These
Orca are from the Endangered Southern Resident Pods of British
Columbia
and
are amongst the most toxic mammals on earth!
J pod crossing
Oak Bay, Victoria, B.C.
February 17, 2008
February 29th, 2008 10:00 AM.
Heading Home to the Salish Sea !!
It's L pod! Orcas appearing in the photos include L47, L55, L86, L90, and L26. Others are in the area but not shown in photograph.
Photograph by Dave Ellifrit, Center for Whale Research
The Southern Resident Orca includes Pods L, J, & K. Of these three Pods, only J Pod remains in the Salish Sea the entire year while L Pod & K Pod must travel further a field to forage for food. These past few years due to serious declines in salmon stocks needed to sustain their lives, these pods have had to travel as far as California to realize sufficient substance to survive. They return home to the Salish Sea each spring when salmon start to return to these waters. At that time there is a joyous welcome celebration when all three pods join together once again – this is known as a ‘super pod’ and must take place each year for breeding purposes as well as a social interaction.
Did you know that
‘Orca’ are actually ‘not’ whales at all – they are the largest of the
Dolphin family! The term ‘Killer Whales’ is also not correct as the term
should read ‘Killer of Whales’ as Transient Orca forage for mammals as their
food source while ‘Resident Orca’ are fish eaters.
Cruising
Season and “Green Boating” go hand in hand!
Cruising
the waters of the ‘
National Marine Conservation Area (NMCA)
A 1970 study by Canada's federal parks branch called
Georgia Strait "one of the world's most spectacularly beautiful and
ecologically rich areas" close to a population concentration. Today, Parks
Canada says that the Southern Georgia Strait is "the most at-risk natural
environment in Canada". And that is why a Feasibility Study is in process
by Parks Canada towards a 'National Marine Conservation Area' stretching from
Gabriola Island to the US border!
REPRESENTIVITY ANALYSIS - by Parks Canada
| A representivity analysis of various marine features and Processes is almost complete. The purpose of this assessment is to better understand the distribution and abundance of the various seabed habitats, geomorphic features, oceanographic regions, and shore zone features within the study area, relative to the larger Strait of Georgia Natural Marine Region. Dr. Cliff Robinson is leading this work, which was recommended by the NMCA Science Network. |
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This study provides important context and flexibility for protecting the entire range of plants and animals within the Strait of Georgia. As part of this initiative, a new series of maps has been developed, which show the diversity of seabed habitats, shoreline habitats, pelagic habitats and geomorphic regions in the Strait or Georgia. |
Additional mapping products have also been developed to better understand the
distribution of the various biophysical features, public values, and
recreational and commercial activities in the study area.
Contact:
E-mail: straitofgeorgianmca@pc.gc.ca
Web: www.pc.gc.ca/straitofgeorgia
Consider for a moment what the enactment of a National Marine Conservation Area will do for the Pleasure Craft community. Imagine how it will improve our cruising season as our marine ecosystems return to what they once were – consider the following and add more to the list:
‘National Marine
Conservation Area’:
-
The revival of finfish stocks
through protected nursery areas.
-
Survival of marine mammals and
their habitat and food supply.
-
Enhancement of marine waters.
-
Protection of the ancient sponge
reefs off
-
Bring back the ‘legacy’ for
future generations, the biodiversity of the marine ecosystem that is on the
point of ‘endangered’ due to over use and over harvesting.
-
Control pollutants that are not
only life threatening for all marine wildlife but the human species as well.
-
Far more abundant ‘sport
fishing’ species! Remember the bountiful Coho stocks? Maybe some of you are
too young to remember! I remember when it appeared that there were so many you
could walk on their backs to go ashore – I also remember when it was the norm
for 15,000,000 salmon to head up the Fraser annually to spawn. I can remember
Oyster beds as far as the eye could see along the beaches. Remember the rock cod
– rockfish are now endangered – I remember when they were plentiful. Can you
imagine what the fish stocks were like when the first Explorer arrived on these
shores? Let’s work towards revitalizing our marine waters!
