The reduction of boat traffic on the B.C. coast could be good news for marine life. “I think it’s still too early to tell,” said Valeria Vegara, a marine mammal research scientist with the Ocean Wise Conservation Association. “But certainly it has to be good news for marine life locally.” Noise pollution from vessels is one of the single greatest risks to marine animals who rely on sound for communication.
Whale-watching companies have ceased operations under the COVID-19 pandemic, she added, while BC Ferries has cut service in half. “This has to have significant effects on whale habitats.” The federal government has ordered all commercial marine vessels with the capacity of 12 or more passengers to stop non-essential activities, such as