Transport Canada has been active sending out threatening Warning Letters to vessel owners during this fall/winter season. A number of boaters are just now receiving Warning Letters based on their 2024 boating activities as monitored by Transport Canada. These Warnings are for inadvertently entering the No-Go Interim Sanctuary Zones for Southern Resident Killer Whales and/or for violating the Interim Speed Restricted Zones along West Coast Vancouver Island.
Canada, including British Columbia, has laws and regulations in place to address imminent threats to the survival of Southern Resident Killer Whales (SRKW) and Management Measures to protect this endangered species. Most boaters are familiar with the two No-Go Zones in effect from June 1 through November 30 – one off the southwest shore of North Pender Island and the other off the southeast end of Saturna Island. After visiting Bedwell Harbour, most boaters are careful to stay clear of these areas; however, many boaters on their return trip southbound forget to avoid these areas and unknowingly bust through the northwest corner of the No-Go Zone off North Pender Island. We have heard from several boaters, who reported having recently received a Warning Letter from Transport Canada. A map of these No-Go Zones is published in the Waggoner Cruising Guide and can also be found on the Transport Canada website under Management Measures.
Boaters may not be as familiar with the Interim Speed Restricted Zones also in effect from June 1 through November 30, located along West Coast Vancouver Island off the mouth of the Nitinat River and around Swiftsure Bank of Juan de Fuca Strait. Speed in these areas is restricted to 10 knots. A boater who cruised along the West Coast of Vancouver Island in 2024, with a return trip in August, notified us that they had recently received a Warning Letter from Transport Canada for exceeding the speed limit. For a map of these Speed Restricted Zones, see the Transport Canada website.
In all these cases, monitoring a vessel’s AIS tracking was used to confirm violations of entering No-Go Zones for SRKW, or for noting violations of Speed Zone areas. While AIS is a useful navigation tool and collision avoidance tool, government agencies are using AIS for law compliant purposes as noted in several Waggoner eNews newsletters. Waggoner suggests posting a reminder at your helm station regarding these restricted areas.
Transport Canada includes an advisement in their Warning Letters that reads “the noted circumstances to which it refers, will form part of the compliance history of your vessel, and will be taken into consideration in the event of future non-compliance.” Boaters who have received a Warning Letter, are asked by Transport Canada to acknowledge receipt by signing the letter and returning it within 5 business days to the address noted in the letter. Fines for violating the No-Go Sanctuary Zones are stiff and strictly enforced – up to $1 million and/or imprisonment. There is reportedly an Appeal Process and fines may be reduced if you cooperate with Transport Canada enforcement agents. Reports from 2023-2024 indicated that imposed fines generally ranged from $1,000 to $1,500.
Waggoner expects that these SRKW restricted zones and restricted Speed Zones will be in effect again for 2025, unfortunately, Transport Canada normally makes these announcements in late April for the current boating season when many boaters have already left on their way to Northern B.C. or Southeast Alaska. Boaters are reminded to reference their navigational charts and maintain situational awareness at all times. You can check for updates at www.waggonerguide.com/updates throughout the 2025 boating season. Boaters are encouraged to sign up to receive the “Ship Safety Bulletin” from Transport Canada HERE. Navigational Warnings and Notices (NOTMAR) for Canada can be found HERE.
Image: Transport Canada
