Category Archives: Vessel Observations

Motor Boat Disturbances to Life at Race Rocks

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Whether or not you consider marine mammals to be a valuable part of an ecosystem, we have the unique opportunity of having an island close to a major centre of population which is a haulout habitat for five marine mammal species and a birthing habitat for three of those species. This is unique in Canada, and it is our responsibility to maintain that ecological integrity of the location as much as possible. The purpose of the ecological reserve is to protect as far as possible the entire ecosystem, including the seabirds, mammals, marine invertebrates, fish and algae.
Below we have some examples of the results of what we might call “Anthropogenic” or human caused disturbances from encounters of animals with motor boats. These are only the ones we see and document. No one knows what goes undocumented. Safe boating practises and speed reduction are needed in all areas around bird and mammal colonies. Regulations for all boaters within the reserve can be found in the regulations file.
 
 cut seal
 sea lion - boat collision
In this video, you can see the results of what a motor boat can do when driven over an elephant seal. Male Elephant Seal Injured by BOAT propeller
–January 2003		 his file provides evidence of what can happen when boaters do not exercise caution. Over the years, we have picked up several baby harbour seals at Race Rocks which have been decapitated by careless boaters. The most recent ones in Pedder Bay are documented here also. Regular observation and photographing of sea lions in 2009 has shown a number of horrendous injuries which are probably caused by collision with boat propellers. This file documents a number of those.

Often the greatest ignorance about marine mammal viewing regulations is illustrated by the actions of recreational boaters. Such infractions of the laws are forwarded to the DFO Marine Mammal Division for follow-up.

Infractions noted in the log are linked here:

marine mammal infraction marin mammal infraction marine mammal infraction marine mammal infraction
On the afternoon of February 15, 2009, these boaters were seen off South Rock, speeding in the ecological reserve and driving too closely, They succeeded in stampeding the northern sea lions into the water. Being in that area they probably scraped bottom as well.
 On February 26, 2009  a vessel entered the reserve with excessive speed from the north just before noon.  It stopped too close to North Rocks where some northern sea lions and harbour seals were hauled out.
 It then cleared the E. side of these rocks and again sped to the rocks on the SE side of Great Race.  They did two passes of these rocks at this or closer distance, and then sped out of the reserve going north.
marine mammal viewing public ignorance boat too close
Boat # 14k4117 seems to think that the regulations about marine mammal viewing don’t apply to them.
11:30 AM Sept. 8, 2009		 From boat# 30K2923 an individual throws a baitfish to the sea lions from a few metres off the shore. Needless to say this was a first!
Noon, September 30, 2009.		 October 19, 2009.

The Problem with Drones

So far we have only had one instance of a drone being deployed over Race Rocks by a private boat in August, 2015.  We would like to remind the public that because of the potential to disrupt wildlife, the only justification for deploying a drone in any Ecological Reserve would be for research purposes and then only under permit from BC Parks,

The Problem with Personal Watercraft

Personal watercraft speeding in reserve Personal watercraft speeding in reserve disturbed sea lion personal water craft
The inevitable has happened. The personal watercraft was photographed on March 6, 2010 These vessels are sure to increase in the area unless Federal regulations are brought up to date. This sea lion was alert after two others had just been disturbed by the vessel and had jumped in the water. In March, 2012 a pair of personal watercraft came through the reserve
DND REPORTDEMARCHI, MW AND MD BENTLEY. 2004. Effects of natural and human-caused disturbances on marine birds and pinnipeds at Race Rocks, British Columbia.

LGL Report EA1569. Prepared for Department of National Defence, Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt and Public Works and Government Services Canada. 103 p.

 

research from weather dataCara Lachmuth, UBC uses Race Rocks atmospheric and sea data for Master’s thesis in 2008 on A Model-Based Approach Investigating Killer Whale (Orcinus orca) Exposure To Marine Vessel Engine Exhaust.This report was commissioned by the DND in 2003 to determine the impacts of disturbances at Race Rocks. Examples of the impacts on bird and mammal behaviour by several types of motor vessels using and transiting the reserve are detailed
D

 

Return to the Environmental Impact and Disturbances Index.

Go to the files on:

Permits/ Operating regulations/ Guidelines for human activities

boats and planes

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At 1230hrs PDT a vessel (13K 116013) was observed entering the Reserve under high speed from the west. Within 100 metres of Great Race, the vessel slowed, passed near Rosedale Reef, then turned around and sped back out to the west under high power.

Mid-afternoon, a vessel was spotted drifting into the NW side of the Reserve while fishing. The vessel departed after about 10 minutes.

At ~1515hrs PDT a red eco-tour zodiac (company name not visible) transited the main channel from E to W at a speed greater than 7 knots and fast enough to keep the vessel up on a plane.

At 1533hrs PDT a floatplane passed from E to W over the north side of the Reserve.

At ~1600hrs PDT a whale watching vessel approached closer than 100 metres to a California sea lion hauled out near the derrick. The vessel was actually within the kelp bed off the rocks. Upon sighting me [Adam] the vessel backed off and sped through the main channel to the west. After passing between West Race and Middle Race, the vessel throttled up well within the limits of the Reserve.

