Ten years after the entry into force of the “voluntary” measure to slow down merchant ships in the Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park, a large majority of them adhere to this initiative, indicate data obtained by The duty. But ships still pass through whale habitat at a speed that poses a risk of fatal collisions, and the expansion of the marine park will increase the challenges of protecting cetaceans.
The thousands of cargo ships, container ships, oil tankers and cruise ships that cross Quebec’s only marine park each year have been invited since 2013 to slow down to 10 knots (18.5 km/h) in a portion of this protected area. which constitutes “the main food sector” of the whales. Such a measure makes it possible to reduce the risk of collisions between cetaceans and ships; it exists elsewhere in the St. Lawrence, but on a mandatory basis, in order to protect right whales.
The “voluntary speed reduction” is in effect in the marine park during the period of the year “when it is most likely to encounter rorquals” in the sector, i.e. from 1er May to October 31, specifies the communications department of the Saguenay–St. Lawrence field unit at Parks Canada. It is also in this area and during this period that most of the activities of the cetacean-watching cruise industry take place.
According to data compiled by Parks Canada and sent to the Duty, the maritime industry’s adherence to this measure has increased significantly since its introduction. In 2013, 41% of ships were traveling at over 11.8 knots (22 km/h), a rate that dropped to 22% in 2020 and remained stable thereafter.
By way of comparison, when the “voluntary” measures are not in effect, i.e. from November to the end of April, the data for the period 2012-2022 indicate that no less than 85% of ships transited at more than 11.8 knots, 60% of which at over 13 knots (24 km/h), which can prove fatal for any whale struck.
The fact remains that commercial vessels continue to transit at speeds that represent a very real risk for cetaceans. Last year, 134 ships sailed over 13 knots during the suggested slowdown period. For the period 2020-2021, this number reached 206 vessels. From 2017 to 2019, there were 552 vessels, an average of 184 per year.
“An effective tool”
Overall, however, Parks Canada believes that this voluntary initiative “is an effective tool” in the Marine Park. “Since the implementation of the measure in 2013, the level of membership has continued to increase from one year to the next. This results in a significant reduction in the risk of fatal collisions between ships and large rorquals in the estuary,” argues the ministry.
Biologist specializing in marine mammals and the functioning of ecosystems, Lyne Morissette also sees a concrete gain in conservation. “I see this change as a step in the right direction, especially in the heart of the marine park, a place like many other marine protected areas where you have to reconcile the uses and realities of different stakeholders. According to her, this reconciliation will be essential to achieve the target of protecting 30% of the marine environments of Canada and Quebec by 2030.
Mme Morissette adds that the voluntary nature of the slowdown measure seems to work well here. “The scientific literature on conservation shows that often, even if mandatory policies are perceived as more effective by policy makers, in fact, voluntary measures are more successful, especially when certain ambassadors, who respect the rules, inspire others,” she explains.
In an evaluation report, excerpts from which Fisheries and Oceans Canada has agreed to send us, it is stated that the presence of St. Lawrence pilots on board the boats would have played a role in the “rapid” implementation of the voluntary measure. It should be noted that each international ship that goes up the St. Lawrence must take on board, from Les Escoumins, on the North Shore, a pilot specialized in navigation on this complex waterway.
The president of the Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park Coordinating Committee, Émilien Pelletier, explains that there is indeed good collaboration with these pilots who frequently cross the sector. “St. Lawrence pilots have a concrete effect, despite the pressure that may be exerted by shipowners who want to get to their destination as quickly as possible,” underlines Mr. Pelletier.
enlargement
Beyond the dozens of “recalcitrant” ships that transit each year at a speed exceeding 13 knots, Émilien Pelletier wonders above all about adherence to the slowdown measure in the context of the expansion of the marine park.
Earlier this year, Ottawa and Quebec made a commitment to quadruple the size of this protected area. It is therefore likely that the park will extend further downstream of the estuary, in particular to include other important sectors for cetaceans, including the two largest living animals on Earth, the blue whale and the fin whale. common, two species at risk.
“With the expansion of the Marine Park to the east, we should find ourselves in an important area where there will be no St. Lawrence pilots on board ships. And the whales are present in these areas,” explains Mr. Pelletier, expressing his concern at the idea of seeing ships traveling at higher speeds despite the risks for the animals that we want to protect.
Not to mention the recurring pressure from certain maritime companies for the outright withdrawal of pilots from the St. Lawrence. A prospect that he considers very worrying for the respect of the conservation objectives of the estuary.