Voluntary Protection Zone for the West Coast of Haida Gwaii: Trial Evaluation 2020-2021
During a Voluntary Protection Zone (VPZ) trial, commercial cargo and passenger vessels of 500 gross tonnage (GT) or greater were asked to stay at least 50 nautical miles (nm) west of Haida Gwaii when passing through the area. Exceptions set this distance at 25 nm for those trading between ports in British Columbia, Washington and Alaska and at 12 nm for cruise ships. Fishing vessels and tugs were exempted completely. Vessels movements before and during the trial were assessed using Automated Identification System data to determine the extent to which vessels would follow the requested routing. Transport Canada also administered a short questionnaire to vessels that traveled within the VPZ zones to understand the reason why.
The analysis found that commercial vessel traffic in the region was generally similar during the trial study period as compared to the 2016 data that had been considered during discussions leading to the development of the VPZ. Two changes were noted: (1) cruise ship traffic ceased in 2020 due to the pandemic, then recovered somewhat in 2021, and (2) cargo vessel transits increased by 31% from 2019 to 2020, remaining high in 2021. The latter was attributed to changes in traffic patterns after the global cap on sulphur emissions from vessels took effect at the start of 2020, after which vessels on Great Circle Route voyages between North America and Asia spent more time in the Canadian Exclusive Economic Zone. This reflected a return to traffic patterns that existed before the Emissions Control Area in the region took effect.
All vessels studied reduced entrances into the VPZ during the trial as compared to the months immediately pre-trial. Cruise ships showed the most pronounced change, with just 2% of voyages entering within 12 nm during the trial for a total of just 45 minutes. Vessels trading between British Columbia, Washington, and Alaska also made a significant change, reducing to just 4% of voyages entering within 25 nm of the west coast of Haida Gwaii. Based on survey responses and an examination of wave height data, it appears that if a vessel entered the VPZ it was most likely do so to avoid bad weather. When wave heights were higher off the coast of Haida Gwaii, vessels on the Great Circle Route were more likely to enter the VPZ or go through Hecate Strait.
While there was essentially no change to transits through the SGaan Kinghlas-Bowie Seamount Gin Siigee Tl’a Damaan Kinggangs Gin K’aalaagangs Marine Protected Area, there was an increase in transits through Hecate Strait – particularly in bad weather. This shift appears to have started at the onset of the IMO global sulphur cap in 2020 and continued, with a slight increase, during the VPZ trial.
