Chinook salmon and southern resident killer whales

Reference Number
7
Text

My comments pertain to comparison of the Roberts Bank Terminal 2 project and the GCT Berth 4 project regarding impediment to juvenile chinook salmon out-migration from the Fraser River to the open ocean, and to impacts to southern resident killer whales in the Salish Sea from increased shipping.

Berth 4 would be less of an impediment to out-migration than RBT2 but the existing impediment to out-migration would remain. This is a significant matter, common to both projects.

The SRKWs are on the verge of extinction. The main factor hindering recovery is the decline in abundance of chinook salmon.

The SRKWs have been listed as endangered in both Canada and the US for decades. They are not recovering. Their numbers have declined from 99 individuals in 1995 to 86 in 2010 to just 74 today. The Review Panel stated that loss of one more individual could have significant adverse population consequences. Extinction of the SRKW is inevitable without action to protect the chinook.

Little evidence has been provided by the Port to show that juvenile chinook currently effectively move around the causeway and terminals and then turn south to reach the rich intercauseway habitats. What is the incentive for the juveniles to move into deeper, saline waters if they are still in an estuary rearing phase?

Regarding vessel traffic, there would be fewer container ship movements in the Salish Sea with Berth 4 than with T2.

The GCT project appears more logical and less risky than T2 from a business standpoint given the possibility of reduced growth of shipping between the Port and China due to current and mid-term considerations.

Trevor Jones

414-4900 Cartier St., Vancouver, BC V6M 4H2

trevorfjones1942@gmail.com

Submitted by
Trevor Jones
Phase
Planning
Public Notice
Public Notice - Public Comments Invited on a Summary of the Initial Project Description
Attachment(s)
N/A
Date Submitted
2020-11-04 - 2:00 PM
Date modified: