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Recovery Plan Outlined for Puget Sound’s Killer Whalesposted 01/24/2008 Killer whales appear in Puget Sound typically in May, with some remaining into the fall before most leave for the open ocean in the winter months. Puget Sound killer whales are officially known as Southern Residents and this distinct population was listed for protection under the federal Endangered Species Act in late 2005. Today’s recovery plan is a requirement of that listing. The population experienced an alarming decline of almost 20 percent from 1996 to 2001, when only 79 animals were counted. The current population stands at 88, although at its peak in the 1990s, it was as high as 97 animals. The fisheries agency said availability of prey, pollution and effects from vessels and sound are major threats to the whales’ health. In addition, it said, the whales’ inherently small population size and vulnerability to oil spills were important factors considered in the recovery plan. The agency said, however, that there is considerable uncertainty regarding which threats were responsible for the decline in the population or which may be most important to address for recovery. The plan identifies ongoing conservation programs and calls for action in a variety of areas, including improving availability of prey by supporting salmon restoration in the region, reducing pollution and contamination in the Sound, and monitoring the effects of vessel traffic and underwater noise. Ongoing research programs, conducted by NOAA Fisheries and others, are providing important information that will help implement and update the plan. Killer whales, which are actually the world’s largest variety of dolphin, are found in every ocean. Males, generally larger than females, can reach close to 30 feet at maturity and weigh more than 15,000 pounds. The agency said recovery of the Southern Resident killer whales requires cooperation from West Coast communities from California to British Columbia. The plan was developed with help from a variety of stakeholders, including federal and state agencies, tribes, non-profit groups, industries, the academic community and concerned citizens. Development of this plan was closely coordinated with the state of Washington and the Canadian Department of Fisheries and Oceans. See the Web to view the plan and related documents The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, an agency of the U.S. Commerce Department, is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety through the prediction and research of weather and climate-related events and information service delivery for transportation, and by providing environmental stewardship of our nation's coastal and marine resources. Through the emerging Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS), NOAA is working with its federal partners, more than 70 countries and the European Commission to develop a global monitoring network that is as integrated as the planet it observes, predicts and protects. Public meeting April 18 in Friday Harbor on regulations to protect orcasposted 04/12/2007 There will be an opportunity to listen to a general presentation and meet with NOAA Fisheries Staff to learn more about the Endangered Species Act, the Marine Mammal Protection Act and options for developing regulations to implement them. The open houses will also provide opportunities for interested parties to make formal recorded comments about possible vessel regulations. The preferred means of providing such comments for the official record is via written testimony. The Northwest Region opened a public comment period on March 22 on potential regulations to protect killer whales in Washington State from the effects of various vessel activities. NOAA will consider and address all substantive comments received by 5 p.m. (Pacific Time) on June 20, 2007. You may submit comments by e-mail. See the Federal Register notice, for more information; or contact, 206-526–4745. Comments sought on vessel effects on killer whalesThe National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries Service listed the Southern Resident killer whales as endangered under the Endangered Species (ESA) on Nov. 18, 2005. The agency identified vessel effects, including physical interference and sound, as a potential contributing factor in the population’s decline. The proposed recovery plan for Southern Resident killer whales includes the evaluation of current vessel guidelines and the need for regulations and/or protected areas. The Northwest Regional Office has opened a public comment period on potential regulations to protect killer whales in Washington State from the effects of various vessel activities. NOAA will consider and address all substantive comments received by 5 p.m. (Pacific Time) on June 20, 2007. You may submit comments by e-mail. See the Federal Register notice, below, for more information; or contact Lynne Barre, 206-526–4745.
