Canada has prohibited cruise ships from dumping sewage and unclean water close to shore and has threatened to punish violators up to $190,000.
A number of anti-pollution measures that were voluntary in April 2022 will become mandatory with immediate effect, according to Transport Minister Omar Alghabra. Thesee measures address discharges of greywater and sewage, including:
- Prohibiting the discharge of greywater and treated sewage within three nautical miles from shore where geographically possible across Canada;
- Strengthening the treatment of greywater together with sewage before it is discharged between three and twelve nautical miles from shore south of 60°N using an approved treatment device in non-Arctic waters. This will complement existing regulations for Arctic waters under the Arctic Waters Pollution Prevention Act; and
- Reporting compliance with these measures in Canadian waters upon request.
The measures introduced today are additional tools in our tool box to keep them accountable. We are committed to continuing to work with industry to implement these measures, keeping our coasts clean for Canadians to enjoy.
…Omar Alghabra, Minister of Transport said.
The Government of Canada had announced these measures last year for the cruise ship industry on a voluntary basis, but going forward, cruise ships will be subject to fines for non-compliance with these measures, up to the maximum permitted ($250,000) under the Canada Shipping Act, 2001. These measures will better protect Canada’s oceans and the marine environment, and will support the work that is underway to conserve 25 percent of Canada’s oceans by 2025 and 30 percent by 2030.
With the threat of climate change and ongoing human activities impacting oceans, protecting them now has never been more urgent.
added Joyce Murray , Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard
Furthermore, in addition to being subject to the Canada Shipping Act, 2001, Arctic waters are also, unlike other Canadian waters, specifically subject to the Arctic Waters Pollution Prevention Act (the Act), which already regulates the deposit or discharge of waste in Arctic waters.
Do you know?
- Greywater discharges are: the drainage from sinks, laundry machines, bathtubs and showers, or dishwaters. They can contain laundry detergent, cleaners, nutrients, solids, cooking oils, and grease, as well as hazardous carcinogens and other pollutants.
- Sewage discharges are: wastewater from bathroom and toilets. They contain fecal coliforms, ammonia, chlorine, and can contain a variety of toxic pollutants, such as pharmaceuticals, heavy metals, hydrocarbons, and organochlorides.
