https://ccobs.wordpress.com/2025/07/05/official-statement-from-concerned-citizens-of-baynes-sound-ccobs/

Statement from the Concerned Citizens of Baynes Sound (CCOBS)
Re: Termination of Crown Lease V930973 and Ongoing Concerns at Union Bay

The Concerned Citizens of Baynes Sound (CCOBS) welcomes the recent decision by the Province of British Columbia to terminate Crown lease V930973. This lease had authorized Deep Water Recovery (DWR) to store decommissioned vessels and transport them across the foreshore to the uplands for recycling at the Union Bay site. The termination of this lease effectively halts these activities and represents a significant step toward protecting the public interest and the ecological integrity of Baynes Sound.

Baynes Sound is recognized as an Ecologically and Biologically Significant Area (EBSA), an Important Bird Area (IBA), and a Key Biodiversity Area (KBA). It is vital to the regional shellfish industry, supports robust herring populations, and provides critical habitat for numerous marine species. The continuation of unregulated shipbreaking activities in such a sensitive marine environment is deeply concerning, and the termination of the lease, while commendable, is only one part of a much larger issue.

The Province’s statement that DWR “has not demonstrated the level of regulatory compliance, operational responsibility, or environmental stewardship required to justify entrusting them with the use of Crown land to enable management and dismantling of end-of-life vessels” underscores longstanding concerns held by our organization and the broader community.

In April 2022, the Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD) filed a notice of injunction with the BC Supreme Court seeking to halt DWR’s shipbreaking operations at 5084 Island Highway South. Despite the lease termination, dismantling activities have continued. The Province has characterized the facility as a commercial waste operation — a use that is not permitted under the Industrial Marine (IM) zoning currently in place. CCOBS fully supports the CVRD’s efforts to obtain a permanent injunction to bring these unauthorized activities to an end.

At the heart of this issue is a national regulatory gap. Canada has yet to adopt or implement international best practices for shipbreaking. There are currently no comprehensive permitting systems, oversight mechanisms, or clear lines of accountability. As a result, environmental risks go unchecked and communities are left vulnerable. CCOBS calls on the federal government to:

  • Establish a unified, accountable regulatory framework for shipbreaking
  • Implement enforceable national standards aligned with international conventions
  • Hold shipowners responsible for the safe and environmentally sound disposal of end-of-life vessels

We remain steadfast in our position that shipbreaking must only occur in designated, deep-water heavy industrial facilities under strict regulatory oversight — not on coastal foreshore sites where vessels are dragged across sensitive marine habitats.

We would like to express our deep gratitude to West Coast Environmental Law (Dispute Resolution Fund) for legal advice regarding the Fisheries Act and the Environmental Management Act as they relate to shipbreaking activities. This support was essential in helping us navigate the complex legal landscape and strengthen our efforts to advocate for regulatory accountability and environmental protection.

We extend our sincere appreciation to the K’ómoks First Nation, Tla’amin First Nation, and Qualicum First Nation, as well as to local residents, environmental organizations, and all others who have stood with us in defense of Baynes Sound. This collective effort continues to be essential.

We are especially grateful to Josie Osborne, MLA for Mid Island-Pacific Rim, for her principled leadership in bringing together federal and provincial authorities in pursuit of a coordinated solution. Her commitment to environmental stewardship and public accountability has been invaluable.

We also acknowledge MP Gord Johns for his tireless advocacy on behalf of stronger federal regulation of the shipbreaking industry. His efforts to elevate this issue nationally are both timely and necessary.

CCOBS remains committed to safeguarding the health of Baynes Sound — for the environment, for public safety, and for future generations.

– CCOBS Board of Directors