BC Ferries Agrees to Cut Underwater Noise 50% by 2036 to Protect Orca Whales
BC Ferries has signed a conservation agreement with Ottawa to cut the underwater noise its vessels produce by 50 per cent by 2036, using 2019 as the baseline, to protect Southern Resident orca whales.
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BC Ferries has signed a conservation agreement with the federal government to cut the underwater noise its vessels produce within critical habitat for Southern Resident orca whales by 50 per cent by 2036, Daily Hive reported October 31. The target uses 2019 as the starting point and applies to the fleet's overall noise level within that designated habitat.
The agreement involves the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) and Transport Canada. Brian Anderson, interim president and CEO of BC Ferries, said in a statement the company has a responsibility to "connect customers and coastal communities while protecting the marine environment we all value."
"By collaborating with Transport Canada and Fisheries and Oceans Canada, we can continue advancing quieter vessels, improved operational practices and measures to further reduce the risk of vessel strikes," Anderson said.
How BC Ferries plans to reduce noise
BC Ferries says it will pursue the 50 per cent cut through three paths: replacement vessels, modifications to existing ferries, and changes to maintenance and operating practices.
The incoming Summit Class vessels, the ferry company's future largest ships planned for major routes linking Metro Vancouver with Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast, will use azimuth propulsors and smaller diesel engines, which Daily Hive says will produce less underwater noise than current equipment. BC Ferries is also expanding its use of battery-electric vessels, which are generally quieter than combustion-engine ships.
BC Ferries will develop an underwater noise management plan covering how the company measures its starting noise levels, timelines, and tracking. Transport Canada will contribute research and technical advice on measuring noise and making vessels quieter. DFO will advise on how noise and vessel collisions affect at-risk whales.
Humpback whale struck in Howe Sound
On October 18, the Queen of Surrey struck a humpback whale near the Grace Islands while operating between Langdale and Horseshoe Bay. BC Ferries said initial reports indicated the whale surfaced ahead of the vessel with little time to respond.
A dead humpback was found near the Grace Islands on October 26. Researchers identified the whale as Notcho, also known as BCX1700, from photographs of its right pectoral flipper. The Marine Education and Research Society reported the whale's tail fluke was missing. An October 30 update confirmed Notcho had died from the strike.
Daily Hive reported the conservation agreement was already in progress before the collision and was not a direct response to the October 18 incident.
DFO identifies noise disturbance as a threat that interferes with Southern Resident orca whales' ability to find food, rest, and communicate.
People who travel on BC Ferries can follow the new Conservative government's commitments on ferry operations at /bc/provincial-2026/tracker.
Questions this story answers
What does the BC Ferries conservation agreement say about underwater noise?
BC Ferries signed a new conservation agreement with the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans and Transport Canada committing to cut underwater noise within designated critical habitat for Southern Resident orca whales by 50 per cent by 2036, measured against a 2019 baseline. Daily Hive reported this on October 31, 2026. The target applies to the fleet's overall noise level in that habitat.
Why is underwater noise from BC Ferries a problem for orca whales?
According to Daily Hive's October 31 report, the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans identifies noise disturbance as a threat that interferes with Southern Resident orca whales' ability to find food, rest, and communicate. The Southern Resident orca population is one of the most endangered marine mammal groups on Canada's Pacific Coast.
What will BC Ferries do to reduce the underwater noise?
BC Ferries says it will work through replacement vessels, modifications to existing ferries, and changes to maintenance and operating practices, according to Daily Hive. The incoming Summit Class vessels will use azimuth propulsors and smaller diesel engines, which produce less underwater noise. The company is also expanding its use of battery-electric vessels, which are generally quieter than conventional combustion-engine ships.
What happened to the humpback whale struck by a BC Ferries vessel in October 2026?
On October 18, 2026, the BC Ferries vessel Queen of Surrey struck a humpback whale near the Grace Islands while operating between Langdale and Horseshoe Bay. A dead humpback was found near the Grace Islands on October 26. Researchers identified the whale as Notcho, also known as BCX1700, using photographs of its right pectoral flipper. An October 30 update confirmed Notcho had died after being struck, Daily Hive reported. The Marine Education and Research Society said the whale's tail fluke was missing.
Did the humpback whale death cause BC Ferries to sign the conservation agreement?
Daily Hive reported that although the conservation partnership was announced shortly after the collision, the agreement was already in progress and was not a direct response to the October 18 incident. BC Ferries interim president and CEO Brian Anderson said the company has already taken steps to reduce impacts on marine mammals, and the new agreement builds on that existing work.
What roles will federal departments play in the agreement?
Transport Canada will contribute research and technical advice on measuring underwater noise and making vessels quieter, covering vessel design, upkeep, and operation. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans will advise on how underwater noise and vessel collisions affect at-risk whales and what measures could help, according to Daily Hive's report of October 31.
What does BC Ferries plan to track under the agreement?
BC Ferries will develop and maintain an underwater noise management plan. According to Daily Hive, that plan will establish how the company measures its starting noise levels, set out timelines, and track implementation. BC Ferries also plans to monitor collision risks and share findings with other marine operators and through public education.
How does the agreement connect to the new BC Conservative government's plans for BC Ferries?
Premier-designate Lorne Doerkson has said the incoming Conservative government plans to review BC Ferries' shipbuilding contracts and operational direction. The government has not yet said how it will approach marine wildlife obligations. People who travel on BC Ferries and want to follow the government's commitments on ferry operations can check /bc/provincial-2026/tracker.
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