Issues

This page has become an archive of relevant and important documents on the subject of Southern Resident Killer Whales (SRKW) and Pinnipeds. We update this page periodically, add as new details become available and will retain a chronological order for additions.
November 6, 2020 – Dr. Carl Walters – Role of marine mammal predation in recent B.C. fishery collapse
Emeritus Professor Carl Walters presented an online seminar on September 22, 2020 and at the SFI Policy Conference Webinar on November 6 on the Role of marine mammal predation in recent B.C. fishery collapses. A copy of the presentation in PDF is linked here.
Related and relevant to Dr. Walters remarks, a Times Colonist article recently detailed specific challenges with sea lions in Cowichan Bay:
Sea lions throw a party on Cowichan Bay’s federal breakwater to feast on spawning salmon – Carla Wilson, Times Colonist, November 12, 2020
July 21, 2020 – 2020 Management Measures to Protect Southern Resident Killer Whales
Regarding the Government of Canada’s 2020 Management Measures to Protect Southern Resident Killer Whales, several outreach and education products have been made available by joint efforts of Transport Canada, Fisheries & Oceans Canada, Parks Canada, Environment & Climate Change Canada. These materials are made available here and provide information on this 2020 management measures and are intended to increase awareness of the rules.
Outreach and education materials with as many individuals and groups as possible will raise public awareness and increase the number of boaters/vessel operators and fishers who understand their responsibilities on the water. Combined efforts will help increase compliance on the water and support the recovery of the endangered Southern Resident Killer Whale.
Please note, from August 1 to October 31, 2020, there will be no recreational or commercial salmon fishing allowed in Southern Resident Killer Whale key foraging (feeding) areas found in the Strait of Juan de Fuca and Gulf Islands (located within Southern Resident Killer Whale critical habitat).
Be Whale Wise is a partnership between Canadian and U.S. organizations and agencies and the material provides information on rules and guidelines for boating around marine mammals and birds in both Canadian and U.S. waters.
Additional information can be found:
June 1, 2020
A reminder that as of June 1, 2020, Transport Canada’s Interim Order for the Protection of Killer Whale (Orcinus orca) in the Waters of Southern British Columbia, 2020 is in effect including:
Interim Sanctuary Zones (June 1 – November 30)
Additional measures:
Fisheries Management Measure
Best practices to Be Whale Wise
ECHO Program (http://www.portvancouver.com/echo) large commercial vessel measures
Strait of Juan de Fuca voluntary inshore lateral displacement (June 1 – October 31)
2020 Management Measures to protect Southern Resident Killer Whales
A reminder to please be aware of ongoing rules and guidance under the Transport Canada COVID-19 Interim Order and the Transport Canada Guidance for Pleasure Craft.
April 1, 2020
NOAA Fisheries – West Coast Salmon Fishing and Southern Residents: Part 1
West Coast salmon fisheries catch a small share, leaving prey for Southern Residents.
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SRKW.ORG
Mobile avoidance sanctuaries, chinook enhancement, specific predator control and habitat rehabilitation can help both SRKW recover and for coastal communities to thrive. Watch the Coastal Alliance and SFI clip above and visit SRKW.org for more information.
WHALES INITIATIVE: PROTECTING SOUTHERN RESIDENT KILLER WHALES – INFORMATION BROCHURE
May 2019 – The Government of Canada (GOC) has taken steps to protect and recover the SRKW population. There is recognition that SRKW face imminent threats to their survival and recovery and that immediate action is required.
On May 10, the GOC announced 2019 SRKW recovery measures. New measures for vessels to follow include:
Effective June 1 – October 31, 2019:
Effective August 1 – October 31, 2019:
Other actions to take while SRKW are present in BC waters in greater numbers:
The GOC is seeking help to get information on these measures out to those who are operating vessels in the area.
The 2019 SRKW recovery measures education brochure is linked here.
For more information on the 2019 measures please follow these links:
Interim Order for the Protection of Killer Whales
Frequently Asked Questions: Interim Order
Whales Initiative: Protecting the Southern Resident Killer Whale
Protecting species at risk is a responsibility shared by all Canadians and the federal government is committed to working with Indigenous people, provincial and territorial governments, and relevant industry stakeholders to achieve this goal.
SOUTHERN AND NORTHERN RESIDENT KILLER WHALES
Discussion and research continues on the subject of Southern Resident Killer Whales. Of note and interest, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife recently published findings regarding prey availability for SRKW in Juan De Fuca Strait. Findings are relevant to our waters and can be read here: Fishery Effects on SRKW – Jan28, 2019
The Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans Canada – Eighteenth Report
The Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans Canada was tasked to study the Situation of Endangered Whales and provide a report – December 2018.
The Standing committee heard from many witness over the fall of 2018 regarding whales, SRKW, Beluga and Right Whales, in Canadian waters. Owen Bird and Martin Paish, SFI, appeared in Ottawa on October 30 and provided comments about SRKW and consultation to date. The linked report provides recommendations including ensuring that socio-economic information is gathered and properly considered, that local and traditional knowledge is incorporated in findings, that enhancement of Chinook stocks be initiated and specific predator control plans be developed and implemented.
