April 07, 2025
The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority published the 2024 annual report for the Enhancing Cetacean and Habitat Observation (ECHO) Program.
The year 2024 marks the ten-year anniversary of the program, which was launched in 2014 in collaboration with partners and advisors from across government, the marine transportation industry, Indigenous communities, and environmental groups to reduce the impacts of commercial shipping on at-risk whales.
In 2024, the port authority together with the Government of Canada and marine industry partners extended the Species at Risk Act (Section 11) Conservation Agreement to Support the Recovery of the Southern Resident Killer Whale for another five-year term. The renewal of this agreement commits the partners to continue leading and participating in efforts to address shipping impacts such as underwater noise and physical disturbance through voluntary initiatives such as ship slowdowns, route alterations, and research efforts.
Notably in 2024, the ECHO Program and its partners also:
Encouraged ship operators on 86% of ship transits to voluntarily slow down or move away from three key areas of southern resident killer whale critical habitat. Collectively, these areas represent approximately 50% of all southern resident critical habitat that intersects with commercial shipping lanes.
Completed studies to better understand the impacts of future ship traffic on underwater noise off the coast of B.C and better understand whale presence trends in the area.
Committed to continuing to lead whale protection efforts under the Conservation Agreement, with a focus on three strategic priorities:
- Taking action to advance real-time whale presence notifications to commercial ship operators; supporting the transition to quieter vessels;
- Convening collaborators to maintain high levels of engagement and
- Encouraging participation in voluntary ship slowdowns and route alterations.
The port authority thanks the ECHO Program's partners and advisors for their ongoing support - and the voluntary participation of more than 100 marine transportation organizations.
Source: Vancouver Fraser Port Authority