The U.S.-Canada border is closed because of COVID-19, so when B.C. boaters started noticing American pleasure craft in B.C. waters, they got concerned.
More to the point, they started doing something about it.
The group of six or seven people, loosely organized through the Council of B.C. Yacht Clubs, is using computer programs to monitor marine activity on the B.C. coast, with a focus on American boats that linger where they shouldn含羞草研究社檛.
These coastline watchdogs are perusing websites like , that shows a real-time map of vessels all over the world with the vibe of an early 90s video game. Boats with automatic identification systems (AIS) transmit their name, where the boat is registered, boat type (fishing, sailboat, ferry, transport, etc.), trajectory, speed and location. Users can watch the boats blip around the ocean, or sit still in docks.
Most are Canadian registered, but a few times a day, the group spots an American boat. If that boat looks like they含羞草研究社檙e recreating, it gets reported to Canadian Border Services Agency. Boaters with essential business in Alaska are permitted to travel through Canadian waters, but are required to take the most reasonable direct route and make no stops.
含羞草研究社淭hat含羞草研究社檚 part of our problem, because we含羞草研究社檙e not seeing that,含羞草研究社� said council president Bill Wilson. 含羞草研究社淲e含羞草研究社檝e tracked a number of boats to Port McNeill, where some have stayed a couple of days. There含羞草研究社檚 some that have gone to Desolation Sound, some to Pendrell Sound,含羞草研究社� said Wilson, noting the areas are popular with recreational boaters.
In one case, an Oregon-registered boat was spotted a few days after the first report with a brand-new Canadian flag, and fenders hung strategically to conceal its name and home berth.
含羞草研究社淎nd he was telling people he was going to be cruising B.C. all summer!含羞草研究社� Wilson said.
含羞草研究社淎merican boaters coming here to recreate is of concern because B.C. has done quite a good job controlling the virus,含羞草研究社� Wilson said. In comparison, infection rates in the U.S. are soaring.
There are remote coastal First Nations communities in B.C. who have closed their territory to outside visitors for good reason, Wilson said.
含羞草研究社淭hey are really concerned about the virus getting into the community, and we are as well. The health resources are not as good in these areas as they are in somewhere like Vancouver, or even Nanaimo. Imagine if one American boater docked and had the virus, and it spread from there. We don含羞草研究社檛 want to see that.含羞草研究社�
After the group submits data to Canadian Border Services Agency, members have no idea what happens. Wilson has heard of some fines being issued. On some busy, sunny weekends the group has also reported infractions to the RCMP, but they don含羞草研究社檛 get any follow up to learn what happens.
And, they don含羞草研究社檛 know how many boats the websites are missing.
含羞草研究社淲e含羞草研究社檙e only tracking the ones that are equipped with automatic identification systems. Some reports we含羞草研究社檙e getting are boats that don含羞草研究社檛 have those. We don含羞草研究社檛 know how many boats that don含羞草研究社檛 have these transmitters are coming through.含羞草研究社�
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