The day after the federal government announced a 5,025-square kilometre extension of critical whale habitat off the coast of Vancouver Island, tourists have already begun canceling planned vacations, the president of the B.C. Chamber of Commerce said.
On Dec. 6, members of 17 chambers of commerce B次元官网网址� calling themselves Thriving Orcas, Thriving Coastal Communities B次元官网网址� joined forces in Esquimalt to talk about the potential effects such an extension would have on humans.
B次元官网网址淏usinesses could close, jobs could be lost, tourism would stall. And the spin-off economic loses would be felt across British Columbia,B次元官网网址� Val Litwin, the president and CEO of the B.C. Chamber of Commerce, said. B次元官网网址淭he effects of all this uncertainty are already being felt with cancellations and fewer bookings coming from tourists that typically plan their trips to B.C. months in advance.B次元官网网址�
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Marine-based tourism such as recreational fishing and whale watching on Vancouver Island generates more than $1.2 billion to B.C.B次元官网网址檚 economy each year, he said, adding that the communitiesB次元官网网址� volunteer base, tax revenue, transportation and trickle-down businesses could also be impacted.
Darren Wright, the co-owner of Island Outfitters Ltd. in Victoria and a member of chambers in Victoria and Port Renfrew, said itB次元官网网址檚 important to point out that fishing closures have not been announced. HeB次元官网网址檚 heard from concerned customers, but said the government has only designated critical habitat B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址淣obody has said theyB次元官网网址檙e closing anything. What theyB次元官网网址檙e doing in that area, we donB次元官网网址檛 know that yet. WeB次元官网网址檙e hoping the government makes the right decision.B次元官网网址�
A closure would put him and many others out of business, Wright added. For his company alone, 25 people would be out of work.
B次元官网网址淲hy else would a person go to Port Renfrew?B次元官网网址� Wright asked.
As for the whales, Wright asked what a healthy population of Southern Resident orcas would look like if the current population is 74 B次元官网网址� four whales shy of the healthy estimate, with three pregnant whales to boot.
Although critical of the extension, it was stressed that the coalition supports both killer whales and coastal communities, many of whom converted from forestry and logging industries to tourism. Together, the 17 members of Island-based chambers represent more than 3,000 businesses.
B次元官网网址淎s people who work on the water every day and depend on strong fishing and tourism sectors to earn a living and feed their families, no one recognizes the importance of protecting marine habitats and marine life more than the men and women in coastal communities,B次元官网网址� Litwin said.
Although Litwin said their members were invited by the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, Jonathan Wilkinson, to provide feedback in October, the extension was outlined on Dec. 5 for La Perouse and Swiftsure banks, extending north past Ucluelet and 60-kilometres out to sea. The zone for Northern and Southern Resident Killer whales adds to the area in the Juan de Fuca Strait, designated in 2009.
Jen Dart, the executive director of the Tofino-Long Beach Chamber of Commerce, offered management suggestions that would suit all residents, whales and humans alike.
B次元官网网址淎s the federal government now works to define how best to manage the expanded critical habitat zone, our goal is that together we can develop more measured and science-based approaches that incorporate extensive research and scientific best practices, effective avoidance protocols, the expertise of leading marine institution researchers as well as generations of Indigenous and local knowledge,B次元官网网址� Dart said.
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