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Victory for cetaceans in British Columbia
Last autumn colleagues in Canada contacted the Marine Connection regarding a new project in British Columbia (BC) that could have had a huge effect on the dolphins and whales in the area. The BATHOLITHS project was to be a US led seismic survey initiative, which planned to use some of the world’s loudest air gun arrays to determine how the coast mountains in the area were formed. The Marine Connection asked its supporters worldwide to email or write with their views on this new project and thousands of you did exactly that! By putting pen to paper and emailing, you have helped save the lives of many dolphins and whales and stop this going head.
 The project was set to begin in September of this year and conducted between the Skeena River and Burke Channel by a panel of 16 Canadian and US scientists. These tests had the potential to deafen cetaceans that happened to be in the vicinity during the survey as the sound can ricochet off the sides of the inlets and carry up the channels. Seismic testing in the marine environment uses air guns to fire compressed air at the ocean floor. This high-energy explosion sends shock waves through the water and the rock layers beneath the ocean floor. These are then reflected from different layers, at various intervals, back through the rock and water, and are recorded by hydrophones and seismographs.
Humpback whales when feeding heavily to prepare themselves for their southern migration are disrupted, may not have the energy to complete those migrations, and that could lead to the inability of some females to calve. BC’s coast is home to several whale species including not only the humpback whale but also the grey and minke along with the famous killer whales. A very big thank you to everyone who took the time to support this campaign.
Click here to read the document entitled "Background Document - Notice of Termination"
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