Saving the Resident Killer Orca – Washington State Policy Proposal
2018 Annual BC Marine Mammal Symposium – linked below and here
December 5, 2018 – Recovery Strategy for the Northern and Southern Resident Killer Whales (Orcinus orca) in Canada – Final
November 2018 – The Truth about Orcas, Seals and Chinook: A PSF Presentation Scientists Dr. Brian Riddell and Dr. Andrew Trites address how we got here and what needs to be done in a presentation hosted by the Pacific Salmon Foundation.
September 17, 2018 – An SFI member update including details about upcoming information sessions and suggestions for developing a response to discussions regarding establishment of Critical Habitat areas. And, find some relevant links and documents about Southern and Northern Killer Whales at the bottom of the page and as follows:
Habitats of Special Importance to Resident Killer Whales (Orcinus orca) off the West Coast of Canada
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There has been discussion about the health of Southern Resident Killer Whales over many years, a symposium in the fall of 2017 and associated comments by the Fisheries Minister at the time, the Honourable Dominic Leblanc, signaled an interest and a call to action by government to make changes to the circumstances and environment that SRKW currently find themselves.
While the approach to Southern Resident Killer Whale recovery efforts will likely be multi-faceted there would seem little doubt that the recreational sector needs to be aware of the issue and prepared to modify activities so that we can be a part of the recovery of these magnificent animals. While scientific studies agree that ceasing harvest will not provide the desired increase in abundance of Chinook salmon for SRKW, there is evidence that increasing production of chinook salmon and addressing marine noise and disturbances should help. Reduction of marine noise can be affected immediately by reducing speeds and agreeing to leave a wide corridor around moving Killer Whales. Increasing numbers of Chinook salmon, Killer Whales preferred food, can take place relatively quickly and can be augmented and enhanced through use of ocean pens to temporarily hold and feed juvenile Chinook. The survival rates of juvenile salmon held even for a month in an ocean pen is as much as 10 times higher, from 3% to as high as 30%, than that of fry or smolt entering the ocean directly from estuarine or river environments. A combination of reduced interaction or interference with the whales as they try to feed and forage and a concerted effort to increase production of Chinook salmon generally and particularly using ocean net pens to briefly hold and feed juveniles would by, many accounts, go a long way to aiding in the recovery of these fantastic animals.
We will dedicate this space to provide updates and links to important and relevant information on the subject.
The Effects of Salmon Fisheries on SRKW – Final Report of the Independent Science Panel prepared for NOAA and DFO
SFI Letter Regarding SRKW – November 2017
SRKW and Chinook – DFO Presentation given at the SFI Conference – November 2017
Competing Tradeoffs – Marine Mammal Predation and Fisheries Harvest of Chinook Salmon – Nature.com Scientific Reports
Seals and Sea Lions may be slowing salmon recovery, hurting Orcas – Christopher Dunagan, Puget Sound Institute
Be Whale Wise – a promotional effort and website aimed at spreading the word to Pacific Northwest residents about the regulations that govern human-whale interaction.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada – Ecosystems and Ocean Science Documents:
Chinook salmon abundance levels and survival of resident Killer Whales – 2009
Link to the Species at Risk Public Registry documents: Action Plan for the Northern and Southern Resident Killer Whale (Orcinus orca) in Canada
SRKW Discussion Paper: Proposed 2018 Salmon Fishery Management Measures to Support Chinook Salmon Prey Availability for Southern Resident Killer Whales – February 15, 2018
SRKW Prey Workshop 2018 – Availability of Prey for Southern Resident Killer Whales
SRKW DFO Presentation – Webinar – Feb 23, 2018
SFAB SRKW Committee Report to the SFAB: A summary of special SFAC meetings in early 2018 and a motion regarding proposed measures – April 14, 2018
SFI response to conservation measures for Northern and Southern BC Chinook Salmon and Southern Resident Killer Whales Fishery Notice – May 30, 2018
External review of the critical habitat section of the draft amended recovery strategy for the Northern and Southern Resident Killer Whales in Canada – Consultation period June 12 – July 11, 2018
RKW External Review – DFO invitation – June 2018
Critical habitat section of draft Amended – DFO document – June 2018
September 5, 2018 Lawsuit launched to protect southern resident orca – Audio link to CBC Radio with Dr. Andrew Trites
Minister fires back at groups for suing over killer whales – Times Colonist – September 9, 2018
Dr. Andrew Trites at the 25th Annual B.C. Marine Mammal Symposium in Vancouver – November 2017
Additional and Relevant Documents – regarding salmon and pinnipeds
Island Marine Aquatic Working Group – Diagram of competing tradeoffs
Demographic changes in Chinook salmon across the Northeast Pacific Ocean
2018 Annual BC Marine Mammal Symposium
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