mcbem-2014-01-submission-wwf-en

II - FRAMING THE ISSUES
Current and Proposed Projects with Underwater Noise: Implications for the North and Central Coast
Mike Ambach, WWF-Canada
The current trajectory of the marine transport industry in the North and Central Coast of British
Columbia points to a 100% increase in large vessel traffic by 2020 with continued future growth. A shift
towards larger and newer vessels, including more container ship traffic and LNG-carrying vessels, would
change the overall profile and makeup of the range of vessels plying these waters. In particular, three
port communities – Stewart, Prince Rupert, and Kitimat – are each poised for, or already undergoing,
significant expansion plans. Corresponding foreshore development to accommodate growth in this
sector will also impact coastal values such as commercial fishing, recreational use, and habitat value.
The drivers of this growth are largely related to the burgeoning Asian market. Asian demand for energy
products and commodities, as well as import of processed goods, is expected to grow. The significance
of this increase in shipping density has implications for species dependent on acoustic habitat. The
water bodies of Dixon Entrance, Chatham Sound, Douglas Channel and Caamaño Sound, as well as the
adjoining Hecate Strait and Queen Charlotte Sound, will all be subject to increased noise from shipping.
Drawing on data from Marine Communication and Traffic Control Services (Canadian Coast Guard), Port
Authority reports, forecasts for economic development, and various project descriptions (see list of
sources), an estimation of the numbers of ships, by vessel class (Figure 2) and region (Figure 3), was
made for the time span 2006 – 2028. Numbers on the vertical axis refer to vessels visiting the region /
year. Given the diversity of data sources, market uncertainties, and gaps in time series for some subsectors,
these graphs indicate approximations only.
Figure 3. Actual and estimated future number of vessel visits to British Columbia’s North and Central
Coast by vessel class. Courtesy of Mike Ambach.
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