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December 2001 - January 2002

This is an article from WaveLength Magazine, available in print in North America and globally on the web.
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PERMITTING WHALE HARRASSMENT

A scientific paper recently accepted by the International Council for Exploration of the Sea's Journal of Marine Science in Denmark found underwater sounds used by salmon farmers in British Columbia caused whales to flee. In 1993 salmon farmers began broadcasting a 195db noise (as loud as a jet engine at take-off) in hopes of keeping harbour seals from attacking their slow-swimming penned fish. The acoustic harassment devices work by causing pain in the ears of the marine mammals. If they come too close they are deafened.

BC whale researchers, Alexandra Morton of Raincoast Research and Helena Symonds of OrcaLab, combined 16 years of data on orca movements off northeastern Vancouver Island to examine the impact of the salmon farmers' acoustic harassment on the whales. The paper compared the occurrence of whales in the fish farm-free waters of western Johnstone Strait with Morton's adjacent study area in the Broughton Archipelago, where 23 corporate salmon farms are located.

The study's results were clear.

"It was as if a door slammed in their face," says Morton, "the salmon farmers were only concerned with seals, but it was the whales that left, immediately abandoning over 300 square kilometers of territory, wherever salmon farms used acoustic harassment. Whales cannot risk their hearing."

When Morton first alerted the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) to the potential harm of these devices, DFO conducted a controlled study measuring impact of the noisemakers on harbour porpoise. The results were the same. "Harbour porpoise abundance declined precipitously" when the noise was played.

DFO never published their study and the deliberate acoustic pollution soon filled every whale route in the Archipelago. Ironically, the DFO study confirmed what some farmers suspected; that the devices, rather than deterring seals, actually attracted them "in a dinner bell effect." The farmers claimed the devices were required by insurance companies.

"DFO continues to ignore even their own scientists to support the growth of the fish farm industry", says Morton, "While I know biologists of great integrity within DFO, I was horrified to find that DFO policy makers had no intention of protecting whales. There was nothing I could do to inspire them to uphold the Fisheries Act."

Under the Fisheries Act, DFO is responsible for protection of marine mammals. The marine mammal regulations specifically prohibit disturbance of whales, dolphins and porpoises-offences carrying a fine of $500,000 or a 24-month prison term ( Fisheries Act, S.78).

"DFO's responsibilities were clear- acoustic harassment devices contravened the Fisheries Act and should have been banned outright," says Morton.

"It has been very sad to see the orcas turn away from inlets which once belonged to them. I made the Broughton Archipelago my research base 18 years ago because when I first arrived, whales could make a living in these waters. I would not make that same choice today. The fish farms have interfered carelessly with the natural web of life in the Archipelago."

After five continuous years of acoustic harassment, the farmers recently turned off the devices near Morton's research station for undisclosed reasons. Within two years some whale families began to return.

"But, resident pods with young babies have not returned," says Morton. "I suspect, the matriarchs still don't trust this place."

"DFO has to silence the devices permanently and quit playing dangerous games. If we want whales as neighbours, we must enter an age where science is used to promote life, not careers."

COOK ISLAND WHALE SANCTUARY

The Cook Islands Government recently announced that it has established a whale sanctuary throughout its Exclusive Economic Zone. The sanctuary covers some two million square kilometres of the central South Pacific Ocean and is believed to be the largest whale sanctuary yet declared by an individual government in waters under its jurisdiction.

Deputy Prime Minister of the Cook Islands, Robert Woonton, said that the declaration of the sanctuary was a reflection of the high esteem in which whales are held by many Polynesian peoples.

"We have lived peacefully alongside whales for many centuries," Woonton says. "But the devastation wrought by the commercial whaling fleets of the last century has left us with only a few animals now returning to their traditional South Pacific breeding grounds each winter. For the past two years, Pacific Island nations have appealed to the International Whaling Commission to establish a whale sanctuary for our region, to secure the future for these leviathans, but we have been thwarted by the opposition of the whaling countries and their supporters. If the nations of the South Pacific wish to protect the breeding grounds which are so critical to the recovery of our depleted whale populations, then clearly we shall have to take matters into our own hands. We owe it to the Earth to support their survival.

