porpoises recorded (Robinson pers. comm. 2023). Porpoise Conservation Society (PCS) conducts multiple land-based Pacific Harbour Porpoise surveys and has several collaborative studies underway with the Pacific Mammal Research organization, Eagle Wing Whale & Wildlife Tours, SMRU Consulting, the Pacheedaht First Nation and the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority’s Enhancing Cetacean Habitat and Observations (ECHO) Program (Hall 2023).	R1 to R5, M1 to M6	ENGOs
Management 4) Strengthen measures to reduce entanglement risk in aquaculture and fishing gear a) Gather data to provide advice on mitigation of entanglements i) Continue to provide data on bycatch, entanglement ii) Continue development of fisheries observer reporting standards and guidelines for species identification and data collection on fisheries interactions	DFO’s National Fishery Monitoring Policy outlines a decision-making approach to guide the establishment of fishery monitoring in federally managed wild-capture fisheries (DFO 2019c). Effective fishery monitoring is necessary to meet DFO’s policy objectives under the Policy on Managing Bycatch, which aims to further improve the management of bycatch in Canadian fisheries by building on the success of existing management practices (DFO 2019d). Monitoring requirements are managed through annual Integrated Fisheries Management Plans and conditions of licence. In 2018, reporting of collisions or accidental contact between vessels or fishing gear and marine mammals became mandatory under Canada’s MMRs, and fishery conditions of licence were updated to integrate this new reporting requirement. An online form is available to fishers for submitting details on any interactions with marine mammals (Justice Canada 2018; DFO 2019c). Between 2016 and 2022, Ocean Wise provided over 200 training workshops on marine mammal species identification to fisheries observers and other organizations, including sport fishermen, BC Ferries, First Nations, ENGOs, Naturalist Groups, DFO, Coastal Guardian Watchmen, Prince Rupert Port Authority, Haida Gwaii Marine Stewardship Group, PC (Gwaii Haanas National Park and Reserve [NPR]), and BC Parks (Scott pers. comm. 2023). Data on marine mammal interactions, including Pacific Harbour Porpoise, are collected for threat assessment and marine mammal bycatch evaluation for Canadian commercial fisheries (as required under the United States (US) Marine Mammal Protection Act). Between 2016 and 2022, 2 incidents of Harbour entanglements were reported (Moore pers. comm. 2023).	P1, P2, D1, R4, R5, M1	DFO, ENGOs, Industry
Management 4) Strengthen measures to reduce entanglement risk in aquaculture and fishing gear b) Develop methods to reduce entanglement in salmon gillnets i) Review the feasibility of implementing the use of acoustic deterrent devices on salmon gillnets as an emergency, temporary mitigation measure for entanglement hotspots ii) Review the feasibility of implementing the use of barium sulphate netting for long-term mitigation of entanglement	Acoustic deterrents were prohibited in aquaculture conditions of license during this reporting period (in order to avoid harm to marine mammals) and therefore cannot be used to mitigate entanglement risk (DFO 2020a; 2021a). Within the reporting period, DFO has not conducted research to review the feasibility of implementing acoustic deterrent devices on salmon gillnets or the use of barium sulphate netting for mitigation of entanglement.	P1, P2, D1, M1	DFO
Management 4) Strengthen measures to reduce entanglement risk in aquaculture and fishing gear b) Develop methods to reduce entanglement in salmon gillnets iii) Consider the use of alternative fishing gear (as information becomes available) to reduce entanglement risk	The development of alternative gear to reduce entanglement risk in aquaculture and fishing gear is ongoing. DFO is supporting industry efforts to explore and test whale safe gear technologies, including low breaking-strength gear and on-demand gear that removes rope from the water column (DFO 2021b).	P1, P2, D1, M1	DFO, Industry
Management 4) Strengthen measures to reduce entanglement risk in aquaculture and fishing gear c) Develop, review, implement aquaculture protocols for mitigation of entanglement i) Complete reporting requirements for entanglement at aquaculture sites; species identification, data collection, time requirements for reporting ii) Develop operational standards for mitigating entanglement at fallowed aquaculture sites	Pacific Aquaculture Regulations give authority to create licence conditions regarding marine mammals interactions (Pacific Aquaculture Regulations 2015). During this reporting period, conditions of licence required licence holders to have approved a Megafauna Interaction Management Plan (section 8.6 in the marine finfish aquaculture license conditions). Plans are intended to mitigate negative interactions between megafauna and marine finfish aquaculture facilities. Operational standards for mitigating entanglements at aquaculture sites comprise of removing tag lines between mooring buoys and anchors when the site is not in use for a long period of time. Nets may also be removed from aquaculture sites during longer-term abandonment periods (Blasco pers. comm. 2023). Additionally, conditions of license require reporting of deaths, entanglements, and entrapments of all cetaceans (including Pacific Harbour Porpoise) to DFO within 24 hours (DFO 2023a). Conditions of licenses are reviewed at the end of every licencing period and can be amended as needed. In 2020, DFO developed an educational brochure for shellfish growers to reduce fisheries interactions with marine wildlife and encourage proper reporting of incidents if they happen (DFO 2020c).	P1, P2, D1, R5, M1	DFO, Industry
