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(3) The notice extending the declaration is subordinate legislation. Person must not bring boat or aircraft closer to whale or dolphin 18 A person in control of a boat, jet ski or aircraft must not bring the boat or jet ski any closer than 500 m, or the aircraft any closer than 2,000 ft, to a special interest whale or dolphin or group of special interest whales or dolphins unless the person has a reasonable excuse or the Minister’s written permission. Maximum penalty – 165 penalty units. 9.5 Canada Excerpts from Canada’s Marine Mammal Regulations. General guidelines for Marine Mammal Critical Areas The Federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans is responsible for ensuring the protection and conservation of marine mammals. The Fisheries Act prohibits any form of harassment of cetaceans including repeated attempts to pursue, disperse, herd whales and any repeated intentional act of negligence resulting in the disruption of their normal behaviour. Individuals who contravene the Marine Mammal Regulations are guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding $500,000 and twenty-four (24) months imprisonment (Fisheries Act sec. 78). Harassing whales changes or interferes with their behaviour, forces them away from their habitat at critical times in their annual reproduction and feeding cycles and may cause them injury. Summary of Guidelines • Do not hunt, chase, follow, disperse, drive, herd or encircle whales. 42 Legal Aspects of Whale Watching • Avoid any sudden changes of course or speed. • Avoid heading directly toward a whale. • If in an area known to be frequented by whales, be on the lookout to avoid collisions. • Travel parallel to whales. • The mammals may wish to come closer to you: if they do, do not chase them, and be wary of any individual that appears tame. Keep clear of flukes. • If you are operating a sailing vessel with an auxiliary motor, leave it in idle or turn on the echo sounder to signal your presence. • If it is impossible to detour around a whale or pod of whales, slow down immediately and wait until you are more than 400 metres away before resuming speed. East Coast Whale Sanctuaries In order to assist mariners avoid disturbing marine mammals (whales, porpoises and dolphins); the following guidelines have been provided for your information. Whale Sanctuary # 1: Grand Manan Basin Coordinates: NW 44045’N, 66035’W NE 44045’N, 66018’W SW 44030’N, 66035’W SE 44030’N, 66018’W Species: Right Whale Status: Endangered Threats: Collisions with ships, entanglement with fishing gear. Characteristics: V shaped blow, no dorsal fin, deeply notched flukes, callosities (growths on the head). Guidelines: (July-November) 1 Avoid this area if possible. Due to a large portion of this habitat interfering with the
main shipping channel to Saint John, this may not be possible. 2 Decrease vessel speed, post a lookout, and manoeuvre around any marine mammal activity. 3 Report any sightings or collisions to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans via any Canadian Coast Guard Radio Station, or fax at 902-426-2698. Whale sanctuary #2: Roseway Basin Coordinates: NW 43005’N, 65040’W NE 43005’N, 650 03’W SW 42045’N, 55040’W SE 42045’N, 65003’W Species: Right Whale Status: Endangered Threats: Collisions with ships. Characteristics: V shaped blow, no dorsal fin, deeply notched flukes, callosities (growths on the head). Guidelines: (July-November) 1 Avoid passage through this area. This area can easily be bypassed. 2 If passage through the area is mandatory, then decrease vessel speed, post a lookout, and manoeuvre around any marine mammal activity. 3 Report any sightings or collisions to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans via any Canadian Coast Guard Radio Station, or fax at 902-426-2698. Whale Sanctuary #3: Sable Island, The Gully Coordinates: NW 44012’N, 59008’W NE 43054’N, 58048’W SW 43042’N, 59008’W SE 43042’N, 58048’W Guidelines and Declarations - Canada/UK Species: Bottlenose whales Status: Endangered Threats: Acoustic disturbance, collisions with ships. Guidelines: (Year round) 1 Avoid passage through this area. 2 If passage through the area is mandatory, then decrease vessel speed, post a lookout, and manoeuvre around any marine mammal activity. 3 Report any sightings or collisions to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans via any Canadian Coast Guard Radio Station, or fax at 902-426-2698. Authority: Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO). 9.6 UK The following are draft guidelines 6 . Cetacean watching It is a rare privilege to be able to watch cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises) in their natural environment. The most rewarding encounters occur when they are undisturbed. The following guidelines are designed to minimise stress to individual animals and adverse effects on populations. Where local guidelines are in place, tour operators should follow them. Where these are not in place, it is recommended that you follow these. • Maintain slow, steady, forward progress throughout the trip. Deviation towards cetaceans should only occur when they are sighted in open waters with little other boat traffic. Any approach should be slow and at an oblique angle and should not aim closer than 100m. • If cetaceans are sighted you should slow down gradually to no wake speed (or less 43
Page 1 and 2: REPORT OF THE WORKSHOP ON THE LEGAL
Page 3 and 4: Report of the Workshop on the Legal
Page 5 and 6: SUMMARY As the previous IFAW worksh
Page 7 and 8: INTRODUCTION 1 OPENING OF THE WORKS
Page 9 and 10: It was determined that generally, a
Page 11 and 12: which was adopted by the UN Confere
Page 13 and 14: If there is any conflict between th
Page 15 and 16: other areas as a result of Mexico
Page 17 and 18: Enforcement relies very much on sel
Page 19 and 20: Canada The objective laid down in i
Page 21 and 22: 6.7 Means of enforcement: penalties
Page 23 and 24: 2 Definitions Definitions should be
Page 25 and 26: 9 SELECTED LEGISLATION, GUIDELINES
Page 27 and 28: (e) The details of any educational
Page 29 and 30: (g) No aircraft engaged in a commer
Page 31 and 32: It is unlawful to: 1 Operate any ai
Page 33 and 34: • Having taken account of interna
Page 35 and 36: Article 11 The Ministers invite oth
Page 37 and 38: (2) If there is any conflict betwee
Page 39 and 40: (b) at risk of harassment. Example
Page 41: (a) a stranding coordinator may, in
Page 45 and 46: APPENDIX 1. LIST OF PARTICIPANTS &
Page 47 and 48: APPENDIX 2. AGENDA Workshop on the
Page 49 and 50: (vi) encourage the provision of acc
Page 52: INTERNATIONAL FUND FOR ANIMAL WELFA

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