Enhancing Environmental Protection: Canada's surveillance program shifts to the Bonn Agreement Oil Appearance Code

The National Aerial Surveillance Program (NASP), part of Canada’s Oceans Protection Plan, is changing the way they calculate oil spill volumes and it is going to positively impact local communities from coast-to-coast-to-coast.??

For over three decades, NASP has been a vital guardian of our coastal waters, scanning for spills, marine incidents, and protecting endangered wildlife. As we embark on a new chapter in environmental surveillance, the NASP has embraced the international standard of quantifying oil spills with the adoption of the Bonn Agreement Oil Appearance Code (BAOAC) on April 1, 2024.?

The transition to BAOAC will provide numerous benefits for Canada's environmental efforts. Notably, the Code provides a range of values that better estimate the quantity of oil on water, aligns well with the NASP’s remote sensors and will allow more accurate identification of the thicker parts of the spill. This heightened accuracy is crucial for informed decision-making and effective response strategies in mitigating environmental incidents.?

Since the BAOAC will provide more accurate volumes for oil spills, it will give more accurate spill measurements, resulting in more efficient response strategies that will help local communities and responders contain and clean oil spills to protect local habitats.???

Moreover, this change aligns Canada with the European Union and the United States, strengthening Canada's position in global environmental protection.??

The adoption of the BAOAC marks a significant milestone in Canada's ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship. Transport Canada will continue to use the best available resources to protect the environment and prioritize the economy, working together with Indigenous People, industry, communities, scientists and other governments.?

Canada’s Oceans Protection Plan continues to demonstrate that real results are possible to protect the environment and prioritize the economy when Indigenous Peoples, industry, communities, scientists, and government work together. Only by continuing to work together can we build a strong economy and protect ecosystems and wildlife for generations to come.