Clean Marine BC
The biggest thrill of boating is the amazing wildlife that we encounter in and around the Salish Sea.
However, as boaters, we must be mindful that our watercraft can cause:
- Whales to experience stress and interruptions to feeding, mating, socializing, resting, and calf nurturing.
- Birds to abandon their nests and young, and can disrupt feeding or other behaviour critical to survival.
- Damage to sensitive habits such as estuaries, enclosed bays and narrow channels, eelgrass and kelp beds, and shellfish areas.
- The unintentional spread of aquatic invasive species (on hulls, shoes or paddles) which can disrupt the existing balance of ecosystems and out-compete native species.
For more tips on how to minimize our disruption while boating, browse our Guide to Green Boating.
As of June 2025, only 73 endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales remain from a historic population of 200
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Keeping your distance from whales is vital in preventing physical disturbance and noise which can affect migratory patterns and communication between whales.
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Marine birds often nest on the ground or in burrows along the shoreline on islets and cliff sides. On top of the risk of pollution to these sensitive habitats, it’s also critical to avoid physical disturbance of these nesting zones.
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If you’ve spent time boating in the Salish Sea, you’ve probably cruised over eelgrass, maybe even without realizing it. These underwater meadows cover much of the shallow waters and estuaries, creating some of the most important marine habitats in the region.
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