Management 5) Manage, reduce input of chemicals into Harbour Porpoise habitat a) Develop marine mammal-specific measures for inclusion into catastrophic spill response programs i) Develop an emergency response plan to include marine mammal expertise into spill response initiatives ii) Develop a marine mammal specific operational manual	The DFO-led Pacific Marine Mammal Spill Response Plan was finalized in 2023. This document describes how spill response for marine mammals is implemented in the Pacific region, and includes species or group-specific response considerations, including cetaceans like Pacific Harbour Porpoise. DFO's response planning efforts support integrated Area Response Plans led by the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) (Hawryshyn pers. comm. 2023). Additional marine spill response planning focused on incorporating marine mammal-specific expertise is being co-developed between the Council of the Haida Nation and the Government of Canada. A Haida Gwaii Geographic Response Plan with an annex for Gwaii Haanas NPR, National Marine Conservation Area Reserve (NMCAR) Haida Heritage Site (HHS), and site-specific Geographic Response Strategies have been drafted (Lee pers. comm. 2024).	P2, M2, M3, M5, M6	DFO, First Nations, PC
Management 5) Manage, reduce input of chemicals into Pacific Harbour Porpoise habitat b) Review and routinely monitor point-source contamination in known Pacific Harbour Porpoise habitat in BC i) Review management of point sources of chemicals to assess relevancy of federal, provincial, regional thresholds for contamination (chemicals listed in Appendix I of the management plan)	Environmental quality guidelines (EQGs) represent acceptable levels of contaminants in the environment. These guidelines are derived by multiple jurisdictions in Canada: nationally through the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME); federally through Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC); and through individual provincial or territorial environmental ministries (British Columbia Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy [BCMECCS] 2023; ECCC 2023). Concentrations of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) were measured in sediment samples from 12 sites near urban areas in the Salish Sea in 2011. Despite the implementation of regulations for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), both persisted in sediment samples. Victoria Harbour and East Terminal in Burrard Inlet were the most contaminated sites in the Canadian portion of the Salish Sea. These measurements allow for future analysis of trends in contaminants over space and time (Morales-Caselles et al. 2017; DFO 2022). In 2017, The Government of Canada funded a Canadian Water Network led national expert panel to review existing and emergent contaminants in wastewater systems and the technologies available to remove them. Results of the review have been published and can be found on the Canadian Water Network website (Canadian Water Network 2018).	P1, P2, M2, M3, M5, M6	BCMECCS, ECCC, CCME, ENGOs
Management 5) Manage, reduce input of chemicals into Pacific Harbour Porpoise habitat b) Review and routinely monitor point-source contamination in known Pacific Harbour Porpoise habitat in BC ii) Routinely monitor these point sources to assess compliance with federal, provincial, regional guidelines for thresholds	Point sources are routinely monitored to assess compliance with federal, provincial, and regional guidelines for thresholds. Monitoring activities are conducted to help manage risk from toxic chemicals. Under the 2018 to 2023 Whales Initiative (Government of Canada 2018), ECCC’s science efforts focused on identifying key sources of contaminants and how they are entering aquatic environments. PollutionTracker, a long-term, coast-wide monitoring program for contaminants in sediments and mussels, was launched by Ocean Wise in 2015. There are 77 sites which overlap with Pacific Harbour Porpoise distribution, providing important baseline information (Ocean Wise 2020). Results from Phase 1 (2015 to 2017) and Phase 2 (2018 to 2020) show that both legacy and current-use contaminants were detected in samples. The contaminants that were detected include Persistent Bioaccumulative Toxins (PBTs) that are identified in the management plan as contaminants that may pose a threat to Pacific Harbour Porpoise. Phase 3 will expand the project’s spatial coverage and continue to lay the foundation for coast wide temporal and spatial trend analyses (DeCourten pers. comm. 2023). PC and Council of the