A major gap in government regulation and oversight is allowing giant international cargo ships to anchor as long as they want in the “protected” waters of the Southern Gulf Islands and Cowichan Bay.
Negative Impacts include:
- Anchor chains scouring the ocean floor, destroying marine habitat
- Diesel generators run 24/7 causing air, noise and light pollution
- Acoustic Interference and collision risk to Resident Killer Whales
- Risk of grounding or collisions causing catastrophic fuel spills
Local First Nations and coastal community groups are demanding Transport Canada put an end to this harmful spillover of commercial activity from the Port of Vancouver.

Take Action Today!
Tell Transport Minister Marc Garneau and the federal cabinet to stop putting the interests of foreign shippers ahead of the environment and coastal communities.
Send a letter nowNews
Urgent Call: Participate in Transport Canada Survey
NewsTransport Canada has quietly placed a list of questions on their website about their proposal to give permission to the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority to manage the Southern Gulf Island Anchorages. The South Coast Ship Watch Alliance...
South Coast Ship Watch Alliance welcomes “Freighter Free Chemainus”
NewsAnother group of concerned citizens—Freighter Free Chemainus—is joining South Coast Ship Watch Alliance efforts to end the use of commercial freighter anchorages in the Southern Gulf Island waters. Chemainus is a small town...
Anchored Ships Cause Significant Seafloor Damage
NewsRecent seabed mapping published by the Geological Survey of Canada exposes extensive scarring at freighter anchorages in the Salish Sea such as this scouring in Plumper Sound, the body of water surrounded by Mayne, Saturna and the...
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This is a grass roots, volunteer movement. Your generous donations will help us spread the word and protect this beautiful corner of the Salish Sea for generations to come.
