More protection for orcas

VANCOUVER — Expanded protections for endangered southern resident killer whales off British Columbia’s coast focus on contaminants, noise, physical disturbances and accessibility of chinook salmon, the orca’s primary prey.

The actions announced by several government departments Thursday include a ban on tourist or whale watching vessels with over 12 passengers until the end of June, a measure to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The federal government says areas of the Juan de Fuca Strait and Southern Gulf Islands will be closed for recreational and commercial salmon fisheries, with specific dates announced in June.

All fish harvesters are also being asked to voluntarily stop fishing within 1,000 metres of orcas throughout B.C. waters.

Interim sanctuary zones established last year for the whales off Pender and Saturna islands will be back up from June 1 to the end of November, a month longer than 2019.

Fisheries and Oceans says the population of the southern residents has fluctuated between 70 and 99 whales since 1976, and their small population size and lack of calves means the unique family of orcas is “facing imminent threats to their survival and recovery.”

The government says no vessels will be permitted in sanctuary areas with the exceptions of emergency and Indigenous vessels, while boats are also prohibited from coming within 400 metres of any killer whale starting June 1.

There is an exception to that rule in place for whale watching and ecotourism companies that receive federal authorization, which would allow them to view all whales except southern residents from 200 metres.

Vessels are also asked to reduce their speed within 1,000 metres of a whale and turn engines to neutral if a whale is within 400 metres, a measure the government says is in place year-round.

Officially, there are 73 southern residents, but the Centre for Whale Research in Washington state says the most prolific male southern resident orca is missing and presumed deceased.

The federal government is moving to reduce contaminants affecting whales and their prey, saying a technical working group has identified and compiled guidelines for key contaminants of concern.

“Together, we can make a difference in the protection of the iconic and culturally significant Southern Resident killer whale. Stronger controls on contaminants impacting these whales is part of the longterm and sustained effort to help these magnificent animals recover and thrive,” Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson said in a statement.

The Canadian Press An endangered female orca leaps from the water while breaching in Puget Sound, as seen from a federal research vessel that had been tracking the whales.The endangered southern resident killer whales in the Salish Sea off the southern coast of British Columbia will see enhanced protections this year, the federal government says.