Meetings about proposed recovery plan for whales Feb. 6posted 01/26/2007 The meeting is hosted by The Whale Museum and the San Juan County Marine Resources Committee. The public is also invited to attend the Marine Resources Committee (MRC) meeting the following day, Wednesday, February 7th at 8:30 am at the Islanders Bank Annex. The MRC meeting, like all MRC meetings, is open to the public. The proposed recovery plan is only one of several agenda items up for discussion at this regular twice-monthly MRC meeting. Marine Resource committee members will hear an overview of the plan from Lynne Barre and will focus their discussion on how San Juan County can participate with recovery efforts. In May 2003, NMFS designated the Eastern North Pacific Southern Resident stock of killer whales (Orcinus orca) as depleted under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). The agency also announced preparation of a conservation plan to restore the stock to its optimal sustainable population. Soon after NMFS released the proposed conservation plan, the agency listed these whales under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) on November 15th, 2005. The ESA requires preparation of a recovery plan. The Northwest Region of NMFS then took the proposed conservation plan, addressed comments on it, and incorporated ESA elements into a proposed ESA recovery plan which also includes new research results and references that have become available since the proposed conservation plan was released. On Nov. 28, 2006 the Northwest Region announced availability of the Proposed Recovery Plan for Southern Resident Killer Whales, and is now requesting public review and comment on it. NOAA will consider and address all substantive comments received by 5 p.m. (PST) on Feb. 27, 2007. You may submit comments by e-mail orca.plan@noaa.gov or contact Lynne Barre, 206-526–4745 for more information. Plan and the Federal Register Notice. Puget Sound Killer Whale Proposed ESA Recovery Plan releasedposted 11/29/2006 EXECUTIVE SUMMARYCurrent Species Status: The distinct population segment (DPS) of Southern Resident killer whales (Orcinus orca) was listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) on November 18, 2005 (70 FR 69903). Prior to the ESA listing the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) determined that the Southern Resident stock was below its optimum sustainable population (OSP) and designated it as depleted under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) in May 2003 (68 FR 31980). Southern Resident killer whales occur primarily in Washington State and British Columbia in the summer and fall and in coastal waters in the winter. Southern Residents use echolocation during foraging and feed primarily on salmonids. The whales exhibit advanced vocal communication and live in highly stable social groupings, or pods, led by matriarchal females. The Southern Resident distinct population segment (DPS) experienced an almost 20 % decline from 1996 to 2001 and was petitioned for listing under the ESA in 2001, and was listed as endangered in 2005. Since 2001 there has been a small increase in the population and there were 90 whales in the Southern Resident DPS for the 2006 census. The major threats identified in the listing were prey availability, pollution and contaminants, and effects from vessels and sound. In addition demographics, small population size, vulnerability to oil spills and other factors were considered. The Recovery Plan: The ESA requires the Secretary of Commerce to develop and implement recovery plans for the conservation and survival of endangered and threatened species. A proposed conservation plan under the MMPA was developed and served as the foundation for the recovery plan. NMFS held a series of workshops in 2003-2004 to receive input from a variety of stakeholders on ideas for management actions to include in a conservation plan. A preliminary draft document was posted for public review in March 2005. Comments on the draft plan were incorporated into a Proposed Conservation Plan which was released for further public comment in October 2005. The proposed recovery plan is based on the Proposed Conservation Plan, with additional elements incorporated, as required under the ESA. The plan reviews and assesses the potential factors affecting the Southern Residents and lays out a recovery program to address each of the threats. Recovery Strategy: There is considerable uncertainty regarding which threats may be responsible for the decline in the population or which is the most important to address for recovery. The plan lays out an adaptive management approach and a recovery strategy that addresses each of the potential threats based on the best available science. The recovery program outline links the management actions to an active research program to fill data gaps, and links to monitoring to assess effectiveness. Feedback from research and monitoring will provide the information necessary to refine ongoing actions and develop and prioritize new actions. The recovery program in the plan includes:
Recovery Goals, Objective, and Criteria: The goal of the plan is to restore the endangered Southern Residents to the point where they no longer require the protections of the ESA. When the Southern Resident killer whales have sustained an average growth of 2.3 % per year for 28 years, population parameters are consistent with a healthy growing population, and threats have been addressed, they will no longer be in danger of extinction or likely to become endangered in the foreseeable future. Interim downlisting criteria of average growth of 2.3 % per year for 14 years and progress toward addressing threats represents sustained growth to indicate that the population could be downlisted to threatened, (i.e., likely to become endangered in the foreseeable future.) Monitoring population trends over time will be necessary to confirm that the population has recovered. Estimated Cost of Recovery: There are currently many efforts underway in Puget Sound to address recovery of depleted salmon stocks, improve the condition of Puget Sound, and assist in prevention and