The Co-Chairs of the Joint Coordinating Group of the Cooperative Vessel Traffic Service announced the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the Cooperative Vessel Traffic Services Agreement for the Juan de Fuca region.
This agreement between the Government of Canada, Canadian Coast Guard and the Government of the United States, United States Coast Guard established a coordinated Vessel Traffic Services system in the boundary waters and offshore approaches of the Juan de Fuca Strait and was signed on Dec. 19, 1979 by the U.S. Ambassador to Canada and Canadian Secretary of State for External Affairs. The members of the Joint Coordinating Group meet twice a year, once in Canada and once in the United States to manage this unique agreement.
This agreement has served to protect the common marine environment along the 125-mile long international maritime boundary, and both the United States and Canada benefit from enhanced maritime efficiency, trade and transportation. The day-to-day shared operations and co-operative responsibilities of the joint system are an example to the world and a credit to those men and women who had the spirit, foresight and initiative in its creation. In excess of 30,000 vessel movements transit though the CVTS region annually.