Requirements include:

• areas of refuge from human disturbance.
• unpolluted inshore waters.
• haul-out sites (some species).

Threats include:

• repeated disturbance from irresponsible boaters and commercial whale watching operators.
• marine pollution.
• collision with boats and entanglement in fishing gear.

Strategies

Minimize marine pollution

• Install the best available sewage treatment technology.
• Ensure that runoff from paved areas in new developments is adequately treated via the subdivision and development permit processes.
• Retrofit storm sewers with oil/grease separators, sediment traps, and/or treatment wetlands during other maintenance and upgrading projects.
• Prevent direct dumping of toxic materials into storm or sanitary sewers through public education and a bylaw.
• Ban insecticide and herbicide use for cosmetic purposes on lands within jurisdiction (municipalities only).
• Eliminate insecticide and herbicide use on local government lands.
• Keep high-risk industries away from habitats through zoning.
• Require large setbacks from habitats through zoning, subdivision and development permits processes.
• Enforce stringent anti-pollution regulations for boats and port facilities (port authorities only).

Promote responsible whale watching

• Use business licensing to help professional associations and regulatory agencies ensure that commercial operators abide by codes of conduct.
• Include information on responsible boating around marine mammals in public education materials and programming. Materials should be available at harbour and boat rental facilities.

Protect individuals from disturbance

• Target haul-out sites (if applicable) for purchase or dedication via the subdivision, rezoning and development permit processes.
• Restrict public access to habitats on local government land.
• Regulate the timing and location of construction activities to minimize disturbance of marine mammals, using the subdivision and development.