The Government of Canada has proposed more than $258 million over five years to strengthen protections for endangered whale species, including Southern Resident killer whales, North Atlantic right whales, and St. Lawrence Estuary belugas. The funding would support measures addressing ship strikes, underwater vessel noise, entanglements, prey availability, and habitat protection. Proposed initiatives include expanded acoustic monitoring, regional underwater noise management in the Salish Sea, continued support for the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority’s ECHO Program, and funding for commercial vessel slowdown initiatives and quieter vessel technologies. The government also confirmed that vessels must remain 1,000 metres away from Southern Resident killer whales starting June 1, 2026, under Transport Canada’s Interim Order.
