Marine Environmental Protection

Our Purpose:

Maritime Environmental Safety Solutions

VAP specializes in difficult to reach areas using RPAS (Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems with Advanced Pilot) with other special techniques to detect, assess, report and remove these environmental hazards.

VAP's recent Salish Sea Project detected, documented and removed various marine debris. High quality data was gathered. VAP offers contract and volunteer services for these environmental services. 

Summary of the source and nature of the problem we address:

ABANDONED AND/OR DELAPITATED VESSELS: The abandonment of vessels causes both environmental and economic impacts. Environmental concerns including include water contamination caused by fuels, oils and greases, anti-fouling paints and toxic materials found on boats. The delpitated boats need hazardous material surveys completed. The wrecked  boats must be stripped of metal and wires before landfill accept them.

Efforts must be made to find the owners and raise accountability.  The BC Government has some programs and funding to deal with this.

MOORING BUOYS: Several groups noted that the lack of regulation and enforcement of private mooring buoys (putting up a buoy for personal use) is contributing to the problem of abandoned vessels and associated marine debris (e.g. dock material, ropes, other debris). Private mooring buoys are creating more locations where older vessels can be moored and then abandoned when repair, maintenance, or disposal is too costly for the vessel owner, or they cannot sell it/loose interest. 

GHOST FISHING GEAR:  This includes lost or abandoned equipment left in the marine environment; this includes nets, oyster traps, and long lines from the commercial fishery and aquaculture industry and debris from recreational activities such as crab and prawn traps and floats. The gear causes the death of marine life, and a hazard to boat navigation & crews. Broken down microplastics that can enter the food chain.

Ghost gear comprises a much larger percentage of remote beach clean-up debris over that in urban settings.

AQUACULTURE DEBRIS: Rope, antipredator netting, buoy balls, plastic net bags, oyster trays, lead line (used to hold netting place) and PVC pipes (used in inter-tidal geoduck aquaculture) were identified as sources of marine debris, and particularly marine-sourced plastics. Many of the materials break down with saltwater and sun exposure, contributing to the problem of microplastics. 

 POLYSTYRENE FOAM: Polystyrene foam (known under the trademark name StyrofoamTM) makes up a large proportion of marine debris. Polystyrene foam has been used as flotation for docks, floats, aquaculture facilities, and other marine infrastructure, but breaks up easily in the marine environment into small pieces that can be ingested by wildlife and contribute to microplastics pollution. Combined with tiny pieces of plastic, polystyrene foam is the most common form of garbage found during shoreline clean-ups. 

 Industry is moving towards alternatives to unprotected polystyrene docks; however, legacy issues of exposed StyrofoamTM remain even as new ones are being installed. https://cleanbc.gov.bc.ca/plastics/. 

Link to Ocean Plastics Depot:  https://oceanplasticdepot.ca/

Link to DFO Projects: Ghost Fishing Gear

References: Notes cited from the BC Government Report:  https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/environment/waste-management/zero-waste/marine-debris-protection/marine_debris_what_we_heard_report_final_web.pdf

 National Geographic: Article on Marine Pollution Education for Kids on oncean plastics pollution 

We are partnering with volunteer, community organizations, contractors and with government oversite.  

Our VAP Process and Plan:

1.      Scout, Survey, Document and Assess:  Using professional RPAS in combination with our small vessel, we can scan/map/geolocate the marine debris/garbage locations for future actions. We can also document known sites for changes/movements.  

2.      Anchor and Close-In Assessment: We then anchor (beach) ashore for a closer look at  marine debris, and dilapidated/derelict boats. 

3.      Recovery of Debris: At this stage, with boots on the ground, we can gather smaller floats, debris, foam, buoys, line etc. and load them onto our small vessel for disposal. 

4.       Plan for Dilapidated Boat Removal: Of course, the major problem is abandoned vessels. During our recent expeditions (from South James Island to Moresby Island), no less than 5 dilapidated, derelict boats/wrecks were discovered on beaches. One large and publicly visible motorboat/liveaboard was observed leaking oil (see drone video below).

With Transport Canada oversite, and consultation with professionals,  we can manage,  & coordinate a firm plan for the responsible recycling and disposal of abandoned  boats before they become serious hazards to wildlife and the marine environment. 

VAP needs fiscal support from partners and stakeholders to make this effort and work plan an ongoing reality. Our aim is to maintain lowest cost possible with the highest efficacy and safety. Together, we plan to make an impact!

5.       Education: With our photos, reels, videos and stories/shorts, we want to be invovled with public education together and raise awareness of the problem. VAP works to enhance public compliance with rules and regulations to protect our beaches and waters.  Education for Kids on oncean plastics pollution 

About us:

Our RPAS produce very high-resolution survey grade drone imagery. We are also able to employ LIDAR. 

RPAS flights are preauthorized by Nav Canada in our flight areas noted. RPAS Advanced pilot Carlos has over 3500 hours of flight time since 2012. Our M300 drone is equipped with floats for enhanced safety.

We are currently exploring ways of using our heavy lift drones to sling plastic/foam debris off beaches to help save time, costs while improving safety of crews on island beaches.

The Small Vessel is fully equipped with HR depth sounders and GPS Maps/charts, VHF Radios, 2 anchors, T/O/ landing area and other safety equipment. 

Crew are Transport Canada commercial SVOP/ and MED Lifeboatman Qualified and trained, with years of experience in the marine environment.  

 If you are interested in supporting this initiative or want more information on the pilot project, please reach out:

David Carlos at 250 507 6421 or email me at straightline8@gmail.com 

 Note: All copyrighted photos were taken by VAP during a marine scouting operation in the Salish Sea December 11, 2024.