Posted by Adam

Disturbances from Boat traffic

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‘Disruption’, ‘Boat’, ‘Today at 13:00 a boat drifted with the flood current around the NW corner of Great Race and in doing so spooked ~60 California sea lions who were hauled out on the jetty. 20 or 30 of these animals took to the water while the driver diverted his course further away from the island. The disturbance reported here has not been relayed to DFO because in my opinion the vessel operator did nothing out of the ordinary to cause the disturbance and that the frequency of such routine infractions make these incidents difficult for DFO to handle. When I say “nothing out of the ordinary”, what I mean is that the vessel operator ignored the DFO guideline that marine mammal viewing should be done at a minimum of 100m from the animals “including those on the rocks” while also ignoring the PWWA’s recommendation that these guidelines be followed at Race Rocks in particular.I have documented this incident here to inform all users of the Race Rocks Ecological Reserve that the marine mammals here are wild animals and they are NOT universally habituated to human contact and boat traffic. There are complex seasonal and stochastic factors that influence the animals’ behaviour and no level of prior experience in viewing these animals can allow an observer to predict with absolute certainty their responses to our forced contact.While conventional tours in the reserve usually pose no problem, future disturbance infractions wherein vessel operators have chosen to ignore DFO guidelines will be duly recorded and reported.’, ‘Ryan’

Eco-tour boats in action

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‘Eco-Tour boat count= 10,
‘Every visitor to Race Rocks that has witnessed eco-tour boats in action has remarked at how close they get to the sea lions in the water and the rocks. These visitors include students, community groups, and professionals outside of Pearson College. I inform them of DFO’s guidelines posted on the web, as well as their recent poster that advertises these guidelines specifically for Race Rocks. It has been said to me from multiple people not associated with Pearson College that the significant economic and therefore political swing of these eco-tour businesses in Victoria give them considerable leeway between their actions and the enforcement of the law.’, ‘Ryan’, ’09:24:30′),

Seagull chicks starting to lift off ground

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The baby elephant seal is present outside the concrete pad again today. Its back is covered in small wounds and every move it takes seems to be an effort. It spent all day sleeping beside the jetty. Wondering if it is sick or in poor health..The number of sea lions (both stellar and California) is growing daily. Most are hauled out on the NE corner of Gr. Race and on Middle Rock. Some are also on the southern rocks as well. A flock of four Canada Geese was present on the island for a few hours this morning. Seagull chicks are still growing, with many spreading their wings and starting to lift off from the ground. Carcasses in various stages of decomposition have been found scattered across the island this week, with two new ones beside the cistern spotted yesterday. Slash has not been seen for a week now. A number of infractions from recreational boats occurred today, including viewing animals from less than 100 metres, fishing and traveling at speeds greater than 7 kts. Recreational boaters are reminded that violation of the Marine Mammal Regulations (rev. 2006) may constitute a fine up to $100 000. Adam, 21:25:22

Cable laying for the Tidal Current Turbine Project

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On August 20, 2006 the cable laying boat was deployed to start the process of laying the four electrical cables and a fibre optic cable which will take the energy generated by the turbine to the energy building on Race Rocks.

 

The cable laying barge is towed to the site to begin laying the cables

 

Photos taken by Mike Slater, Chris Blondeau and Garry Fletcher

Drilling for the piling for the Tidal Energy Project

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On July 24, 2006 the drilling took place throughout the day, with ever-increasing wind speed. The following pictures were captured from the remote Camera 5 on Race Rocks.

 

Boat runs Aground at Race Rocks

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See the shipwrecks File

Samples of screenshots from the remote cameras.

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Observation of the scenes on the cameras often yield some interesting and varied scenes. Feel free to add to this collection of the screen shots from the video cameras. e-mail : Garry Fletcher (garryf(use the @ sign)gmail.com See further directions on this .

Telephoto of the Olympic Mountains of Washington State. This was taken on a clear day- May 18, 2001 zoomed in on the remote camera. The tail end of a tugboat-drawn barge going up the Strait of Juan de Fuca, May 18, 2001 On a calm day, the area is a very popular site for observation of marine birds and mammals by the tour boats which take on passengers in Sooke or Victoria. May 18, 2001
Captive tourists look out on the life of freedom enjoyed by the elephant seals and sea lions. May 18, 2001 May 18, 2001: Inflatable boats are used by many of the marine mammal tour boats.  We get some glorious sunsets looking out from Race Rocks.This one has the Metchosin Hills in the foreground: June 11, 2001
July 1, 2001, Canada Day fireworks over the provincial capital Victoria, B.C. Mike Slater lined up this scene on camera 3. July 4, 2001, American Independence Day fireworks over Port Angeles to the south of Race Rocks. Jean Dalphond captured this collage of images when he was staying at RR doing a project in early June, 2001.
Gull chicks hatching
July, 2001		 Pigeon guillemots – nest in burrows in the rocks – use remote camera to find
July, 2001		 There was an abundance of baby seals – born in mid July – 2001. Mike and Carol set the camera up on this scene on camera 2 .

The Brandt’s cormorants on the west shore in
January, 2002
May 2002 : yes, sometimes Race Rocks can be “golden”. This is camera 1 on the elephant seals.
June, 2002 : We have had a successful year for gull hatching: 96 counted at one time and most of them survived.
Pam Birley from England has sent us this eagle sequence, January, 2004. She has contributed her album of pictures to our daily log files. The OCEANQUEST exercises:use screen capture to contribute to a database