I got an email from the "Whale Enforcement Unit" (Transport Canada)

[Flounder_pounder]

I recieved an email today from Transport Canada's "Whale Enforcement Unit". Quite a nasty letter... I was going to attach it, then realize it's protected goverment information, so probably best not to. It's all quite official looking. We spend lots of time boating around the Southern Gulf Islands with the family... we have a printed map on board showing the whale zones, and we put effort into respecting them. The day in question, I was exploring a beach nearby the zone with my son, but not within it. I went to my boat this evening to review the trail left on my chart to make sure, and at one point we got very close, but we stayed out of the zone the entire time... I see big yachts/sailboats all the time brutally violating these zones.... Anyways. Just wanted to post it here to let ya'll know... they're watching you... Good use of our tax dollers i'd say.

 

[SpringVelocity]

100 percent against that one in particular. These whale zones aren't working. We just need to be using the bubble method. Said that day 1.

 

[Capt_Ed]

My buddy got an intial $5000 fine for briefly crossing the corner of one of those zones. He got it reduced to a $1000 with a phone call but i think I would have gone to court. He was in it for less than 2 minutes . Fairly new boater and didnt want to cause trouble.

 

[Flounder_pounder]

My buddy got an intial $5000 fine for briefly crossing the corner of one of those zones. He got it reduced to a $1000 with a phone call but i think I would have gone to court. He was in it for less than 2 minutes . Fairly new boater and didnt want to cause trouble.

I had no idea they would hand out fines like this, and upon further research, it looks like they can hand out some real nasty fines... I find it totally insane and unnaceptable your buddy would get fined like that, and in my opinion, rules like this criminilize people who in no way deserve to be criminilized. My number is now in their system, even though I didn't violate the zone... so if I ever encounter transport Canada i'll be on their file as having been given a warning... These rules are complex and shifting, and they're crimilizing good-faith recreational boaters. I totally agree with the bubble method being used over these "zones"... but even so - they need to work on education first and foremost, and not harsh enforcement...

 

[SG2.0]

don’t think it’s classsified. Love to see the letter. Government is getting out of hand. Need to push back against this garbage.

 

[part time]

Not a big fan of government, however they have a job to do . There are tons of apps, tools and information available to boaters such that there should be no excuse for infringing on the rules. Working or not, the rules are what they are.
If decisions or judgement calls have to be made, my vote would be in favor of the Whales, and the officials who have to enforce the laws (it's a tough thankless job)

 

[searun]

I think we have jumped from education and awareness as a mechanism to shift boater behaviour far too quickly. One good thing they implemented was to monitor vessel traffic using AIS and contact any vessels in the Slow Down Zones that are exceeding the speed restriction and make them aware of the speed requirements and in some cases where the boundaries are on Channel 16. It seems to be working well in cases where contact is made - a common sense approach to create awareness which I applaud.

The SFAB recommended a number of times that there needed to be a significant investment in education/awareness backed up by a robust and clearly defined escalating enforcement approach. In other words, first offence starts with a stern formal warning, second offence escalates to a significant fine ($5,000 sounds about right), then on each subsequent infraction by the same person the fines escalate exponentially until they get the point. In this way the focus is on helping create awareness (soft enforcement), but quickly escalates (hard enforcement) for repeat offenders. Common sense, but seems not to be adopted yet

For your friend who received a heavy fine on first offence, I might have been inclined to go to court and specifically call witnesses from the Marine Mammal Unit to justify to the court efforts to create awareness to help boaters understand the new requirements and take appropriate action. I do not think the approach thus far would pass the reasonableness test for a court.

 

[Flounder_pounder]

Not a big fan of government, however they have a job to do . There are tons of apps, tools and information available to boaters such that there should be no excuse for infringing on the rules. Working or not, the rules are what they are.
If decisions or judgement calls have to be made, my vote would be in favor of the Whales, and the officials who have to enforce the laws (it's a tough thankless job)

I’m not against protecting the whales. I wasn't surprised at the fact Transport Canada enforces rules, but I was surprised that brief encroachments into the whale zones are being tracked this closely... I double-checked my GPS and stayed outside, but still got a formal warning.

Even the main website with the maps reads more like education. (https://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp...s-baleines/srkw-measures-mesures-ers-eng.html) There’s nothing there about fines. The penalties are only listed in the Canada shipping act, and other enforcment policies... In practice though, even short slips into these zones can get you flagged or fined. They’re definitely watching. And my main point of this post is bring awareness to that point.

Our place on the Gulf Islands is right next to one of the public boat launches. I'll often chat to people as they head out for the day, and I can assure you... unless it's lingcod opener when we actually see a few hardcore anglers, very few of these boaters know anything about the Rockfish conservation areas or whale protection zones.

 

[SpringFever2359]

I think we have jumped from education and awareness as a mechanism to shift boater behaviour far too quickly. One good thing they implemented was to monitor vessel traffic using AIS and contact any vessels in the Slow Down Zones that are exceeding the speed restriction and make them aware of the speed requirements and in some cases where the boundaries are on Channel 16. It seems to be working well in cases where contact is made - a common sense approach to create awareness which I applaud.

The SFAB recommended a number of times that there needed to be a significant investment in education/awareness backed up by a robust and clearly defined escalating enforcement approach. In other words, first offence starts with a stern formal warning, second offence escalates to a significant fine ($5,000 sounds about right), then on each subsequent infraction by the same person the fines escalate exponentially until they get the point. In this way the focus is on helping create awareness (soft enforcement), but quickly escalates (hard enforcement) for repeat offenders. Common sense, but seems not to be adopted yet

For your friend who received a heavy fine on first offence, I might have been inclined to go to court and specifically call witnesses from the Marine Mammal Unit to justify to the court efforts to create awareness to help boaters understand the new requirements and take appropriate action. I do not think the approach thus far would pass the reasonableness test for a court.

Son was bringing his work boat south around island from Gold
River to CR a few yrs back, enters the "slow zone" he's running at a legal speed but in the swell, when being pushed he's slightly higher speed, and vice versa slower, he gets a warning call over radio at the time, and writen notice from TC..
smh

 

[SpringFever2359]

I’m not against protecting the whales. I wasn't surprised at the fact Transport Canada enforces rules, but I was surprised that brief encroachments into the whale zones are being tracked this closely... I double-checked my GPS and stayed outside, but still got a formal warning.

Even the main website with the maps reads more like education. (https://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp...s-baleines/srkw-measures-mesures-ers-eng.html) There’s nothing there about fines. The penalties are only listed in the Canada shipping act, and other enforcment policies... In practice though, even short slips into these zones can get you flagged or fined. They’re definitely watching. And my main point of this post is bring awareness to that point.

Our place on the Gulf Islands is right next to one of the public boat launches. I'll often chat to people as they head out for the day, and I can assure you... unless it's lingcod opener when we actually see a few hardcore anglers, very few of these boaters know anything about the Rockfish conservation areas or whale protection zones.

Probably reported by some eco freak sitting in their living room looking out a telescope on such and such island with pen and paper in hand...

 

[onefish]

Cause mayhem downtown, stealing, open drug use, smash things, beat up random people. zero punishment.

Drive your boat the wrong speed, or in the wrong spot, and get the book thrown at you.

It makes NO SENSE whatsoever!

 

[SpringFever2359]

Cause mayhem downtown, stealing, open drug use, smash things, beat up random people. zero punishment.

Drive your boat the wrong speed, or in the wrong spot, and get the book thrown at you.

It makes NO SENSE whatsoever!

It's all about $$ and "cents"