response to oil spills. In addition to these ongoing efforts, the Recovery Program identifies the cost and time to carry out actions to address the threats to Southern Resident killer whales although we cannot estimate when the most important threats will be identified or when threat criteria will be met. There are a variety of scenarios and time frames under which the Southern Resident DPS could meet the biological criteria. Funding for research and conservation efforts has been available from FY03-FY06 and to continue recovery and research efforts over the next five years, the total estimated cost is $15,040,000. If the first five years of actions occurred; the annual cost would likely be reduced for subsequent years (~$1,500,000/year). Assuming a time frame of 28 years for delisting, the total estimated cost of recovery would be $49,540,000. Recovery of the Southern Resident killer whale DPS is a long-term effort that requires cooperation and coordination of the Washington and British Columbia communities. The plan was developed with input from a variety of stakeholders, including federal and state agencies, tribes, non-profit groups, industries, the academic community, and concerned citizens. Development of this plan was closely coordinated with the State of Washington and the Canadian Department of Fisheries and Oceans. NOAA Fisheries proposes to designate critical habitat to protect orcasposted 06/11/2006
The area proposed for critical habitat designation encompasses parts of Haro Strait and the waters around the San Juan Islands, the Strait of Juan de Fuca and all of Puget Sound a total of just over 2,500 square miles. The agency is excluding from the designation 18 military sites covering nearly 112 square miles of habitat.Once critical habitat is formally designated, possibly by the end of the year, federal agencies will be required to consult with NOAA Fisheries Service to ensure their actions will not destroy or adversely modify the killer whales’ designated habitat. The agency is also producing a killer whale recovery plan, a requirement under the Endangered Species Act, which will be available for public comment later this month. Listed as "endangered" in 2005, the Southern Resident killer whale population peaked in the 1990s at 97 animals then declined to 79 in 2001; currently there are 90 whales in existence with several calves recently born into the population. The animals, which are actually the largest form of dolphin, spend the majority of their time in the Pacific Ocean. Males, generally larger than females, can reach almost 30 feet at maturity and weigh more than 15,000 pounds. Biologists at NOAA are heartened by the population increases in recent years, but remain concerned about water quality, availability of food (especially salmon), and the effects of boat traffic on the animals. The agency will hold public meetings on the habitat-designation proposal at the Seattle Aquarium July 12 and in Friday Harbor July 13. Comments on the proposal may be sent to NOAA Fisheries Service until mid-August via e-mail at: orcahabitat.nwr@noaa.gov or by writing to: Chief - Protected Resources Division NOAA Fisheries Service is dedicated to protecting and preserving our nation’s living marine resources and their habitats through scientific research, management and enforcement. NOAA Fisheries Service provides effective stewardship of these resources for the benefit of the nation, supporting coastal communities that depend upon them, and helping to provide safe and healthy seafood to consumers and recreational opportunities for the American public. NOAA, an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce, is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety through the prediction and research of weather and climate-related events and providing environmental stewardship of the nation’s coastal and marine resources. Through the emerging Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS), NOAA is working with its federal partners, over 60 countries and the European Commission to develop a global network that is as integrated as the planet it observes, predicts and protects. On the Web:
Local orcas listed as endangeredposted 11/16/05
A year ago, the whales were proposed for "threatened" status under the ESA. A species listed as threatened is at risk of becoming endangered; an endangered species is one at risk of extinction. "Recent information and further analysis leads our agency to conclude that the Southern Resident killer whale population is at risk of extinction, and should be listed as endangered, " said Bob Lohn, regional administrator for NOAA Fisheries Service’s Northwest region. "By giving it protection under the ESA, we have a better chance of keeping this population alive for future generations. " The Southern Resident killer whale population experienced a 20 percent decline in the 1990s, raising concerns about its future. Many members of the group were captured during the 1970s for commercial display aquariums. The group continued to be put at risk from vessel traffic, toxic chemicals and limits on availability of food, especially salmon. It has only a small number of sexually mature males. Because the population historically has been small, it is susceptible to catastrophic risks, such as disease or oil spills. Southern Resident killer whales already are protected, as are all marine mammals, by a 1972 law, the Marine Mammal Protection Act, under which the whales were officially listed as a depleted stock more than two years ago. A proposed conservation plan required by the depleted designation was published last month laying out the steps needed to restore the population to full health. The population peaked at 97 animals in the 1990s and then declined to 79 in 2001. It currently stands at 89 whales, including a solitary male that has taken up residence in a small inlet in British Columbia. Although researchers have collected more than 30 years’ worth of information on the Southern Residents, agency biologists said there are major gaps in knowledge, such as where the animals go when they’re not in local waters. Because killer whales may live up to 90 years in the wild, existing data doesn’t cover even one full life span for older animals. Research by NOAA Fisheries Service scientists to fill these gaps will continue, the agency said. NOAA Fisheries Service is dedicated to protecting and preserving the nation’s living marine resources and their habitats through scientific research, management and enforcement. NOAA Fisheries Service provides effective stewardship of these resources for the benefit of the nation, supporting coastal communities that depend upon them, and helping to provide safe and healthy seafood to consumers and recreational opportunities for the American public. