Few know the magic of the Salish Sea like those who live their lives on and around it.
It's one reason the team at Prince of Whales were eager to team up with Surfrider to help clean up the Gorge Waterway, which extends west from Victoria's harbour.
"Sustainability has always been at the heart of our operations," explains Prince of Whales' Nik Coutinho. "The conservation and preservation of our environment is not just our mission, it is our duty."
Coutinho, along with others from the sales and marketing team, operations staff and representatives from Surfrider and Transport Canada, embarked on a zodiac cleanup of the waterway July 23.
In all, they collected a whopping 380 kilograms of tires, plastic, glass, food wrappers, rope, foam, clothing, fabrics, appliances and more, from the Inner Harbour and Gorge! Some of the debris collected was encrusted with barnacles, a clear sign that the garbage had been there for quite some time.
"Our goal is simple: to protect the Salish Sea for future generations. Every piece of debris we remove is a step towards preserving the marine life and ecosystems that make this place so special," Coutinho explains. "In addition, these pollutants release microplastics and toxins into the water, degrading water quality and posing the risk of entanglement and other hazards for marine animals."
The clean-up is just one of the Biosphere Certified company's many sustainability initiatives. In addition to designating funds to local conservation initiatives, as a Climate Positive-designated business, they're committed to offsetting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 110 per cent, and find ways to increase reductions each year. They've also partnered with the University of Queensland in Australia on a research survey to gather data on the impact of whale-watching tours, and as a founding member of the Pacific Whale Watch Association, they use its Whale Wise viewing guidelines for respecting orcas and humpback whales in the wild.
The July project was the second clean-up for Prince of Whales – last year, the company partnered on a clean-up with Surfrider and the Victoria Harbour Authority – and the initiatives demonstrate how much can be achieved when the community comes together.
"By pooling our resources, knowledge and passion for the ocean’s welfare, we were able to make a tangible impact on the local marine environment," Coutinho says, inviting the community to join the next cleanup. While the exact date is still being determined, the hope is to get out again this fall. Reach out today at princeofwhales.com/contact-us