ROBSON BIGHT (MICHAEL BIGG) ECOLOGICAL RESERVE MARINE WARDEN PROGRAM FINAL REPORT FOR BC PARKS CONTRACT CNEAN11014 2012 cetus research & conservation society in partnership with Yukusam Heritage Society Contents ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 3 VOLUNTEERS: 3 STAFF: 3 BACKGROUND 4 HISTORY OF THE RESERVE 4 RBMBER WARDEN PROGRAM HISTORY 4 CETUS RESEARCH & CONSERVATION SOCIETY 5 YUKUSAM HERITAGE SOCIETY 5 RBMBER PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION 6 RBMBER WARDEN PROGRAM DESCRIPTION 7 MARINE BASED MONITORING - DESCRIPTION 7 SUMMARY OF MARINE-BASED MONITORING AND EDUCATION 8 LAND-BASED MONITORING - DESCRIPTION 10 SUMMARY OF LAND-BASED MONITORING 11 VESSEL SUMMARY 11 WHALE SUMMARY 13 INTERPRETIVE SUMMARY 15 PROGRAM LOGISTICS 16 RBMBER BEACH CLEAN UP 16 PROGRAM SIGNIFICANCE 18 REFERENCES 20 APPENDIX 1 21 Figures and Tables Figure 1: Critical habitat of the northern resident killer whale as set out in the Recovery Strategy for northern and southern resident killer whales in Canada (DFO. 2008) 6 Figure 2: Robson Bight Marine Warden on the way to contacting a vessel approaching the RBMBER 7 Figure 3: Checking the safety equipment & operations of WARDEN 1 prior to leaving the dock 7 Figure 4: Warden Program vessel contacts by day 8 Figure 5: Warden Program vessel contacts by vessel activity 9 Figure 6: Warden Program vessel contacts by vessel type 9 FIgure 8: Johnstone Strait and RBMBER Study Area 10 Figure 9: Robson Bight Marine Wardens at observation station tracking killer whales as they pass through the study area 10 Figure 13: Ratio of overall Vessel Activity 12 Figure 14: Vessel Activity by time of day 12 Figure 15: Killer whale presence in the Robson Bight Study Area 13 Figure 16: NRKW Activity Budget 2012 13 Figure 17: NRKW Activity Budget 2011 14 Figure 18: NRKW Activity Budget 2010 14 Figure 19: NRKW Activity Budget by Zone 14 Figure 20: Kayakers attending an interpretive talk at the observation station. 15 Figure 21: Cultural Interpreter 15 Figure 22: The number of visitors to the observation station. 15 Figure 23: Visitors to the observation station by guide company. 15 Figure 25: Some of the garbage removed from RBMBER during the beach cleanup. 16 Figure 26: Beach cleanup volunteers hard at work. 16 Figure 27: Removing oil pails from beach in RBMBER estuary 17 Figure 28: RBMBER Beach cleanup 2012 17 Table 1: Summary of Warden Program vessel contacts, 1995-2012 8 Table 2: COSEWIC and Provincial Status of BC Marine Mammals 19 Report prepared by: cetus research & conservation society on behalf of cetus society and the Yukusam Heritage Society ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The entire whale watching community and many special individuals have shown continuous support for the Warden Pro- gram since it’s inception and this is gratefully acknowledged. Cetus Research & Conservation Society and Yukusam Heri- support with the BC Parks Marine Warden Program for 2012. B.C. Cetacean Sightings Network VOLUNTEERS The Robson Bight Warden Program would like to extend its thanks to the individuals that volunteered many hours and helped make 2012 a very successful season: STAFF WARDEN / MONITORING STAFF: MANAGERS/ SUPPORT / LOGISTICS: DATA ANALYSIS/SUPPORT: BACKGROUND HISTORY OF THE RESERVE The summer of 2012 marked the 30th year since the establishment of the Robson Bight (Michael Bigg) Ecological Reserve (RBM- BER) by BC Parks in 1982. BC Parks (2003) establishes Ecological Reserves for the: RBMBER in particular was selected as an area “to preserve representative and special natural ecosystems, plant and animal spe- cies, features and phenomena. Ecological Reserves provide the highest level of protection for the maintenance of physical and biological diversity while allowing for research and educational activities. ” (BC Parks, 2003). The protected area status repre- sents BC Parks’ commitment to the preservation of wildlife habitat and distinctive ecosystems. The Johnstone Strait Killer Whale Committee (a joint committee of BC Parks and Fisheries and Oceans Canada) Background Re- port (1991) states that the RBMBER was established to protect Key habitats for killer whales and prevent whale harassment while using these habitats. RBMBER is a sanctuary for killer whales, all boaters are expected to refrain from entering the reserve. To support its role as a sanctuary, the upland portion of RBMBER is closed to all uses or entry. This provides unique opportunities to research and observe whales, and serves to protect a pristine estuary, shoreline and vegetated slopes. RBMBER WARDEN PROGRAM HISTORY The RBMBER Warden Program began in 1987 and was operated on yearly contracts until 1991. During 1991 – 1999 the program was operated by Bion Research Inc. Subsequently, Beaveridge