Stephen Hazell, Director of Conservation and General Counsel

Energy East, Northern Gateway, TransMountain. None of these projects are just about pipelines carrying crude oil from Alberta’s oil sands to tidewater. They’re also about the increased traffic from the giant oil tankers that will carry the oil through the Bay of Fundy, Hecate Strait and Salish Sea.

All three of these seas are ecologically priceless, renowned for their abundant birds, fish, whales, and other marine mammals. The Bay of Fundy alone has 14 Important Bird Areas (IBAs), home to over a million shorebirds, not to mention its populations of Humpback, Fin, Minke and endangered North Atlantic Right Whales.

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Such an oil spill could be catastrophic for birds, whales, fisheries and tourism in all of these waters.

What is the likelihood of a successful clean up if there is a major spill? Skepticism is justified given the underwhelming clean-up efforts of the small April 2015 oil spill in Vancouver harbor and the gigantic 2010 BP Deepwater Horizon spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Both spills occurred in benign weather, on calm seas, and close to oil spill emergency responders.

What are the chances of a successful clean up of a major oil spill in the Hecate Strait where storm seas can reach 26 metres in height? In the Salish Sea with its powerful winter storms, narrow channels and many navigation hazards? Or in the Bay of Fundy with its even worse weather and four- to nine-metre tides?

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…especially endangered North Atlantic Right Whales hit by Saint John-based oil tankers, are another challenge. We estimate that up to 24 more oil tankers will be needed to carry the Energy East crude oil every month. Fewer than 400 North Atlantic Right Whales are left, so even one ship strike is too many.

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Nature Canada has applied to be an official intervener in the upcoming Energy East hearings to stand up for Canada’s seas and the birds and whales that live there. With your support, we will provide science-based evidence on the risks of oil spills and ship strikes, assess the environmental impact an oil spill or increased ship strikes would have, and make recommendations to mitigate those impacts. Our approach is critical to ensuring the oil companies and governments are held accountable so that these marine ecosystems are sustained for our children and grandchildren—not to mention the birds and the whales!

Together, we’ll bring nature’s voice to the Energy East pipeline hearings. Your special gift today will help protect the Right Whale, one of the most critically endangered species on Earth.

With your support, we can protect nature from oil tankers!