The petition raises concerns about the Trans Mountain Expansion Project, which it claims will result in increased tanker traffic within the southern resident killer whales’ critical habitat. The petition states that this poses significant risks to the endangered species through the increased risk of oil spills and physical and acoustic disturbances.
The petition outlines measures 62, 77, and 78 proposed in the 2017 Action Plan for the Northern and Southern Resident Killer Whale (Orcinus orca) in Canada and claims that, although the measures were listed as “high priority,” there is no information publicly available on their status of implementation. The petition references a 2022 progress report published by Fisheries and Oceans Canada and claims that it is unclear whether actions taken fully or partially satisfy the measures. The petition seeks updates on the implementation status and timelines for these measures, and it questions the development of spill response plans to minimize effects on the killer whales and the quantification of hydrocarbon levels in the killer whales’ critical habitat.
The petition states that the area response plans referenced in the progress report do not include steps to protect the killer whales or indicate how they will be prioritized in oil spill response planning. In this regard, the petitioner would like to know how killer whales and their habitats will be included in spill response protocols. It further questions the investments made in the equipment and training required to successfully implement such a
plan in the region.