Haida Nation have collaborated with PollutionTracker to sample sites in Gwaii Haanas and around Haida Gwaii as part of this program (Lee pers. comm. 2024). The BCMECCS and Tsleil-Waututh Nation established the Burrard Inlet Water Quality Objectives in 1990 to inform water quality management and protect the values associated with the marine waters of Burrard Inlet and its freshwater tributaries. In 2022, a monitoring report was published and new contaminants were added to the monitoring objectives that include many contaminants that are identified as threats to Pacific Harbour Porpoise (British Columbia Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy and Tsleil-Waututh Nation 2022). The Pollutants Affecting Whales and their Prey Inventory Tool (PAW-PIT) is an online interactive web application created by ECCC that is used to track the release of pollutants into Southern Resident Killer Whale critical habitat and their prey. The tool also provides an inventory of environmental contaminants being released into the Pacific Harbour Porpoise distribution range (Government of Canada 2023).	P1, P2, M2, M3, M5, M6	ECCC, BCMECCS, DFO, ENGOs, First Nations, PC
Management 5) Manage, reduce input of chemicals into Pacific Harbour Porpoise habitat b) Review and routinely monitor point-source contamination in known Pacific Harbour Porpoise habitat in BC iii) Develop regulations for new, emerging PBTs, specifically PBDEs	In May 2022, proposed amendments to the Prohibition of Certain Toxic Substances Regulations were published in the Canada Gazette I (Canada Gazette 2022). The regulations have not yet been adopted so the 2012 Regulations still apply. The proposed amendments include further restrictions on the manufacture, use, sale and import of PBDEs and 4 other POPs that are listed as toxic under section 64 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA; Government of Canada 1999). The proposed regulations will also prohibit 2 additional flame retardants, Declorane plus (DP) and decarbromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE). The proposed amendments would strengthen the regulatory controls by removing or providing time-limits for most remaining exceptions (ECCC 2022).	P1, P2, M2, M3, M5, M6	ECCC
Management 6) Continue issuing permits for non-DFO research, monitoring and assessments	Eighteen non-DFO marine mammal research permits involving Pacific Harbour Porpoise were issued between 2016 and 2022 (Withers pers. comm. 2023). PC requires a permit to conduct research and/or undertake an activity prohibited by the Canada National Parks Act or the National Marine Conservation Areas Act within its managed areas. This permitting system can be used to place conditions on activities to avoid or reduce impacts to Pacific Harbour Porpoise (Parks Canada 2020). Two research permits were issued for marine mammal observation (including Pacific Harbour Porpoise) during the reporting period. One external permit was issued in 2018/2019 for shore and vessel-based sightings of marine mammals, vessels, and associated behavioural response. One internal permit was issued for Pacific Rim NPR vessel based nearshore marine mammal research, listed under Research, action 8. In addition to these permits for Pacific Harbour Porpoise observation, several other permits were issued during the reporting period for research on prey species such as forage fish (Bohlen pers. comm. 2024).	R1 to R5, M6	DFO, PC
Management 7) Support the Marine Mammal Response Network (MMRN)	DFO’s Marine Mammal Response Program continues to track and respond to reported incidents of entangled, injured, or deceased Pacific Harbour Porpoise (DFO 2022). The BC MMRN is a collaborative network of federal and provincial governments, ENGOs, First Nations, and other experts that assist DFO in responding to injured or entangled whales and performing necropsies (Moore pers. comm. 2023). This network is supported by the public who report incidents to initiate a response through a 24/7 hotline toll free number (1-800-465-4336), VHF channel 16, or email (DFO 2022). PC collaborates with DFO marine mammal incident response; staff have received training from DFO in satellite deployment, disentanglement, and re-floatation. Pacific Rim NPR is a member of the West Coast Vancouver Island (WCVI) Regional Marine Mammal Response Network, a group consisting of DFO, PC, First Nations, Vancouver Aquarium Marine Mammal Rescue Society, and local ENGOs on the west coast of Vancouver Island. Participation in this network ensures: Pacific Rim NPR staff are well trained and equipped to respond to marine mammal incidents within the park reserve response decisions are co-managed with First Nation governments whose territory the incident occurs communication and collaboration on marine mammal response is maintained amongst WCVI groups (Bohlen pers. comm. 2024. As part of the Government of Canada-funded Oceans Protection Plan and Whales Initiative, funding was provided to support capacity building nationally to enhance marine mammal response. Since 2018, DFO has provided funding in BC to support capacity building, including purchasing equipment and training partners and First Nations to support marine mammal incident response (Moore pers. comm. 2023).	R4, R5	DFO, ENGOs, First Nations, Government of BC, PC
