The Lower Estuary represents a prime feeding ground for large rorquals. This sector also overlaps one of the largest navigable waterways in North America, with a number of merchant ships and cruise vessels transiting the Marine Park every year. In order to lower the risks of collision, a slowdown measure has been developed in collaboration with the Group on Marine Traffic and Protection of Marine Mammals (G2T3M), which is composed of marine conservation organizations, the academic sector, government bodies and the shipping industry.

Result

Thanks to the cooperation of ship operators and pilots, the average transit speed has fallen from 14.2 knots when the measure is not in effect to 10.8 knots when it is, which bodes well for lowering the risks of collision.