Require 1,000‑metre vessel buffer
Petitioners ask the government to require recreational and commercial whale‑watch vessels to remain at least 1,000 metres from Southern Resident killer whales. The government responds that it has proposed amending the Marine Mammal Regulations to 1,000 metres, is using interim Orders (including a 400‑metre limit in parts of BC), and will consult affected parties.
Why we would sign this petition
- Reduces harmful vessel noise and disturbance in critical habitat, helping Southern Residents communicate and forage more effectively.
- A mandatory 1,000 m rule creates a clear, enforceable standard for recreational and whale‑watch vessels, reducing ambiguous compliance.
- Aligns with Washington State practice and Canada's biodiversity commitments to lower extinction risk for this endangered population.
Why we wouldn’t sign this petition
- Implementing and enforcing a strict 1,000 m buffer across busy transboundary waters could be operationally difficult and require new monitoring resources.
- A wide mandatory buffer may constrain commercial and port-related shipping, leading to economic and logistical trade-offs for projects mentioned in the petition.
- The government has proposed regulation changes and uses interim orders, so targeted regulatory development and consultation might produce more tailored or flexible measures.
The summary and both sets of reasons are AI-generated from the petition and given equal weight. Claims are the petitioners’ own; consult the official record for the full text.
Official petition
Petition to the Government of Canada Whereas: Southern Resident killer whales are an endangered population listed under Canada's Species at Risk Act and the United States Endangered Species Act; Legally protected critical habitat for Southern Residents is located within the heavily transited transboundary marine waters of the Salish Sea; Underwater noise and physical disturbance from vessels affect the ability of Southern Residents to communicate successfully and forage effectively; Southern Resident killer whales can lose more than 50% of their echolocation range when foraging near commercial shipping traffic; Increased shipping traffic from container expansions at Roberts Bank and oil tankers for Trans Mountain increase underwater noise in critical habitat. The lost foraging on salmon associated with this noise increases the risk of extinction for Southern Residents; More ships will reduce the quiet time Southern Residents can feed without noise interfering with echolocation and communication; Considering these threats, Washington State recently passed legislation (Senate Bill 5371) that establishes a mandatory 1,000-yard buffer for recreational and commercial whale watching vessels around Southern Resident killer whales; and Canada has committed to halting and reversing biodiversity loss, as declared with the signing of the Kunming- Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. We, the undersigned residents of Canada, call upon the Minister of Transport to implement a mandatory vessel distance regulation where recreational vessels and commercial whale-watch vessels must not be closer than 1,000 metres to Southern Resident killer whales, consistent with vessel distance regulations for these whales in Washington State.
Government response
Response by the Minister of Transport and Internal Trade Signed by (Minister or Parliamentary Secretary): Mike Kelloway The Government of Canada has taken unprecedented action to address key threats, including underwater noise from vessels to support the recovery and survival of endangered Southern Resident killer whales. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) is the lead department in establishing approach distances to marine mammals through the Marine Mammal Regulations, such as the200- meter approach distance for killer whales in Pacific waters. The Government has proposed to amend the approach distance to 1,000 metres for Southern Resident killer whales through amendments to these regulations. The process for amending the Marine Mammal Regulations is ongoing and is detailed in the What We Heard report that was published in 2025. The exact scope and implementation of any regulatory measures will be informed by consultations with directly affected First Nations, Wildlife Management Boards, industry stakeholders, and other affected parties. Since 2019, the Minister of Transport has issued successive Interim Orders under the Canada Shipping Act, 2001. These Orders establish mandatory measures that aim to reduce underwater vessel noise and physical disturbance from marine traffic for all killer whales, particularly in key Southern Resident killer whale foraging areas and critical habitat. One such measure further prohibits vessels from approaching any killer whale within 400 metres in the coastal waters of British Columbia, extending from Campbell River to just north of Ucluelet, which expands upon the 200 meters under the Marine Mammal Regulations. This approach distance under the Order is in place year-round and was most recently implemented for a period of June 1, 2025 until May 31, 2026. This measure contributes to the recovery of the Southern Resident killer whale population, and directly mirrors the exceptions and provisions set out in the Marine Mammal Regulations. A provision under the Interim Order allows the Minister of Transport to authorize commercial ecotourism and whale watching companies to view non-Southern Resident killer whales no closer than 200 metres. This authorization is granted only if it does not compromise the protection of killer whales and the marine environment or compromise marine safety. Authorized companies are prohibited from offering, planning, or promoting excursions based on the viewing of Southern Resident killer whales, and are not allowed to approach, follow, transit alongside, view, or remain in the presence of Southern Resident killer whales. To receive an authorization, companies must apply and provide detailed information on their experience and ability to discern killer whale ecotypes. Until the Marine Mammal Regulations are amended and in effect, the Government of Canada will continue to implement an extended approach distance on an interim basis. Please refer to this site to find up-to-date information on management measures: 2025 management measures to protect Southern Resident killer whales | Pacific Region | Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Transport Canada is dedicated to safeguarding the Southern Resident killer whale population and is committed to protecting this iconic species along the West Coast.