March 03, 2026
Ship slowdown off B.C.'s coast begins early to better protect endangered whales
The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority announced that the ECHO Program has launched a new ship slowdown trial in Haro Strait and Boundary Pass, aiming to better protect endangered southern resident killer whales when they are present in the area.
A recent study conducted by the Orca Behavior Institute in collaboration with the Pacific Whale Watch Association (PWWA) found that March is one of the peak months of southern resident killer whale presence in Haro Strait and Boundary Pass. The new slowdown trial aims to reduce underwater noise from commercial shipping -as the whales rely on sound to communicate, navigate, and hunt.
The one-month ship slowdown initiative in March adds to the Enhancing Cetacean Habitat and Observation (ECHO) Program's voluntary seasonal measures in place from June through November, which includes slowdowns in Haro Strait, Boundary Pass, and Swiftsure Bank, as well as a route alteration for tugboats in the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
This year marks the tenth season the marine transportation industry has participated in the ECHO Program's voluntary initiatives to reduce underwater noise in key sections of critical habitat for southern resident killer whales.
In previous years, the ECHO Program's threat reduction measures have reduced underwater noise from commercial vessels - a key threat to at-risk whales - by up to half. Research also shows that slowdowns can reduce the risk of whale strikes by up to nearly a third and cut air emissions by about a quarter.
Since its launch in 2014, the ECHO Program has been one of the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority's key efforts to enable Canada's trade through the Port of Vancouver while protecting the environment. More than 70 marine transportation organizations plan to participate in the ECHO Program's measures this year by slowing down or moving away from key areas of whale habitat. The program encourages voluntary participation and coordinates efforts with federal partners, Indigenous communities, the marine transportation industry, and environmental organizations.
Source: Vancouver Fraser Port Authority