Oil companies in Northern Alberta have used air cannons to scare birds from tailings ponds. The next step to “protecting” wildlife from being impacted by the oil industry might be setting off explosives to deter whales from swimming near any potential spill from tankers on the west coast.
photo courtesy: R. Hislop
The Globe and Mail obtained documents outlining the plan. The procedure is called hazing and it’s mentioned in a paper Trans Mountain filed with the National Energy Board. The company says some of the methods “have historically worked well with killer whales.” As a result it’s something that might be considered with approval from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans.
A variety of techniques are being considered including using hoses to spray water at whales, or generating noise with boats, helicopters or other acoustic deterrents. Some of those other deterrents available are underwater firecrackers or low frequency bombs and metal pipes that are hit to make a noise to scare marine mammals away.
Northern Gateway has made a similar submission to the National Energy Board.
(source: Globe & Mail)
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