Research 8) Reconnaissance vessel surveys to provide coast-wide abundance estimates. Aerial surveys, if feasible	DFO conducted inshore and offshore multi-species ship-based summer surveys from 2016 through to 2022 (except for 2020 due to COVID-19); sightings of Pacific Harbour Porpoise were recorded when encountered (Doniol-Valcroze pers. comm. 2023). No aerial surveys have occurred during the reporting period. Density surface models of predicted summer spatial distribution and associated abundance estimates for Pacific Harbour Porpoise were produced using data collected during the 2018 vessel-based Pacific Region International Survey of Marine Megafauna (PRISMM) survey. The total estimated abundance of Pacific Harbour Porpoises in the Canadian Pacific (north coast and Salish Sea areas combined was 5,207 (95% confidence interval = 2,769 to 9,793) (Wright et al. 2021). In 2020, DFO began conducting monthly vessel-based surveys of at-risk cetaceans, including Pacific Harbour Porpoise, in the Salish Sea. The current estimated Pacific Harbour Porpoise seasonal abundance in the Salish Sea ranges from 584 in winter to 1,430 in fall (McMillan et al. 2022). The data obtained from these surveys is being used to understand species abundance around the shipping lanes from Swiftsure Bank to Vancouver, which will inform estimates of vessel strike vulnerability and disturbance in this area (McMillan et al. 2022; McMillan pers. comm. 2023). Pacific Rim NPR implemented a research program in 2019 that includes vessel-based surveys for all marine mammal species, adjacent to both the Long Beach and the West Coast Trail units of the park reserve. In addition to marine mammal observations, the Pacific Rim NPR also records vessel presence and use of nearshore waters. This data can be made available for management planning and used to help address threats to Pacific Harbour Porpoise such as entanglement, underwater acoustic disturbance, and vessel strikes (Bohlen pers. comm. 2024). Gulf Islands NPR recorded the presence and location of Pacific Harbour Porpoises during standardized marine mammal visual surveys conducted along a 53 nautical mile transect line that circumnavigates the park. Visual surveys are completed every week between May and September, and twice a month between October and April. Additionally, opportunistic Pacific Harbour Porpoise sightings are recorded during other on-water research activities (Mathison pers. comm. 2024).	R1, R2, R3, R5, M6	DFO, PC
Research 9) Develop methodology for studies on habitat and dietary requirements a) Determine seasonally important prey species and nutritional needs of Pacific Harbour Porpoise in BC b) Support, when feasible, telemetry surveys	Pacific Harbour Porpoise stomachs continue to be collected from carcasses during necropsies when opportunistically available. A new analysis of contents has not yet been done during this reporting period due to the lack of samples (Doniol-Valcroze pers. comm. 2023). The last dietary analysis of Pacific Harbour Porpoise was completed in 2013 (Nichol et al. 2013). Telemetry surveys were not considered for Canadian waters in this reporting period (McMillan pers. comm. 2023).	D1, P1, P2, R1, R3	DFO
Research 10) Determine range and seasonal occurrence in BC a) Share Harbour Porpoise data from reconnaissance surveys b) Share Harbour Porpoise data from remote acoustic packages	Results of the 2018 PRISMM survey are available (Wright et al. 2021), and density maps are available as Open Data in the GIS hub. Since 2021, DFO has deployed 2 types of hydrophones that are designed to record the high-frequency vocalizations of Pacific Harbour Porpoise in the southern Salish Sea. The data from these hydrophones are currently being analyzed to inform Pacific Harbour Porpoise distribution and habitat use in areas and times of year that are difficult to survey visually (McMillan pers. comm. 2023). PC collaborates with DFO to deploy hydrophones as part of the Gwaii Haanas Marine Monitoring Program for ocean noise and cetacean metrics, including for narrowband high-frequency clicks made by porpoises on the west coast, which include Pacific Harbour Porpoise; however, detections in current analyses are not to species and could be made by Dall’s Porpoise, Pacific Harbour Porpoise or Kogia species (Lee pers. comm. 2024). Pacific Rim NPR deploys passive acoustic monitoring systems at listening stations along visual transect surveys to collect acoustic data and assess the feasibility of acoustic monitoring to detect Pacific Harbour Porpoise in Pacific Rim NPR waters over the longer term. Gulf Islands NPR deploys short listening stations along survey transects where acoustic data are collected opportunistically. PC leads a project on underwater noise at Gwaii Haanas NPR, with DFO supporting the deployment of hydrophones. Data may be shared with academic labs or others to assess presence of specific cetacean species upon request (Lee pers. comm. 2024). The Whale Tracking Network collaboration between DFO and Innovation Canada has deployed hydrophones in Southern BC. These hydrophone stations record and store underwater marine mammal sounds, including Pacific Harbour Porpoise clicks, which can be later analyzed for spatial and temporal use of habitat (Cottrell pers. comm. 2023). JASCO Applied Sciences installed an underwater listening station in the Salish Sea in 2020 to detect at-risk species and measure underwater noise emissions of commercial vessels. The station’s high-resolution hydrophones can capture frequencies to over 200 kHz, and are capable of detecting the high-frequency echolocation clicks of Pacific Harbour Porpoise (JASCO 2021).	D1, R1, R3	DFO, ENGOs, PC
Research 11) Contribute to genetic analyses by providing tissue samples when possible	Over 35 Pacific Harbour Porpoise tissue samples have been collected as of 2022. No genetic analysis was conducted over this reporting period (Cottrell pers. comm. 2023). See Monitoring and assessment, action 15.	R3	DFO
Research 12) Assess age of stranded animals via necropsy and use of accepted aging techniques, where feasible	The BC MMRN continues to collect maturity information (neonate, calf, juvenile, adult) from necropsies, measurements of live or stranded animals, and tissue samples where possible (Cottrell pers. comm. 2023). PC reports incidents and participates in data collection and necropsies within Pacific Rim NPR and in Gwaii Haanas NPR, NMCAR and HHS with the help of the Council of the Haida Nation (Lee pers. comm. 2024).	R3	DFO, First Nations, PC
Monitoring and assessment 13) Monitor regional and seasonal abundance a) Contribute to determination of survey frequency necessary to monitor regional and seasonal abundance b) Contribute to determination of appropriate index sites for use in long-term monitoring to support 13a c) Support, where feasible, land-based and/or vessel-based surveys to carry out 13a and 13b d) Support, where feasible, photographic analyses of individuals to support 13a through 13c	Determining the necessary survey frequency and index sites to monitor regional and seasonal Pacific Harbour Porpoise abundance is ongoing. In addition to annual large vessel surveys, monthly systematic boat surveys were conducted in the southern Salish Sea between September 2020 and July 2023. The results of this study will contribute to determining the survey frequency necessary to monitor regional and seasonal abundance (Doniol-Valcroze pers. comm. 2023; McMillan pers. comm. 2023). See Research, action 3 and Research, action 8, for updates on survey efforts along the coast. PCS and the Pacific Marine Mammal Organization in Washington are collecting photographs of Pacific Harbour Porpoise to better understand site fidelity in the Salish Sea (see Management, action 3) (Hall pers. comm. 2021).	P2, D1, R1, R2, R3, R5, M6	DFO, ENGOs, PC
Monitoring and assessment 14) Continue to support the collection of sightings information	The presence and location of Pacific Harbour Porpoise is recorded during DFO’s marine mammal surveys and also opportunistically when other research activities are taking place in their distribution range (Doniol-Valcroze pers. comm. 2023). PC records the presence and location of small cetaceans, including Pacific Harbour Porpoise, in Pacific Rim NPR, Gulf Islands NPR, and Gwaii Haanas NPR. Sightings are reported to the OWSN (Casimir pers. comm. 2024). The OWSN has a network of over 7,500 mariners, coastal citizens, and members of the public that contribute sightings of cetaceans. The program received 5,243 sightings of Pacific Harbour Porpoises in BC between 2016 and 2022 (Scott pers. comm. 2023). DFO provided funding to the OWSN over this reporting period. PCS also collects sightings of Pacific Harbour Porpoise from the general public (Hall 2023).	R1	DFO, ENGOs, PC
Monitoring and assessment 15) Conduct assessments of vulnerability to identified threats a) Coordination of collection of dead stranded animals for necropsy and tissue sampling b) Maintain database on reported incidents involving Pacific Harbour Porpoise	The 2016 COSEWIC status report includes an assessment of threats to Pacific Harbour Porpoise (COSEWIC 2016). See Research, action 12, above for more information on necropsies. DFO continues to track Pacific Harbour Porpoise incidents (for example: death, live stranding, entanglement, sick, injured or distressed animal, collision, harassment, shooting) (DFO 2022). Between 2016 and 2022, 174 incidents were reported involving Pacific Harbour Porpoise including: 150 deaths, 13 live strandings, 2 entanglements, 4 sick, injured or distressed porpoises, 2 collisions, 2 harassment incidents, and 1 shooting (Moore pers. comm. 2023).	R3, R4, R5	DFO
Monitoring and assessment 16) Assess potential for fisheries interactions a) Utilize data on seasonal occurrence, fishing sites to determine risk for incidental by-catch b) Assess potential for resource competition using research results on Pacific Harbour Porpoise diet and harvest levels of herring and hake	No update from the previous progress report. Further research on prey and nutritional needs of Pacific Harbour Porpoise is required before these actions can be completed.	P1, P2, D1, R3, R4, M1	N/A