Contracting operated the contract from 2000 - 2002. The John- stone Strait Killer Whale Interpretive Centre Society (JSKWICS) operated the program in 2003 and 2004. At the end of the 2004 season the JSKWICS board of directors decided that the marine education programs (Robson Bight Warden Program and Strait- watch) they were managing were limiting their ability to focus on their core objectives of managing and developing the Telegraph Cove based Whale Interpretive Centre. They encouraged the employees who had been operating the marine programs to form a new society to operate these programs. Cetus Research & Conservation Society (Cetus) was established in January 2005 for this purpose. Cetus has operated the warden program since 2005. During the spring of 2010 a partnership was formed between Cetus the Warden Program as the objectives of the Warden Program, as outlined in the recommendations of the Johnstone Strait Killer Whale Committee, parallel the goals of the Cetus - Yukusam Partnership. These goals include: conducting vessel/whale monitoring to assist in the development of long-term management strategies. CETUS RESEARCH & CONSERVATION SOCIETY Cetus’ mission is to facilitate the conservation of the marine environment by promoting community stewardship, conducting research, educating the public, and fostering activities that directly preserve marine habitats and biological diversity. Board of Directors Chair: Vice Chair: Secretary: Treasurer: Director: Director: Director: YUKUSAM HERITAGE SOCIETY the following goals: To restore and protect the natural terrestrial and marine environments of Hanson/ To identify and sustainably manage the unique cultural heritage resources of Han- To maintain on-going research activities that further the creation of sci- Island that provides training and employment opportunities for members of the Mamalilikulla, ‘Namgis and Tlowitsis First To provide managed public access to Hanson/Yukusam Island in a manner that balances the need for environmental protec- tion, cultural education and sustainable economic development. Board of Directors President: Treasurer: Secretary: Director: RBMBER PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION for the northern resident population of killer whales (NRKW) in the Recovery Strategy for Northern and Southern Resident Killer Whales () in Canada (Figure 1) (Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 2008). Researchers in the 1970s observed Robson Bight the establishment of the RBMBER. A background report commissioned by the Ministry of Parks (Blood et al., 1988) describes the physical features of the reserve: “The Reserve includes marine and terrestrial components and is 1715 hectares in area, cen- tered around the Tsitika River estuary. It stretches along the 10.7 km of shoreline from the eastern boundary at Schmidt Creek to the western boundary at Sir John Creek. The marine component is 1248 hectares and is 1000 – 1500 m wide from the shoreline” The 2003 BC Parks RBMBER Purpose Statement notes that the ecological reserve protects the only undisturbed estuary on the - eulachon migrate through the estuary to their spawning grounds in the Tsitika River. As of 2008, there are no recent reports of eulachon in this area (BC Parks, 2010). Coho and Pink Salmon and Steelhead are the most abundant salmonids (BC Parks, 2010). northern goshawk. RBMBER WARDEN PROGRAM DESCRIPTION The Robson Bight Marine Warden Program is comprised of a marine based monitoring and educational component and a land patrol the study area to promote compliance with the RBMBER boundaries and the internationally endorsed Be Whale Wise provide interpretation to commercial charters, kayak groups, interested private and commercial mariners and any other park visitors. MARINE-BASED MONITORING – DESCRIPTION Wardens contact mariners approaching or entering the reserve and vessels engaged in whale watching activities using a 14’ Zo- The “Eagle Eye” monitoring station aids the wardens by reporting whale and vessel activity in the area. The primary activities of the Marine Wardens are: informing vessel operators about the reserve providing an interpretive program to visitors, - providing information on whale watching guide- monitoring whale-watching activity and provid- ing education for vessel operators unfamiliar with the BWW guidelines. All contacts with Park visitors are made in a friendly, vessel operator, wardens approach safely from the stern quarter. Contact is attempted via marine VHF for large vessels and where a direct approach is con- sidered unsafe. jackets, ball cap or toque with Robson Bight Ecologi- cal Reserve logo and in more inclement weather foul weather gear (red jackets with black pants). Warden vessels are equipped with the safety equip- ment required