Ottawa spending millions to protect whales

VANCOUVER — The federal government is spending more than $9.1 million to develop and test technologies that alert vessels to the presence of whales, lowering the risk of collisions.

Fisheries and Oceans Minister Dominic LeBlanc says the government will also spend more than $3.1 million on four research projects to help protect endangered southern resident killer whales.

The University of British Columbia will examine how the whales have been affected by changes in the supply and quality of chinook salmon, its source of food. Another study by Ocean Wise will assess the impact environmental stressors are having on the whales, particularly noise and limits on prey.

LeBlanc said Thursday there is a responsibility to ensure whales are protected for future generations.

Several conservation groups said the federal government’s failure to issue an emergency order reducing threats to resident killer whales off the B.C. coast ahead of fishing and whalewatching season could mean the species’ extinction.

They’ve called for action including establishing priority foraging refuges, restricting fisheries and setting lower speed limits for vessels.

LeBlanc said the government is not planning to stick to studies only and suggested there will be more announcements soon.

“We’re not suggesting that all we need to do is have more studies, we think studies are part, and science investments are part, of informing better public policy and decisions,” LeBlanc said.

He said it takes time to co-ordinate action with stakeholders and the government is not afraid to make decisions that offend some parties.