Letter from 12 scientists urges Environment Minister to reject VFPA’s proposed shipping expansion in Fraser River estuary

VANCOUVER, BC, February 10, 2022 /CNW/ – A group of leading scientists have written to the Honorable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Canada, urging him to reject the Roberts Bank Terminal II (RBT2) project proposed by the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority (VFPA) if the government is committed to the recovery of threatened and endangered species that depend on the Fraser River estuary.

The letter, co-authored by 12 scientists with expertise in chinook salmon, southern resident killer whales and the Fraser River estuary, cites the Report of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (now the Impact Assessment Agency) which found that RBT2 will have significant adverse and cumulative effects on some populations of Fraser Chinook Salmon and Southern Resident Killer Whales.

The letter also expresses concerns about the VFPA’s reliance on “habitat compensation” as a mechanism to compensate for habitat loss suffered by Chinook salmon. The scientists cited a study that found that only 33% of past habitat compensation projects implemented by the VFPA achieved the intended ecological outcomes to offset the negative effects of their projects. A Canada-wide study of fish habitat offset projects found that some habitat offsets were simply not possible.

dr. Ken Ashleythe director of the Rivers Institute of the British Columbia Institute of Technology, states that “the Fraser estuary is the most ecologically sensitive and threatened ecosystem in all of Fraser River. After suffering a myriad of development pressures for over a century, it now faces an uncertain future due to continuing threats from major development proposals such as RBT2.”

Given this and the significant negative effects planned on Chinook Salmon and Southern Resident Killer WhalesThe scientists state there is a clear biological rationale for rejecting the project if their recovery is a priority for the Government Canada.

“We assessed the threats facing 102 species of conservation concern in the Fraser River estuary and found that pursuing projects that further reduce the habitat of these species at risk will only worsen their decline. Our research shows that species recovery requires the implementation of cost-effective conservation. based on science and supported by a management plan and co-governance”, Dr. Tara MartinProfessor in the Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences at University of British Columbia.

If Minister Guilbeault rejects the project, it would demonstrate the federal government’s declared commitment to legislation such as from Canada Species at Risk Act and policies guidelines under the Fisheries Act to recover species and populations.

contacts

For media inquiries, please contact the RBT2 Science Letter representatives below

dr. Ken Ashleydoctorate
Instructor and Director, Rivers Institute, British Columbia Institute of Technology
E-mail: [email protected]
PHONE: (604)-432-8270

dr. Tara Martindoctorate
Tara MartinPhD, Professor, Liber Ero Chair of Conservation, University of British Columbia
E-MAIL: [email protected]
PHONE: (250)-221-1241

Richard BaileyMSc
Retired scientist, former Chinook and Coho program manager, Fisheries and Oceans Canada
E-MAIL: [email protected]
PHONE: (250) 319-8568

dr. Marvin Rosenaudoctorate
Associate Professor and Instructor, British Columbia Institute of Technology
E-MAIL: [email protected]
PHONE: (604)-744-5938.

dr. Deborah Gillesdoctorate
Scientific and Research Director, Wild Orca
E-MAIL: [email protected]
PHONE: (916)-531-1516

Press assets

Website and letter
Photos and videos
Letter to Fraser Estuary Scientists

SOURCE Rose Mouton Media