Outreach and communication 17) Foster communication networks a) Develop intra- and inter-agency communication networks (focus on oil spill response and entanglement)	DFO is responsible for responding to marine mammal entanglement incidents and receives support from a collaborative network of federal and provincial governments, ENGOs, First Nations, and other experts (see action 7 above). In 2018, Ocean Wise held a Whale Entanglement Workshop aimed to educate mariners about proper reporting and documentation of entangled cetaceans. Attendees included researchers, ENGOs, ecotourism operators, and professional mariners. As a result of this workshop, the “Mariner’s Guide to Reporting Whale Entanglements in British Columbia” was published and distributed to ecotourism and tug operators, BC Ferries personnel, fishers, and other key coastal groups (Ocean Wise Coastal Ocean Research Institute 2018). Pacific Rim NPR participates in both the Juan de Fuca Incident Response Plan and WCVI Incident Response Plan working groups led by the CCG. In addition to these working relationships with outside agencies, Pacific Rim NPR maintains an active fleet of marine vessels and operators for oil spill and marine mammal response (Bohlen pers. comm. 2024). Oil spill response is a collaborative effort; see updates under action 5 above.	P2, D1, M2, M3, M5, M6	DFO, ENGOs, PC
Outreach and communication 17) Foster communication networks b) Promotion of MMRs, and BWW guidelines c) Foster education programs on chronic acoustic disturbance, habitat degradation, entanglement	See Protection action 2) b for updates on the enforcement of the MMRs and other regional guidelines. During this reporting period, DFO’s Habitat Stewardship Program (HSP) funded stewardship and outreach activities by various groups including Ocean Wise, BC Ferries, Cetus, Marine Education and Research Society (MERS), North Coast Cetacean Society (NCCS), Saturna Island Marine Research and Education Society (SIMRES), and Haida Gwaii Marine Stewardship Group (HGMSG), which promote BWW guidelines and awareness of threats such as acoustic disturbance, habitat degradation, and entanglement. PC Southern Resident Killer Whale Outreach Team has promoted MMRs and BWW guidelines during the reporting period, with efforts targeting mariners. At PC sites, interpretation programs include information on MMRs and BWW guidelines and address threats to Pacific Harbour Porpoise such as acoustic and physical disturbance (Casimir pers. comm. 2024). MMRs and BWW guidelines are also promoted and communicated in annual Gwaii Haanas Tour Operators Association meetings and mandatory Visitor Orientations (Lee pers. comm. 2024). PCS and Sea View Marine Sciences conduct outreach on porpoise ecology and conservation through school programs, talks at fishing clubs, local natural history programs, and public engagement (Hall 2023). In addition to the BWW guidelines, the North Island Marine Mammal Stewardship Association (NIMMSA) and Pacific Whale Watch Association (PWWA) have developed regionally specific voluntary marine mammal viewing guidelines (NIMMSA 2023; PWWA 2023).	P2, D1, M1, M2, M4, M6	DFO, ENGOs, First Nations, Industry, PC
Outreach and communication 17) Foster communication networks d) Trans-boundary inter-jurisdictional collaboration	Since 2017, TC has taken a leadership role at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to elevate the issue of underwater noise from vessels. In this role, TC led the coordination of the drafting working group during the reporting period for the development of the Revised Guidelines for the reduction of underwater noise from commercial shipping to address adverse impacts on marine life and an Action Plan (IMO 2023). This work aims to further prevent and reduce underwater noise from vessels and to increase awareness, adoption and implementation of those revised guidelines (Cosandey-Godin pers. comm. 2024). TC has also taken advantage of existing bilateral, regional, and international opportunities to discuss anthropogenic underwater noise, including at the United Nations' Informal Consultative Process on Oceans and the Law of the Sea in June 2018 (DFO 2022). The Government of Canada worked closely with BWW and partners (representing both US and Canadian organizations and agencies) to develop a publicly accessible Outreach Toolkit (Casimir pers comm 2024). The toolkit is hosted on the BWW website and contains educational resources for educators, mariners, and the public (Be Whale Wise 2024). In 2000, ECCC and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) signed a Statement of Cooperation that outlines common goals for the health of the Salish Sea ecosystem. The 2 agencies maintain a working group that develops and updates an action plan to achieve these goals. The 2021 to 2024 action plan includes a commitment to strengthening transboundary information exchange, supported through a biennial Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference and the Health of the Salish Sea Ecosystem Indicators Report (ECCC and EPA 2021). PCS continues to collaborate and communicate with international porpoise researchers in China, Mexico, Chile, and Scotland (Hall pers. comm. 2021).	All objectives	TC, DFO, ECCC, ENGOs, EPA, PC

