Shipping penalties toothless without better monitoring and enforcement of violations

VANCOUVER, BC (Unceded Coast Salish Territories) – Reacting to today’s announcement by the Ministry of Transport that fines will be increased on shipping violations under the 2001 Canada Shipping Act, Anna Barford, Canada Shipping Campaigner with Stand.earth, based in Vancouver, said:

“While the penalties against the various levels of violations are important, without improvements in monitoring and enforcement, the shipping industry will continue to operate just over the horizon and out of sight. Cruise ships in particular – including Carnival Corporation and their brands such as Princess and Holland America Line – are U.S. Federal felons multiple times over for illegal dumping and falsifying their records. Canada is missing the kind of monitoring and enforcement that would lead to that kind of protection for the Oceans under Canada’s jurisdiction. 

“Currently, 32 billion litres of waste water is dumped from cruise ships off the coast of B.C. each year. If B.C.’s coast is going to overcome its reputation of being a cruise ship toilet bowl, the federal government needs to strengthen protections against cruise ship pollution.”

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Media contact:

Anna Barford, Stand.earth Canada Shipping Campaigner, anna@stand.earth