Thank you, honourable Chair, vice-chair and esteemed committee members, for the opportunity to appear before you today. I appreciate your dedication to safeguarding Canada’s marine ecosystems by addressing complex challenges facing our oceans, including derelict and abandoned vessels. I am grateful to contribute today to the conversation.
I have lived on the west coast of Canada all of my life, and I currently reside on Nex̱wlélex̱wm, or Bowen Island, which is about 10 kilometres by boat from downtown Vancouver.
During the past 18 years, I have had the privilege of working on various marine-based projects, including planning and implementing multipronged approaches to restoring socioecological and socio-economic vibrancy in bays located in Átlk'a7tsem, or Howe Sound.
I am an environmental professional with years of experience in local government, focusing primarily on the Átl’ḵa7tsem region of the Salish Sea. Throughout my career, I have been honoured to collaborate with the Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh nations, community action groups, marine contractors, provincial government agencies, elected officials like MP Patrick Weiler, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, and Transport Canada—all with a common goal aimed at mitigating pollution, ecosystem degradation, social concerns and economic impacts stemming from derelict and abandoned vessels.
Often exhausting the local government tool box on Bowen Island—for example, we've adopted relevant bylaws, obtained a provincial tenure to enable legal management of marine areas and spent our limited budgets—we've looked to higher levels of government for financial and enforcement support. We were successful in establishing strong working relationships with provincial and federal staff, but in my experience their legislated authority, funding and staffing resources were constraining.
I could speak at length about the many facets of derelict and abandoned vessels, but today I would like to focus on one issue I feel is of paramount importance if we are to achieve long-lasting change. Specifically, I'd like to focus on the proliferation of mooring buoys in vulnerable areas like Átlk'a7tsem and other regions of the Salish Sea, and how they relate to the problem of derelict and abandoned vessels.
In my experience, bays that are inundated with mooring buoys are often inundated with derelict and abandoned vessels. Once a mooring buoy is dropped in the ocean, the associated tackle, anchor chain and block remain in place. Around Bowen Island, some have been there for up to 50 years, from anecdotal conversations with locals. The sea floor around the anchoring systems of the buoys is often devoid of life from constant chain scouring.
Federal programs, such as the oceans protection plan, have been positive steps, and I am deeply appreciative of the work done by staff within the DFO and TC to exercise their jurisdictional authorities. However, the number of mooring buoys installed throughout Átlk'a7tsem, and the number of vessels tied to them, will undoubtedly continue to increase if legislation, regulation and funding for enforcement are not strengthened.
If the Canadian Navigable Waters Act and the associated private buoy regulations were to be opened up, there is room for augmentation with respect to mooring buoys, which I consider minor works. Looking at ways to address the proliferation of mooring buoys and, ultimately, the derelict and abandoned vessels tied to these buoys is important if we are to enhance the well-being of all species living near, on and in our oceans.
Thank you once again for your time, your efforts and your consideration of this issue. I look forward to the questions and comments today.