Killer whale protection order for southern B.C.

Summary#

The Minister of Transport has made the Interim Order for the Protection of the Killer Whale (Orcinus orca) in the Waters of Southern British Columbia, 2025 under the Canada Shipping Act, 2001. It came into force on June 1, 2025 and imposes temporary limits on how vessels may approach, position, and move in several coastal areas until November 30, 2025.

What it does#

• Keeps vessels and people from getting within 400 m of a killer whale in the waters mapped in the Order (Schedule 1).
• Makes it an offence to place a vessel directly in the path of a killer whale in those same waters.
• Establishes two small “vessel restricted zones” around Saturna Island and Pender Island (Schedule 2) where vessel navigation is banned on or before November 30, 2025, with specified exceptions for island residents, certain licensed fishers, and some Indigenous activities.
• Sets speed limits of 10 knots over ground in the areas listed in Schedule 3 (including the mouth of the Nitinat River and Swiftsure Bank) through November 30, 2025; the limit does not apply to non-motorized vessels.
• Allows the Minister to issue written authorizations for:
  • commercial whale-watching or ecotourism vessels to approach non-Southern Resident killer whale individuals no closer than 200 m, and
  • certain non-commercial activities that promote whale protection or monitoring (with conditions).
• Requires holders of authorizations to report sightings of Southern Resident killer whales (including using the WhaleReport app), keep an authorization flag on board, and follow any conditions set by the Minister.
• Lists routine exceptions (for example, vessels in distress, pollution response, government or peace officers on duty, and narrowly defined fishing rights).
• Repeals the similar 2024 interim order and replaces it with this 2025 version.

Who's affected#

• Recreational and commercial boat operators in southern coastal British Columbia, including areas around the Strait of Georgia, Burrard Inlet, and parts of Vancouver Island and the outer coast shown in the Schedules.
• Commercial whale-watching and ecotourism businesses that may need a written authorization to operate closer than 400 m to whales and must follow reporting rules.
• Residents and service operators who rely on water access to Pender Island and Saturna Island (there are specific travel exceptions).
• Indigenous people and communities with existing treaty or other rights; the Order lists specific exceptions for some Indigenous fishing and non-commercial activities.
• Anyone involved in marine rescue, pollution response, or official government duties (these activities are exempt).

Why it matters#

• The measures are meant to reduce disturbance and injury to whales, especially the vulnerable Southern Resident population, by keeping boats at a distance and slowing vessel traffic in key locations.
• Whale-watching operators and small-boat users may need to change routes, slow down, or apply for authorizations and to report sightings.
• Local residents who use certain waterways for travel or services should check the Order’s exceptions (for Pender and Saturna islands) to see whether their trips are allowed.
• The Order is temporary (to November 30, 2025) and replaces a 2024 interim order, so rules could change again after that date.