Government announces new initiatives to protect whales under the Oceans Protection Plan

Vancouver, British Columbia - The Government of Canada is committed to protecting the iconic Southern Resident Killer Whale. As part of the Oceans Protection Plan, an historic $1.5-billion investment to make our coasts healthier, safer, and better protected, the government is taking action to protect marine mammals.

Today, the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, announced $9.1 million in new science funding to develop and test technologies able to detect the presence of whales. The ability to capture near real-time information could help alert mariners of whales in a particular area, reducing the risk of collisions.

Minister LeBlanc also announced over $3.1 million for four research projects to study the impacts of underwater noise and reduced availability of prey on marine mammals including the Southern Resident Killer Whale.

• The University of British Columbia will receive $1.1 million to examine how changes in the food web in areas of the Southern Resident Killer Whale affect the abundance and quality of Chinook Salmon, which is the whale’s primary food source.
• Ocean Wise will receive over $942,000 for a comprehensive health and condition assessment of Southern and Northern Resident Killer Whale populations to better understand the impact of environmental stressors, particularly noise and prey limitation.
• The University of Victoria will receive over $935,000 to better understand the behaviour and vulnerabilities of Southern Resident Killer Whales and their prey.
• The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority will receive $200,000 to continue operating the underwater listening station in the Strait of Georgia, measuring and monitoring noise levels from commercial vessels and the presence of Southern Resident Killer Whales in the Salish Sea.

In addition to these significant investments under the Oceans Protection Plan, Budget 2018 includes $167.4 million over five years to help protect and recover endangered whale species in Canada, notably the Southern Resident Killer Whale, the North Atlantic Right Whale and the St. Lawrence Estuary Beluga. This includes funding for science activities to help better understand factors affecting the health of whale populations, as well as actions to help address the threats arising from human activities.

This Budget 2018 investment builds on a science-based review undertaken by Fisheries and Oceans in 2017 which engaged governments, Indigenous groups, stakeholders and the public on how to further protect the North Atlantic Right Whale, the St Lawrence Estuary Beluga and the Southern Resident Killer Whale. Feedback received during the engagement informed planning and decision making for enhanced recovery efforts for these whale populations, The “What We Heard Report” is now available online.

The $1.5 billion Oceans Protection Plan is the largest investment ever made to protect Canada’s coasts and waterways. Through this plan, the Government of Canada is creating a world-leading marine safety system that provides economic opportunities for Canadians today, while protecting our coasts and waterways for generations to come. This work is being done in close collaboration with Indigenous peoples, local stakeholders and coastal communities.