"In establishing the Cook Islands Whale Sanctuary, we hope to encourage our friends and neighbours in the South Pacific to take similar actions. Together we can send a message to the whalers that their exploitation of our whales is now a thing of the past, and that the future lies in conservation. The Cook Islands may be a small country, but on this issue we believe that we are sowing a seed that many others will appreciate. We look forward to welcoming visitors from around the world who share our great conviction in assisting in the recovery of one of the wonders of the natural world."

GOOD NEWS ON GRAY WHALES

Scientists say gray whales are no longer dying by the hundreds along their migratory path from Alaska to Mexico.

The whales appear to be doing better all along their migratory path, not just in isolated areas. In Alaska this summer, biologists found just five dead gray whales, compared to 59 in the summer of 2000 and 73 in 1999, according to Kaya Brix, a biologist with the National Marine Fisheries Service in Juneau.

Oregon, Washington and California noted similar turnarounds. The official numbers are not in yet for Mexico, but biologists said fatalities there are also significantly down.

BOATERS IMPACT MARINE MAMMALS

Two recent studies indicate that boaters should take extra care around harbour seal haulouts. In a Canadian study in the Saint Lawrence Estuary, Quebec, disturbances most often were caused by kayaks and canoes (33.3%), motor boats (27.8%), and sailboats (18%). Kayaks and canoes had a flushing response of 86% compared to 74% by motor boats and, surprisingly, 0% by sailboats.

In a US study, motorboats caused the most flushing behaviour because they were the most frequent disturbance, but 55% of paddled boats caused flushing events whereas only 11% of motor boats did so. So be sure to stay over 100 metres away and use binoculars.

CRUISE SHIP POLLUTION TO INCREASE

BC's world class 'Inside Passage' is at risk from a minimally regulated cruise ship industry, according to Cruise Control, a report released this fall by West Coast Environmental Law.

Cruise ships the size of small towns run up and down the coast of BC, but unlike BC's other small towns, they face few controls on sewage and waste disposal.

Every year over one million passengers board cruise ships to travel north to Alaska. By 2000, there were 336 cruise trips from BC to Alaska carrying 1,053,000 passengers and over 12,000 crewmembers.

Cruise Control is a thorough review of the laws regarding cruise ship disposal of raw sewage, hazardous waste, greywater and bilgewater as well as garbage and other forms of pollution. The report shows that Canada and BC have fallen far behind the US when it comes to controlling cruise ship pollution.

A cruise ship that sails from Seattle to Alaska can't dump sewage in Washington's or Alaskan waters. But it can dump raw sewage for most of the thousand kilometres it travels in BC.

Inspection, monitoring and enforcement are woefully weak to nonexistent in Canada. While an industry-funded inspection and monitoring system produces charges and millions of dollars in industry fines in the US, there have been no prosecutions of cruise ships and no fines levied over a similar period in Canada. In many cases, the same ships and the same companies operate in Canadian and American coastal waters.

Cruise Control makes a number of recommendations dealing with better standards, enforcement and monitoring.

Copies of the report are available from West Coast Environmental Law or on-line at www.wcel.org. For more information contact: Ian Reid, Communications Director: 604-601-2513.

In the wake of September 11th, cruise ship travel within North American has increased. For example, Holland America Line will increase sailings in and out of Seattle in 2002 by more than fivefold.

The Seattle-based company's new itineraries feature more ports of call in North America, and fewer trips overseas in the wake of the terrorist attacks. Next year, 27 of the company's cruises will embark from Seattle, compared with about four or five sailings currently, significantly increasing the cruise industry's impact on the Inside Passage.

HOOKSUM OUTDOOR SCHOOL

Hooksum Outdoor School's West Coast Outdoor Leadership Training is now registered with the Private Post Secondary Education Commission (PPSEC) of British Columbia. Hooksum Outdoor School is the first indigenous owned and operated outdoor school to be so registered on the west coast. PPSEC registration enables individuals who meet Human Resource Development criteria and are interested in pursuing careers in outdoor recreation and education, adventure/ ecotourism and guiding, to enrol in a Hooksum Training session with HRDC support. West Coast Outdoor Leadership Training provides adventure-based, experimental learning to teach the skills and knowledge necessary for safe and practical outdoor group leadership. Participants gain an intimate knowledge of the Pacific coastal environment and local indigenous people. Further information and application forms, see Hooksum's website at www.hooksumschool.com or call 250-670-1120.

