---
title: "BC Ferries Agrees to Cut Underwater Noise 50% by 2036 to Protect Orca Whales"
description: "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."
canonical_url: "https://voche.me/bc/provincial-2026/news/bc-ferries-whale-noise-conservation-agreement-2026"
last_updated: "2026-10-31T22:09:57.034Z"
---

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](/bc/provincial-2026/tracker).

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