a. Lead participant(s) is/are listed on top and in bold; other participants are listed alphabetically. Not all activities have a lead participant identified.

3.2 Summary of progress towards conservation

Thirty-eight activities from the management plan are identified in table 1. Of these, 18 actions (47%) have been completed, 16 (42%) actions and approaches are in progress or ongoing, and 4 actions (10%) have not yet been started.

Within the reporting period of 2016 to 2022, progress towards achieving the management objectives has been achieved through:

amendments to the Marine Mammal Regulations in the Fisheries Act that reduce physical and acoustic disturbance
enhanced oil spill response protocols for marine mammals, including Pacific Harbour Porpoise
ongoing outreach and education programs to raise awareness about Pacific Harbour Porpoise threats and their abatement and to encourage reporting of sightings

Progress towards achieving the research and monitoring objectives has been achieved through:

increased understanding of Pacific Harbour Porpoise abundance, site fidelity, and seasonal habitat use through vessel-based surveys and passive acoustic monitoring
completion of the 2018 PRISMM survey, which enabled the calculation of coast wide abundance estimates, and monthly cetacean surveys in the Salish Sea, which provided new seasonal abundance data

Some knowledge gaps remain, including information on seasonally important prey and nutritional needs of Pacific Harbour Porpoise in BC, and the threat of fisheries interactions. This information could help to implement some actions that have not started, including strengthening measures to reduce Pacific Harbour Porpoise entanglement risk in aquaculture and fishing gear.

4 Concluding statement

Implementation of actions identified in the “Management Plan for the Pacific Harbour Porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) in Canada during the 2016 to 2022” reporting period has contributed toward achieving the plan’s management goal to “maintain a self-sustaining population within its known range in the Pacific waters of Canada” (DFO 2009).

While trends in species distribution and abundance could not be evaluated due to a paucity of data and differences in survey designs, the most recent coast wide survey (PRISMM) resulted in a Canadian Pacific total abundance estimate of 5,207 (95% CI = 2,769 to 9,793) Pacific Harbour Porpoise. Continued survey efforts will allow monitoring of trends over time.

Several actions have significantly contributed to threat mitigation, notably: strengthened protections for Pacific Harbour Porpoise under the Fisheries Act, increased training and capacity for marine mammal incident response, and ongoing outreach and education efforts. Further studies are needed on Pacific Harbour Porpoise prey and nutritional needs to better understand and mitigate the threat of fisheries interactions, including entanglement.

DFO and PC remain committed to the conservation and management of Pacific Harbour Porpoise in Canada. The work completed to date has built a strong foundation for continued research and management of this species over the next reporting period. Progress would not have been achieved without the contribution from partners. DFO and PC look forward to continuing these successful collaborations.

5 References

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