PADDLING DIRECTORY

The Trade Association of Paddlesports' membership directory will be available to members and consumers in January of 2002. The directory will have categorical listings and an event calendar. Membership in TAPS is available to persons or entities involved in the commerce of padddlesports.

For information on membership fees and specific member benefits, contact 800-755-5228, Email: info@gopaddle.org

WEST COAST SEA KAYAK SYMPOSIUM REPORT

On the weekend of September 14-16, the annual West Coast Sea Kayak Symposium was held at Fort Worden in Port Townsend, Washington by the Trade Association of Paddlesports.

Due to the tragic events in the days just prior to the Symposium, many participants and presenters were stranded at airports around the world, but with an unprecedented surge of volunteerism and cooperation, the event was successful beyond expectation. Participation was 957, down from the all time high of 1200, but higher than revised projections. Next year's event is scheduled for September 18-20, and will be bigger and better than ever.

WEBSITE KUDOS

This fall, the Georgia Strait Alliance website (www.GeorgiaStrait.org) was chosen as "Boating Website of the Week" on Northwest Boat Travel's Home Page: www.nwboat.com. The GSA website is maintained by Ted Leather who also does such a great job maintaining the Wavelength website.

RAFFLE WINNER

Winner of first prize in the Georgia Strait Alliance's summer Raffle -a Seaward kayak-was Bertrand Gerard of Trail, BC. All 4,000 tickets in the Raffle sold out. GSA has been promised a new kayak by Barry Bezaire (of Extreme Interface) for another raffle in 2002. BC

ENVIRONMENTAL NETWORK

The BC Environmental Network (BCEN- www.bcen.bc.ca) is an affiliate of the Environmental Fund of BC, and the Canadian Environmental Network (CEN)-Ottawa (www.cen-rce.org). The BCEN website offers:

Daily News Clippings: full stories and links to the environmental news in BC, provided courtesy of Environment Canada.

Online Database of Environmental Organizations: contact and organizational information for over 550 environmental groups and link directly to their websites.

OIL AND GAS ISSUE HEATS UP

Citizens are callling on the federal and provincial governments to maintain the offshore oil and gas moratorium in BC. The Oil Free Coast Alliance, made up of 70 conservation, labour, and First Nations groups, is worried that opening the coast to oil and gas development will hurt the coastal environment and economy.

"Research shows that this industry will harm our fish stocks, whales, and sea birds through seismic testing, oil spills and global warming," says Jennifer Lash, Executive Director of the Living Oceans Society.

The Oil Free Coast Alliance has created a web page that enable you to send a free fax to the prime Minister and BC's Premier. Just visit http://www.oilfreecoast.org.

First Nations from across BC believe that this industry is a threat to the ecosystems that sustains their communities. "There are no benefits from this industry for us," says Arnie Narcisse, chair of the BC Aboriginal Fisheries Commission. "We depend on a healthy ocean."

The Oil Free Coast Alliance maintains that this is an issue for all the people of BC, not just those in the north coast. "It was the signatures of over 80,000 people from all over BC that requested this moratorium be put in place," says David Cadman, President the Society Promoting Environmental Conservation (SPEC). "It is up to people from all over BC and the rest of Canada to keep it in place."

Many fishermen believe that lifting the moratorium is not the solution to high unemployment in the fishing industry. John Radosevic of the United Fishermen and Allied Workers Union-CAW said, "If we want to create jobs for fishermen, we must invest in sustainable fisheries, not threaten existing fisheries with offshore oil and gas."

Despite claims from the east coast of Canada that the big Hibernia offshore oil project has revived the impoverished communities of the east coast, the Canadian Center for Policy Alternative (CCPA) has numbers that show otherwise. "The federal and Newfoundland governments poured billions into the Hibernia project," says Dale Marshall, resource policy analyst for the CCPA, "but they only created 5 jobs per million dollars invested."

UPDATE: The federal government has just amended a bill which is intended to create a coastal marine park so that park legislation will not 'interfere' with offshore oil and gas developments.

