June 16: Government of Canada’s Efforts to Protect Southern Resident killer whales from vessel-related disturbance – VIRTUAL EVENT

The Whale Museum’s Summer Lecture Series continues on June 16th at 7:00 PM with a remote lecture from Haley Welsh and Emma Giesbrecht from the Government of Canada! “Government of Canada’s Efforts to Protect Southern Resident killer whales from vessel-related disturbance”. This lecture will be remote-only presented through Zoom.

Representatives from the Government of Canada will be present to discuss current and upcoming vessel management measures to protect the Southern Resident killer whale population in Canadian waters. Prior registration is not required to attend—just click the link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83028806963…

Haley Welsh is a Senior Fisheries and Resource Management Officer at Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and has worked on marine mammal protection since 2018. She supports the Pacific marine mammal hub to reduce fishery impacts to marine mammals, including Southern Resident killer whales, and Whalesafe Gear modifications nationally. As well, her team lead the amendments to the Marine Mammal Regulations, which proposes enhanced approach distances for Southern Resident killer whales in Canadian Pacific waters.

Emma Giesbrecht is a Policy Analyst at Transport Canada, and has worked on the Southern Resident killer whale file since 2019. Her team has developed annual measures to reduce physical and acoustic disturbance to the Southern Residents in Southern BC waters, including the Vessel Restricted Zones, Speed Restricted Zones, increased approach distances and previously the whale watching authorization program