WRECKED AND ABANDONED VESSELS
LOCATION: NATIONAL
Issue/Source: FEDERAL MEASURES TO ADDRESS WRECKED AND ABANDONED VESSELS POSING HAZARDS IN CANADIAN WATERS
Date: MARCH 17, 2021
Suggested Responses
- The Government of Canada continues to advance measures to address wrecked and abandoned vessels in Canadian waters, as part of the Oceans Protection Plan.
- A key milestone was the coming-into-force of the Wrecked, Abandoned or Hazardous Vessels Act in July 2019, which prohibits vessel abandonment and strengthens vessel owner responsibility and liability.
- Through two short-term funding programs at Transport Canada and Fisheries and Oceans Canada, as well as administrative and enforcement actions taken under the new Act, we have addressed nearly 500 vessels since the Oceans Protection Plan was launched. But more needs to be done.
- We are examining options to establish a long-term owner-financed fund to assess and address existing wrecked or abandoned vessels posing hazards. This will alleviate some of the pressure from taxpayers. This fund would also be used to prevent or reduce the occurance of new cases going forward.
IF PRESSED
- The Government of Canada has made important investments to help coastal communities address wrecked or abandoned vessels under the Oceans Protection Plan. This includes $6.85 million over five years, starting in 2017-18, for Transport Canada’s Abandoned Boats Program and $1.9 million over five years, starting in 2017-18, for Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s Small Craft Harbours Abandoned and Wrecked Vessels Removal Program.
- We are also enhancing owner identification systems to ensure owners of pleasure craft and commercial vessels can be held responsible for their vessels. Too often, owners of abandoned vessels cannot be identified.
- Transport Canada has identified a comprehensive package of proposed regulatory, policy and service delivery enhancements and is in the process of engaging with stakeholders.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
- The National Strategy to Address Canada’s Wrecked and Abandoned Vessels, was launched in 2016 as part of Canada’s Oceans Protection Plan (OPP), includes five key measures focused on preventing and addressing wrecked, abandoned or hazardous vessels. Collectively, these measures aim to reduce the risks posed by problem vessels in Canadian waters, and support the preservation and restoration of marine ecosystems/environment.
- These measures include: new legislation (Wrecked, Abandoned or Hazardous Vessels Act); development of a national inventory of vessels of concern and a risk assessment methodology to prioritize response; enhancements to vessel owner identification systems, namely pleasure craft licensing and vessel registration, to ensure owners can be held responsible for their vessels; two short-term funding programs; and a long-term, owner-financed Vessel Remediation Fund.