Canada proposes $164 million over 5 years for whale protection off B.C.

The Canadian federal government has proposed a $164 million investment over five years to protect whales and their habitat in the waters off British Columbia. The funding, announced in Ottawa's spring 2026 update, is contingent on parliamentary approval.

Officials stated the initiative is designed to address the dual pressures of protecting marine life while anticipating increased maritime traffic. The government cited a need to diversify trade, partly due to tensions with the United States, which could lead to more vessel activity on Canada's West Coast.

A central component of the plan involves collaborating with BC Ferries to accelerate the adoption of technologies aimed at reducing underwater noise from vessels by up to 50 percent in the Salish Sea. The funding would also support the implementation and enforcement of existing whale protection measures, such as vessel speed restrictions and fisheries management protocols.

Additional programs would be led by the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, working with industry partners to slow large commercial vessels in British Columbia's coastal waters.

The proposal follows a recent incident highlighting the risks of human and marine life...