Rules to protect orcas to resume

For a third year in a row, the federal government has ordered fishery closures and strict vessel regulations to protect the critically endangered southern resident killer whales.

The measures by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans focus on primary threats to the orcas: loss of access to Chinook salmon stocks, acoustic and physical disturbance, and contaminants.

The commercial and recreational salmon fishery will be closed in a portion of Swiftsure Bank from July 16 to Oct. 31, and in Juan de Fuca Strait from Aug. 1 to Oct. 31.

The DFO is also enforcing a new closure for commercial and recreational salmon fisheries in the southern Gulf Islands, where closures will be triggered by the first confirmed presence of southern resident killer whales in the area.

Monitoring will begin in the area on June 1. If a southern resident killer whale sighting is confirmed, the fishery will be shut down and remain closed until Oct. 31, the department said.

Distancing measures will also be enforced. For a second year, vessels will be prohibited from coming within 400 metres of any orca in coastal waters between Campbell River and Ucluelet, including Barkley and Howe Sound. This is in effect year-round until May 31, 2022.

Three interim sanctuary zones off Pender Island, Saturna Island and at Swiftsure Bank will also resume from June 1 to Nov. 30. The DFO said no vessel traffic will be permitted in these areas, with exceptions for emergency and Indigenous vessels.