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Helping protect B.C.’s spectacular coastal wildlife
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Lori Bamber
Content from: BC Ferries 2015 Special Report

Great blue herons are among the birds seen at a saltwater marsh at the Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal.

Whether you're visiting the Inside Passage for the first time or taking your weekly Sunday evening trip back home to Vancouver from Gibsons, ferry travel is a wonderful way to enjoy B.C.'s spectacular coastline. There is no place like it in the world – the blue-green Coast Mountains and moody waters of the Georgia Strait are home to an almost infinite variety of marine and other wildlife.

For BC Ferries, looking for ways to help wildlife thrive is an organizational goal and a passion pursuit among employees, says Leslie James, the company's manager of the environment. "Preserving and protecting the environment we work and live in is of utmost importance to us. We know the value of our coast and the natural beauty it offers locals and visitors alike."

This long-standing, ingrained spirit and drive has recently been formally harnessed through BC Ferries' SeaForward initiative, a program designed to continually expand and improve the corporation's social and environmental performance.

At the Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal, for example, a BC Ferries salt marsh – originally built in 1993 to offset the impacts of the terminal expansion – has evolved into a natural salt marsh habitat. Bird species such as the black oystercatcher, double-crested cormorant, green-winged teal, western gull, bald eagle and American widgeon have all been observed in the area, and researchers interested in ecological restoration now study the site extensively.

It's the great blue herons – a federally and provincially listed "species at risk" – that make the most vivid impression, says James. "There's a colony that spends much of its time in the area, and there are so many herons there in the spring and summer months that the trees look grey. At low tide, they come down and fish. It's a real success story."

BC Ferries is also a member of ECHO (Enhancing Cetacean Habitat and Observation), a program that aims to mitigate the effect of coastal traffic on whale populations. Other stakeholders include Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Port Metro Vancouver, a number of First Nations and the Vancouver Aquarium. "There's particular interest around the resident orcas, because their habitat – the heavily trafficked Salish Sea – has now been listed as critical. It's key to their survival," says James.

Since joining BC Ferries in 2013, James says she has found a deep commitment to the coast and environment throughout the organization. "People are proud to live and work here. Our employees are a huge driving force behind our environmental initiatives – they are creative and innovative, and want to do the right thing. There is also a lot of support from our leadership team, directors and our president and CEO Mike Corrigan.

"The people who work here have a common love of the sea, and a passion for protecting it."

 

 

Reducing the impact of the fleet

BC Ferries has three new vessels currently under construction that are capable of using liquefied natural gas (LNG), translating into much cleaner exhaust emissions. Two Spirit Class vessels will also be upgraded to LNG.


Water conservation onboard vessels and at terminals

BC Ferries has reduced water consumption through the use of low-flow toilets, replacement of flush valves and similar upgrades. In addition, a pilot rainwater collection program is currently under way at Little River Terminal in Comox.


Energy management program

 A Power Smart Partner with BC Hydro since 2008, BC Ferries energy management projects (completed and in progress) will result in approximately 1.3 gigawatt hours of annual energy savings, equivalent to the amount needed to power 118 average homes.


Waste management

 In addition to its more traditional recycling and composting efforts, BC Ferries delivers foam from worn seat cushions to a business that repurposes it as carpet underlay, averaging 1,125 and 1,875 board feet per month being diverted from the landfill.

 


BC Marine Vessel Air Quality Group

 BC Ferries is a long-standing member of the BCMAQG, a working group co-chaired by the Chamber of Shipping of BC and Environment Canada that facilitates development of programs and actions for air emissions related to vessels operating on the coast of British Columbia.

This content was produced by Randall Anthony Communications, in partnership with The Globe and Mail’s advertising department. The Globe’s editorial department was not involved in its creation.

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