Wildlife abounds! Orcas, harbour seals, sea lions, minke whales, river otters to name a few. Then we have sea birds and eagles amongst us as we cruise along. So many wonders that Nature has provided and enhances our time cruising the marine waters. Scuba diving? What wonderful marine life we have on the ocean’s floor, so think for a moment for you are visiting the habitat of many, many species. Species that give us so much pleasure –
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What
can boaters do to help keep our marine waters stay healthy and full of wildlife
for our boating pleasure?
a) Of course the first avenue to protect our marine waters is by using ‘green boat’ methods of less chemicals for cleaning & toxic paints which harm marine life but there is more we can do to improve the water quality for the marine wildlife as well as keep those waters we travel ‘litter & pollution free’.
Spring Cleanup or End of Season Maintenance
the Green Way !
Spring cleanup or end of season maintenance should host
the ‘
So
before you start in on cleaning, painting and preparing your craft acquire
pertinent information and advice from Environment
For
cleaning:
When washing a boat's deck and hull surface, people
often use products that contain toxic ingredients such as chorine, phosphates
and ammonia. Just as these chemicals act as degreasers on the boat, they also
act, as degreasers on fish -- drying the natural oil fish need for their
gills to take in oxygen. To reduce your need for toxic products, follow these
tips:
- Rinse your boat only with fresh water after each use.
This will reduce your need for cleansers and heavy-duty products.
- Use old-fashioned cleaning methods, including baking
soda, vinegar, lemon juice, borax and "elbow grease".
Need
to do some sanding and re-paint?
- Sanding
and scraping your boat can release noxious paint and varnish particles into the
air and water around you. Always sand and scrape on shore, away from the water
and preferably in a dedicated work area. Use a vacuum sander, a tool that
collects and stores the dust before it can get into the water or into your eyes
and lungs!
- To reduce organism growth, many boat owners apply
anti-fouling paints to the boat bottom. However, most of these paints contain
toxic metals such as copper, mercury, arsenic or tributyltin (TBT). All have
severe impacts on human health and the underwater ecosystem. To eliminate these
products from usage – ask your marine supply store for environmentally
friendly products, the more we ask for these products to be available to protect
our marine waters, the more readily available they will become.
For more valuable information on how you can apply the science of
‘Green Boating’, click on the following link for information from ‘Marine
Sanitation’ and ‘Boat Cleaning and Miscellaneous Products’ to ‘Alternative
Fouling Control systems’ plus many more innovative ideas to enhance your
boating pleasure by protection the marine environment. http://www.georgiastrait.org/?q=node/52
The Canadian Safe Boating Council recognized Georgia Strait Alliance’s (GSA) innovative Green Boating programme with presenting them with the 2008 ‘Safeguarding the Environment Award’ at their annual awards ceremony held on January 13, 2008. Since inception of the programme, GSA has generously supplied Green Boating Guides to CPS VISD for all new boating students and members.
How
do we keep our waters clean?
b)
Well one of the many ways is
to use pump out stations whenever possible & use shore-side facilities when
in port. Please do not use your boat's holding tanks to dispose of anything it
isn't intended for. Also think of the possible contaminants in your grey water -
solvents, detergents, paints, and other foreign objects will cause problems for
the marine environment. Avoid chemical additives or bleach in your holding tank
safer products includes enzyme or bio-active treatments.
Read labels carefully
before using.
Please note that ‘sewage discharge
regulations’ under the Canada Shipping Act. Please follow this link to acquire
the new regulations under Transport
http://www.tc.gc.ca/acts-regulations/GENERAL/C/csa/regulations/400/csa450/csa450.html#p2d4sd4
So pause for a moment and
consider the ‘positive side’ to
these regulations such as:
‘Sewage Discharge
Controls’:
-
More pristine waters for our
boating pleasure.
-
Cleaner waters in our anchorages.
-
Safer swimming with less fear of
infectious diseases.
-
Less frequent shellfish closures.
-
Far less toxins in our marine
waters for the health of all marine wildlife.
-
Protection of our Orca Whales from
toxins and a more bountiful food source.
(Think
for a moment, and see how many more you are able to add to the list!)
Our marine waters have
reached a critical level in many areas and we must all do our part if we wish to
continue enjoying our cruising season – so think of your own health, the
children playing on the beaches, and all the glorious marine wildlife and water
birds for our viewing pleasure – these are what makes our marine summer
cruising an activity to enjoy. Let’s save it for our children and
grandchildren to enjoy as well – a legacy for future generations.
