Acknowledgements

This report could not have been produced without the work and assistance of many people. We would like to thank the following for their contribution to and support of this report, the research and analysis behind it, and to the vision of an oil-free coast for British Columbia.

Our deepest gratitude goes to Meaghan Calcari and the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation for making the production of this report possible, and the research underpinning it a reality. We would also like to give special thanks to the Marisla Foundation, the McLean Foundation, the late Peter Stratton, the Bullitt Foundation, Mountain Equipment Co-op, Patagonia, the Conservation Alliance, Vancouver Foundation, and the Russell Family Foundation. Wilburforce Foundation, the Animal Welfare Institute, the World Wildlife Fund–Canada, and the National Science and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) have also supported work we have undertaken that is critical to understanding the risks that oil proposals present to species and habitats on the coast.

Gratitude also goes to Dr. Pat Halpin and Ben Best of Duke University’s Marine Geospatial Ecology Lab and Raincoast Conservation Foundation Senior Scientist Dr. Paul Paquet for their lead role in analyzing and modeling five years of data from our at-sea surveys on Raincoast’s research vessel Achiever. Appreciation also goes to Dr. Len Thomas at the Sea Mammal Research Unit at St. Andrews University for survey design. Most importantly, our appreciation goes to and Dr. Rob Williams for having the vision to pursue this research data analysis and making us leave the dock in 2004.

Speaking of Achiever, we would like to especially recognize Captain Brian Falconer and his stalwart team of mariners - Stephen Anstee, Heidi Krajewsky, Doug Jodrell, Ian Jansma, Erin Nyhan, Ian Giles and Jen Brant - who kept Raincoast scientists and observer crew safe and sound for the five years of surveys we conducted on the BC coast.

Special thanks must also go to the scientists and observer crew who put in long and often grueling hours at-sea to gather data on marine mammals and marine birds. They are Caroline Fox, Ian Jansma, Des Kawai, Michael Price and Misty MacDuffee of Raincoast. Mugs of love go to Heidi Krajewsky, Olive Andrews, Sonja Heinrich, and Jody Weir who were instrumental with their effort, expertise and experience over the years. And without AnneliEnglund, Hayley Shephard, Nick Duprey, Andrew Westoll, Chad Malloff, Stephanie Fernandez, Matt Farley, Leo and Terri Vicari, Caro Höschle, Chad Henderson, Hershel Frimer, Ian McLeod, Steve Williamson, Marie Fournier, Jeremie Marko, Jennifer Reimer,Anna Marie Mallard, Heather Recker, Nicola Hewson and Ben Best, these surveys wouldn’t have been completed!

Special thanks go Andy Jarvella, Adrianne Rosenberger, Lindsay Davidson and Des Kawaifor GIS mapping.

Thank you to our report authors and editors, Raincoast’s Chris Darimont, Caroline Fox, Chris Genovali, Kathy Heise, Thora O’Grady,Paul Paquet, and Misty MacDuffee.

And finally, we wish to sincerely thank Frances Hunter for her superb design work and endless patience on this report and innumerable other Raincoast publications!