The ECHO Program launches its ninth season
On June 1st, the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority launched the ninth season of the ECHO Program, a voluntary initiative that encourages commercial vessels to reduce their speed to help protect endangered whales off British Columbia’s south coast.
Slowdowns apply in Swiftsure Bank, Haro Strait and Boundary Pass. Based on their type, vessels should aim to maintain speeds of no more than 11 or 14.5 knots when safe and operationally possible.
The Swiftsure Bank slowdown runs until October 31st and now extends five nautical miles farther west, for a total of 28 nautical miles. This expanded zone crosses the marine territories of the Pacheedaht and Maa-nulth First Nations and the treaty-protected area of the Makah Tribe.
In the Haro Strait and Boundary Pass, the slowdown will be implemented once Southern Resident killer whales return to the area for the season and stay in effect until November 30th, unless the whales are absent in the area for more than two weeks in the fall.
In the Juan de Fuca Strait, the voluntary lateral displacement inviting tugboats to shift slightly from their usual route to avoid whale habitats remains in place until October 31st.
To assess the impact of the initiatives, the ECHO program will monitor participation rates using Automatic Identification System data. The results will be shared in the program’s biweekly newsletter, offering ongoing insight into the industry’s engagement.
Photo credit: Rachel Fairfield Checko