Letter re Vessel Management National Framework

Extracted text (beginning)

Page 1 of 8 
 
 
200-1627 Fort Street, Victoria BC  V8R 1H8 
Telephone (250) 405-5151    Fax (250) 405-5155 
Toll Free via Enquiry BC in Vancouver 604.660-2421.  Elsewhere in BC 
1.800.663.7867 
Email  information@islandstrust.bc.ca 
Web  www.islandstrust.bc.ca 
 
September 30, 2019 
File No.: 5020-30 
Sent via Email: TC.cpfp-pfpc.TC@tc.gc.ca 
 
Transport Canada 
Let’s Talk Ocean Protection Plan 
 
To whom it may concern: 
 
Re: Draft Proactive Vessel Management National Framework Paper 
 
The Islands Trust is a federation of local 
government bodies representing 26,000 people 
living within the Islands Trust Area and 
approximately 10,000 non-resident property 
owners. The Islands Trust Area is located within 
Coast Salish territory and is home to over 28,000 
Coast Salish Peoples who have called this place 
home since time immemorial. The Islands Trust 
mandate is to preserve and protect the unique 
environment and amenities of the Islands Trust 
Area through planning and regulating land use, 
development management, education, 
cooperation with First Nations and other 
agencies, and land conservation. The area 
covers the islands and waters between the 
British Columbia mainland and southern 
Vancouver Island. It includes 13 major and more 
than 450 smaller islands covering 5,200 square kilometres.  
 
Since 1979, in support of its mandate to 'preserve and protect' the Islands Trust Area, the Islands 
Trust Council has advocated for regulatory changes that will improve the health of marine 
ecosystems in the region. Trust Council's current advocacy on marine issues is supported by the 
Islands Trust Policy Statement, approved by the provincial Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing 
in 1994. Since 2008, the Islands Trust, along with First Nations governments have been expressing 
concerns regarding the use of anchorages within the Islands Trust area for commercial freighters, and 
the transfer of Gypsum and other materials utilizing barges for export. 
 
  

 
Page 2 of 8 
 
Over the past 10 years, the number of coal, grain and break bulk cargo ships anchoring in the Gulf 
Islands region while waiting to access the Port of Vancouver has increased dramatically. Community 
members, First Nations communities, and visitors are concerned about the increased number of 
vessels, the increasing size of these vessels and the longer periods of time that ships spend at anchor. 
 
The Islands Trust Area is home to an extraordinary diversity of marine life and is among the most 
productive marine ecosystems in the world. Life is busy and colourful above and beneath the waves. 
The Salish Sea’s marine waters support diverse species such as bald eagles, oystercatchers, loons, 
cormorants, grebes, gulls and ducks, anemones, sea urchins, sand dollars, crabs, sea stars, octopus, 
seals, river otters, whales, porpoises and sea lions - to name but a few of the 2000 species. Not only 
do marine resources support local economies and diets; they are an ongoing so

First 3,000 characters. Open the original for the whole document.