Coming up June 22, the Whale Trail is presenting "Active Oceans: How the ECHO Program is working to reduce the impact of vessel traffic on whales in the Salish Sea." The presentation will take place at 7pm at Dakota Park Place Building, 4303 Dakota Place SW, Seattle.

The Enhancing Cetacean Habitat and Observation (ECHO) Program is a Vancouver Fraser Port Authority-led initiative aimed at better understanding and managing the impact of shipping activities on at-risk whales throughout the Salish Sea.

Krista Trounce, the ECHO Program Project Manager, will present how the ECHO Program is working with national and international collaborators to develop mitigation measures that will lead to a quantifiable reduction in potential threats to whales as a result of shipping activities.

Learn about the projects the ECHO Program has completed and is currently working on: Strait of Georgia Underwater Listening Station to measure vessel noise levels, regional monitoring of ambient noise in the Salish Sea, a Mariner’s Guide to Whales in the Pacific Northwest, large whale strike risk assessment, a trial slowdown of commercial vessels, and others. Hear how the ECHO Program and our collaborators are educating mariners, industry partners and the public about the impacts of underwater noise on marine mammals.

Krista will speak to the ECHO Program long term goals, and how the Salish Sea will benefit from their research and initiatives.

Buy tickets now at http://bpt.me/2974083 to reserve your seat. And hurry! This will likely sell out.

This talk is the third of four Celebrate Springer events, commemorating the 15th anniversary of the successful rescue, rehabilitation and release of Springer (A73) the orphaned orca, and the transboundary partnerships that made it possible.

About the Speaker

Krista Trounce is the Project Manager for the Enhancing Cetacean Habitat and Observation (ECHO) Program at the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority.

Krista brings to the ECHO Program over 20 years of experience as an environmental engineer and project manager. Krista joined the ECHO Program in early 2015, after spending a year as the Project Specialist, Site Assessment for the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority. Prior to joining the port authority, Krista was a manager and partner at a private consulting firm where her career focused on the evaluation of risk to human and ecological health posed by environmental contaminants. Krista holds a Bachelor of Applied Science from the University of Waterloo and is a licensed engineer in the province of British Columbia.

About The Whale Trail

The Whale Trail (www.thewhaletrail.org) is a series of sites where the public may view orcas and other marine mammals from shore. Our mission is to inspire appreciation and stewardship of whales and our marine environment. Our overarching goal is to ensure the southern resident orcas recover from the threat of extinction.

Through our current sites and signs, including two on every Washington State ferry, we reach more than 50 million people each year. The Whale Trail is currently adding new sites along the west coast, from California to British Columbia, throughout the southern resident orcas' range and beyond.

The Whale Trail is led by a core team of partners that include NOAA Fisheries, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Seattle Aquarium, Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary, and the Whale Museum. Our BC team is led by the BC Cetacean Sighting Network. Many members of The Whale Trail teams met when they worked together to return Springer, the orphaned orca, to her pod.

The Whale Trail is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, headquartered in West Seattle. Join us!

Ticket link: http://bpt.me/2974083

Contact:
Donna Sandstrom, The Whale Trail (206) 919-5397
Krista Trounce, ECHO Program, Port of Vancouver P: (604) 665-9022, CELL: (604) 353-3127

Presentation by Krista Trounce, Port of Vancouver BC

When: Thursday, June 22, 7:00 - 8:30 pm.
Where: Dakota Park Place Building, 4303 Dakota Place SW, Seattle
Cost: $10 General Admission; $5 Kids under 12
Advance tickets: brownpapertickets.com http://bpt.me/2974083

Presented by The Whale Trail
Sponsored by Nucor. Accommodations provided by the Grove West Seattle Inn.