Park board explores jet ski ban after whale strike

Vancouver's park board is exploring a ban or significant restrictions on high-speed personal watercraft in Burrard Inlet after a Sea-Doo struck a grey whale on May 4 near Stanley Park.

Commissioner Tom Digby submitted a motion calling on the board to advocate for prohibition or severe limits on jet skis and similar vessels. The motion also directs park board staff to report on what measures fall within its jurisdiction to discourage or ban launching and operation of watercraft from park-managed facilities.

The collision drew international attention, including coverage in the New York Times. The whale had been feeding off English Bay for days, drawing crowds of residents and tourists. Digby said the incident "was really the trigger," though the concern has been on his mind for some time.

Digby pointed to precedents: Victoria, the San Juan Islands in Washington state, and Sydney, Australia have already implemented restrictions or outright bans on personal watercraft. He noted that orcas, humpbacks, and grey whales are increasingly returning to local waters. Grey whales that feed along the B.C. coast are part of an eastern North Pacific population that has been in steep decline for six years, partly due to climate changes in their Arctic feeding grounds.

An online petition started by Deborah Katz Henriquez calling for jet ski restrictions has surpassed 8,700 signatures, with over 300 emails sent to the park board in support. Digby said the vote carries weight heading into October's municipal election: "If it does not pass, then I can guarantee you it's gonna be an election issue."

The motion comes at a moment when Vancouver's marine life is drawing more attention than ever — a reminder that sharing the seawall means thinking beyond the humans enjoying it.