TRIBUTYLTIN BAN

A global ban on the use of harmful organotins in ship anti-fouling paints has been adopted by the 159-nation International Maritime Organization. The ban will apply to all new applications of these widely-used paints from January 1st 2003, with their presence on all ship hulls phased out entirely five years later. The agreement follows two years of heated debate over whether to end the use of organotin compounds. They have contributed to enhanced profits by preventing algae and mollusks from adhering to ship hulls and thus allowing ships to increase their speed, but they have also been shown to disrupt endocrine systems in living organisms. More information from the International Maritime Organization: www.imo.org/

SHOW WINS AWARD

This Fall, the BBC film on salmon farming "Warnings from the Wild" won a prestigious prize for Best Documentary. The film showed salmon farming in Canada, Scotland and Norway. The project was a BBC co-production with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). Producer Jeremy Bristow said he was particularly delighted to have won since he and his colleagues have been subjected to such a vicious campaign of vilification by the salmon farming industry. The film, branded as unfair and scaremongering, has been given the all-clear by the Broadcasting Standards Commission. The ruling will be a major blow to the reputation of the beleagured Scottish salmon-farming industry, which has been accused of secrecy and a refusal to engage in open public debate.

ATLANTIC SALMON INVADE ALASKA

For the second year in a row, a pen-reared Atlantic salmon has been caught in a river along Alaska's Gulf Coast, raising the possibility that the escapees from fish farms in British Columbia and Washington will threaten Pacific salmon stocks.

Biologists and fishermen have worried for a decade that escaped Atlantic salmon could compete for food, bring disease or colonize rivers used by Alaska's five species of Pacific salmon, and depress the world market for Alaska's wild fish.

The direct risk posed by escaped Atlantics is even greater further south, where weakened wild salmon runs have left vacant habitat. At least three rivers on Vancouver Island have produced wild Atlantic salmon from eggs, and adult Atlantic salmon have turned up in over 70 BC streams.

FISH FARMS FACE PROSECUTION

A prominent aquaculture company operating on Northern Vancouver Island has been ordered to appear in court in Port Hardy. Omega Salmon Group and BC numbered company 343513BC Ltd. are charged with four counts each under the BC Fisheries Act because fish escaped June 2 from Omega's Marsh Bay farm. An estimated 13,000 17,600 Atlantic salmon escaped through hole in a net pen. There were an estimated 47,500 salmon in the pen before the escape. Charges allege failure to take reasonable measures to prevent an escape and failure to report an escape in a timely fashion within 24 hours. The company did not report the escape for five days. Omega officials have refused comment.

COMPANY FINED FOR FISH SPILL

A company in BC was recently fined mere $1,000-the maximum permissible- for allowing thousands of farmed fish to escape into the ocean. A provincial court judge said he was "a little astonished" at the small fine he could impose on Orca Shipping, calling it "entirely inadequate" for the damage that could result.

FISH FARM FIASCO PIECE

The November/December issue of Mother Jones magazine has a cover story "Fishfarm Fiasco, how big-time aquaculture is threatening the world's waters". This comprehensive and well researched article chronicles the history of the salmon farming industry and shows how the industry is placing wild salmon and the people who depend on them at great risk.

MARINE MAMMAL SLAUGHTER

The National Post recently received a document through Access to Information on marine mammals killed by fish farms, only to find it heavily censored. Page after page was blanked out by government censors, as if the National Post had asked for state secrets.

The newspaper wanted to know how many seals and sea lions are being killed on the Pacific Coast by salmon farmers protecting their stock from predators.

Fisheries and Oceans responded with five pages that contained statistical data filed in 138 reports by salmon farms-and every column was erased by government censors.

INQUIRY INTO FISH FARMS

Check out the results of the Leggatt Inquiry run by former Justice Stewart Leggatt into fish farming in BC: www.LeggattInquiry.com

DFO MANAGER JOINS SUZUKI

Otto Langer, a former senior manager of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans will head a new Marine Conservation Project for the David Suzuki Foundation.

Langer is a respected fisheries biologist who has worked with DFO and Environment Canada for 32 years. Most recently, he was Chief of the Pacific region's Habitat Assessment and Land Stewardship Unit. His work has focused on contaminant control, habitat conservation and environmental compliance. He has worked on fish habitat protection projects throughout BC, the Yukon and elsewhere in Canada.

