At long last, there is a course for boaters of British Columbia that addresses both the safety of people AND marine mammals. The free Whale-Safe Boating course was launched in early July, as an easy-to-use online course available to the public.
The course covers best practices, regulations, and species identification. This online course is a comprehensive, one-stop resource that fulfills a critical need. It helps recreational boaters of both motorized and non-motorized vessels stay safe and legal around marine mammals, while also enhancing their enjoyment of the coast, increasing the safety of marine mammals, and contributing to marine mammal conservation.
You can find this free course at www.WhaleSafeBoating.org.
Details about the course:
- The dynamic, online course is 90 minutes long and is self paced
- Narrated with the option of closed captioning
- Can be paused, resumed, and referred back to at any time
- It includes a Certificate of completion and downloadable resources
- Optional supplemental module includes details about marine mammal species in coastal BC, plus Basking Sharks and Leatherback Turtles
The Whale-Safe Boating course was made possible by Transport Canada’s Boater Safety Contribution Program and developed with input from an advisory committee of experts in boating, paddling, education, marine mammals, and regulatory policy.
Submitted by Marieke Knierim
Outreach and Office Coordinator
Marine Education and Research Society (MERS)
Photos: Courtesy of MERS
Jackie Hildering photo and
Wendy Szaniszlo photo
