This data is intended to identify Canadian fresh waters which require additional measures (e.g., ballast water exchange and treatment) prior to release, as described in https://tc.canada.ca/en/marine-transportation/marine-safety/list-canada-s-designated-alternate-ballast-water-exchange-area-fresh-waters-tp-13617e-2021. The data is not intended for navigation purposes.

According to Canada’s Ballast Water Regulations, vessels which are managing ballast water to meet the ballast water performance standard cannot release ballast water into fresh waters unless that ballast water was first exchanged in accordance with the ballast water exchange standard.

For the purpose of this requirement, Canadian fresh waters are the following:

- the waters at the Port of Kitimat and waters in or upstream of the Kitimat Arm, east of a line between Hilton Point and Steel Point;

- the waters at the Port of Stewart and waters in or upstream of the Portland Canal, north of a line between Portland Point and Ramsden Point;

- the waters of all Fraser River ports that are:

-- east of Tilbury Island in the main arm of the Fraser River including Annacis Island and New Westminster docking areas; and

-- east of the eastern tip of Mitchell Island in the north arm of Fraser River;

- the waters of the Saguenay River ports and waters upstream of L’Anse-Creuse;

- the waters of all St. Lawrence River ports and waters west of the east point of Ile d’Orléans including the port of Quebec City;

- all Canadian waters of the Great Lakes Basin; and

- the waters of Happy Valley-Goose Bay and waters of Lake Melville west of Rabbit Island.

Legal Constraints: Users should be aware that the polygons depicting areas requiring additional measures to manage ballast water are intended for illustration only and should not be used for navigational or legal purposes.