Besides his expertise in areas like stream protection, estuary management, land-use planning, stewardship and enforcement, Langer has served as president of the BC Association of Professional Biologists.

JERSEY SEA KAYAK SYMPOSIUM

Jersey in the Channel Islands will again be the venue for the sixth International European Sea Kayaking Symposium from May 31 to June 7, 2002. Now in its 12th year the bi-annual event continues to draw paddlers from across Europe and beyond to the island of Jersey.

With a 40-foot tidal range, sea kayakers are assured of some dramatic coastal and offshore paddling. Already an impressive programme of kayaking trips and clinics has been planned, drawing on the in-depth experience of both local paddlers and wellknown names from across Europe.

At a cost of £85 per person, the weeklong programme of events gives sea kayakers the opportunity to enjoy a wide range of kayaking.

The event offers something for everyone: coastal paddling along the Southeast coast's superb intertidal zone where miles of reefs are uncovered at low water, or caving on the North coast; offshore, the famous Ecrehous islets and Paternosters beckon; further afield is the feudal island of Sark; to the South is the isolated Les Minquiers reef.

Jersey hosts the current World Champions in surf kayaking, so the west-facing beach at St Ouens should offer plenty to keep the keen surf kayaker busy. Moreover, there will be no shortage of top level coaching from members of the Jersey team.

For further details of this non-profit event, contact Jerry Michel: tel 01534 639390, flyingturtles@localdial.com, www.jcc.org.je/symposium.

FILMMAKER TO VISIT

Rob Perkins, out-doorsman, environmentalist, writer and filmmaker, paddles into the Pacific Northwest this January. Dates for his presentations so far include Bellingham, Jan. 23rd, Victoria, Jan. 24-28 (for the Reel Madness Film Festival-he has a great mental health recovery story); Abbottsford, Jan. 30; and Vancouver, Jan. 22 and 29.

For info on film events, readings, and sponsors vsit www.islandnet.com/mm. Rob's web site is www.gotrob.com

GULF IN THE BALANCE

In the next few months, the Bush Administration is expected to make a major policy decision that will affect Florida’s beaches, coastlines and economy forever.

The Administration is being asked to override state objections and allow Chevron Oil to proceed to construct and operate gas rigs off of the Florida Panhandle, in an area known as Destin Dome. This area is only 15 miles from Florida waters, and only 25 miles from the Gulf Islands National Seashore.Chevron wants to construct platform production facilities and install approximately 70 miles of pipeline in order to develop up to 21 natural gas wells.

According to an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) prepared by the federal Minerals Management Service, pollutants are expected to accumulate in the northern Gulf from oil and gas operations during the life of Chevron's project, estimated to be 748,000 tons per year from drilling discharges and 20,000 tons per year from production discharges.

The state of Florida has objected to the plan, concluding that Chevron's plans will have unacceptable adverse impacts on Florida's marine, coastal, land and economic resources, and that the activity is inconsistent with Florida's implementation of the Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA). According to Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Chevron has failed to provide adequate information on the harm, both environmental and economic, which will result from "long-term chronic pollution and physical disruption caused by Chevron's development and production." After reviewing the EIS, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency also concluded that it failed to provide sufficient information on the area to be impacted, and also fails to "correctly define the scope of the potential impacts."

The state has reason to be nervous: according to federal records, since 1994, Chevron has paid more civil penalties than any other company for violations in the Gulf. Because there are currently no oil or gas rigs off Florida's coast, approval of Chevron's plans would set a precedent likely to stimulate future oil and gas development, leading to the long-term environmental degradation that has happened in other Gulf States.

Areas most directly affected include the Gulf Islands National Seashore, St. Vincent Islands National Wildlife Refuge, Apalachicola River and Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, and several state aquatic preserves, recreational areas and state parks.

The National Marine Fisheries Service characterizes the area as "a highly productive and rich assemblage of species." Moreover, according to a recent technical report, a minimum of 300-530 endangered sperm whales are thought to inhabit the northern Gulf. It is the only known breeding and calving area in the Gulf, for what is believed to be an endemic population. From Florida Fish & Wildlife News (www.flawildlife.org).