Cleaning Up Contaminated Sediments in Whitby Harbour
Official title: Whitby Harbour Remediation Project
The bottom of Whitby Harbour is contaminated with dioxins and furans—chemicals that can build up in fish and potentially harm people who eat them. Fisheries and Oceans Canada is dredging about 120,000 cubic metres of contaminated mud and sand to make the harbour safer. Work started in late 2024 and will continue until March 2026.
Why This Matters
Fish from Whitby Harbour? You might want to know what's in them. Dioxins and furans have been building up in fish tissue for years. If you boat, sail, or walk the Waterfront Trail here, this cleanup affects your backyard. The work is happening now—expect some disruption through 2026.
What Could Change
Once complete, fish from the harbour should be safer to eat. The contaminated sediments that have been accumulating toxins in the food chain will be gone. The marina and yacht club will remain operational during work, but expect some areas to be restricted. By August 2026, all temporary facilities will be removed.
Key Issues
- How should contaminated sediments be removed while minimizing disruption to harbour users?
- What environmental protections are needed during dredging to protect fish and wildlife?
- How can the project balance thorough cleanup with practical constraints?
How to Participate
- Visit the Whitby Harbour project page to review project updates and background information.
- Submit questions or feedback to DFO.WhitbyHarbour-PortdeWhitby.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.