by Adam Sherry GIS Technician, MCG

The Bay of Fundy is a unique coastal environment. Home to the world’s highest tides, it is an ecologically sensitive area with a number of rare marine species. The ports within the Bay of Fundy and especially the port of Saint John, play a role in the high traffic shipping lanes. With industry expansion this traffic is expected to increase significantly. An increase of traffic also increases the potential for spills that could negatively affect the environment of the Bay of Fundy.

The Atlantic Environmental Response Team (ALERT) is a federally certified marine response organization that is the primary provider of marine oil spill response services to the Bay of Fundy region for 25 years. Should there be a spill of hazardous materials in the Bay of Fundy, ALERT would respond and assess the situation for mitigation. ALERT serves all oil handling facilities including oil tankers over 150 tonnes and commercial vessels over 400 tonnes that operate in the Bay of Fundy. ALERT’s response services are certified under the Canada Shipping Act and Transport Canada. Recertification of these services occurs every three (3) years. The recertification process is led by the National Review Board and examines the response plan process, equipment, training, and exercise programs.

When a spill occurs within ALERT’s geographical area of response they are notified by the responsible party (the polluter). By Canadian law, the responsible party is required to contact ALERT whe ...