So look to the ‘positive
side’ and endorse the efforts of many who are trying to clean up our
marine waters and to provide this lasting legacy
c)
Garbage disposal – use the same practices for disposal that you use
when on land.
Anyone who has been to the beach knows that there is a lot of garbage floating around in our coastal waters with the tide & wave actions bringing it on shore. While some of this garbage comes from land base sources, a great quantity is originating from vessels – large and small.
Why
Should I Care? Well for one – it can cause serious problems for boaters!
A significant number of boaters have had cool-water intake valves clogged by
plastic bags, causing engine overheating and expensive repairs.
Besides, garbage in the water looks bad & in some cases contains
contaminants, and will cause problems for wildlife that mistake it for food and
eat it.
Others
have had monofilament fishing line wrapped around their propeller, and others
have seen enough trash in the water to be able to use it to follow the direction
of the current flows!
What
Can I Do?
Establish
a policy on your boat that nothing goes overboard - even apple cores and smoking
materials such as cigarette butts. Alert
all guests and crew to this policy.
Make
sure your garbage can is easily accessible on the boat, and on open boats, make
sure it has a lid to keep light plastics from catching wind and flying away.
Do
you know how many seabirds and waterfowl plus other marine wildlife become
entangled in soft drink & beer plastic rings or fishing lines? The figures
are enormous! Ever see a sea bird with
monofilament fishing line around its leg? Not a pretty sight when it binds into
the leg till the leg is severed.
Did
you know?….Sea turtles love to eat jellyfish.
In their search for the clear coloured, pulsing delicacy, they often eat
clear plastic bags instead. Can you
imagine the agonizing death these wondrous marine animals experience when this
happens and sorry to say it happens frequently.
Remember the ocean currents take garbage to places beyond the horizon
– so think of the sea turtles and all marine wildlife.
So
do your part and protect our marine life – be watchful of all garbage and keep
our wildlife safe and our beaches clear of garbage.
Marine
Wildlife Guidelines for Boaters, Paddlers and Viewers:
1.
BE CAUTIOUS and COURTEOUS: approach areas of
known or suspected marine wildlife activity with extreme caution. Look in all
directions before planning your approach or departure.
2.
SLOW DOWN: reduce speed to less than 7 knots when within 400 metres/yards of the
nearest whale. Avoid abrupt course changes.
3.
KEEP CLEAR of the whales’ path.
If whales are approaching you, cautiously move out of the way.
4.
DO NOT approach whales from the front or from behind. Always approach and depart whales from the side, moving in a direction
parallel to the direction of the whales.
5.
DO NOT APPROACH closer than 100 metres/yards to any whale.
6.
If your vessel is not in
compliance with the 100 metres/yards approach guideline (#5), reduce your speed
and cautiously move away from the whales.
7.
STAY on the OFFSHORE side of the whales
when they are travelling close to shore.
8.
LIMIT your viewing time to a recommended maximum of 30 minutes. This will minimize the
cumulative impact of many vessels and give consideration to other viewers.
9. DO NOT swim with, touch or feed marine wildlife.
AND REMEMBER – engines noise are greatly magnified under water –
THINK of the sensitive hearing of all Whales & Orcas – how would you like
to be deluged with high noise levels from daylight to dark? Put yourselves in
their shoes!
We all thank you!
So
what can Pleasure Craft Owners & Operators do?
We
can lessen the impact from pleasure craft by using ‘environmentally
friendly’ products and by using holding tanks with discharging at pump
stations where available. By going a little out of our way to protect the marine
environment that we all cherish for our boating pleasure. We in CPS teach
‘Safe Boating’ practices and ‘safe’ can also mean ‘Healthy Green
Boating Practices’ - on
land we use the term ‘leave no footprint’ and in the marine waters we should ‘leave no
mark of pollution’ - leave the waters as we found them or cleaner!
This web page will be dedicated to providing
environmentally friendly boating practices - so from season to season visit and
check out ways you can protect our marine waters.
Please feel free to contact me at any time for
assistance.
CPS VISD Environment Officer - Sara Steil steils@telus.net