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, an agency of the U.S. Commerce Department, is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety through the prediction and research of weather and climate-related events and providing environmental stewardship of the nation’s coastal and marine resources. Through the emerging Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS), NOAA is working with its federal partners and nearly 60 countries to develop a global monitoring network that is as integrated as the planet it observes. Killer whales will be protected as Endangeredposted 11/16/05
"This is a victory for sound science, the killer whales, and the people of the Pacific Northwest," said Brent Plater, attorney with the Center for Biological Diversity. "However, if Congress continues on its path to gut the Endangered Species Act, the best tools available to protect the killer whale will be ripped right out of the hands of the scientists and resource managers in the Pacific Northwest." Today’s decision comes nearly two years after a U.S. District Court found unlawful the Bush administration’s June 25, 2002 announcement that the killer whales are not significant enough to protect. The final rule differs from the proposed rule announced nearly one year ago by listing the Southern Residents as "endangered" rather than "threatened." An "endangered" listing provides stronger, more immediate protections to the killer whales than a "threatened" listing. "Southern Resident killer whales have been integral to the ecological, social, and economic well being of the Pacific Northwest for nearly all of human history," said Plater. "Providing the Southern Residents the protections of the Endangered Species Act ensures that we can give back to these whales and insure their survival." NOAA: local orcas threatenedposted 12/17/04
The proposed listing will provide ample time for public comment, and NOAA Fisheries will host public meetings to discuss the proposed listing. The listing could become final a year from now. The proposed listing determination will be published in the Federal Register next week and will be open for public comment for 90 days. Two public meetings are scheduled to allow interested parties to present their views: in Seattle Feb. 17 and at Friday Harbor Feb. 28, 2005. NOAA Fisheries, an agency of the Commerce Department's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), is one of the federal agencies responsible for protecting marine mammals under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) and recovering species from the brink of extinction when listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). "Our recovery efforts are already under way for these killer whales," said Bob Lohn, head of the NOAA Fisheries northwest regional office. "We've had workshops and consulted with experts on development of a conservation plan, essentially identical to the recovery plan that an ESA listing would require." A draft of the conservation plan is expected to be available for public review by February. That conservation planning resulted from NOAA Fisheries' designation of the Southern Residents as "depleted" under the MMPA in May 2003. The agency had received a petition to list the whales under the ESA, but decided in 2002 that listing was not warranted. NOAA scientists completed a comprehensive review of the whales, but because of the way scientists classify all killer whales as a single world-wide species, the Southern Resident population didn't meet the criterion of biological "significance" under the ESA. However, NOAA Fisheries recognized that these animals were in trouble. The population peaked at 97 animals and then declined to 79 in 2001. It currently stands at 84 whales. The count doesn't include two calves born to the group this year. They will be officially included if they show up in the 2005 census. The Marine Mammal Protection Act provides significant safeguards for whales, and the depleted designation last year added development of a conservation strategy to restore the population to healthy numbers. Meanwhile, NOAA Fisheries' "not warranted" finding was challenged in court and the court told the agency to reconsider its ESA decision. "Because we were faced with biological uncertainties about how killer whales are scientifically categorized, we said in our 2002 status review findings that we'd conduct additional research and revisit our conclusions in four years," Lohn said. "The court order that we're responding to today simply compressed that schedule." Although researchers have collected more than 30 years of information on the Southern Residents, there are major gaps in knowledge, such as where they go when they're not in local waters. Because killer whales can live for 80 to 90 years in the wild, 30 years of data don't cover even one full life span for older animals "It's vital that we continue to gather and analyze information on our region's orcas. We're very appreciative of the Washington Congressional delegation's efforts to provide funding for killer whale research and conservation. It's that kind of support that will allow us to continue working to improve the health of these animals," Lohn stated. Another effort contributing to restoring these killer whales is through the Puget Sound Shared Strategy, a regional coalition aimed at restoring salmon in Puget Sound. Since salmon are one of the killer whales' main food sources, increasing salmon numbers and quality is a major step toward increasing orca numbers and vigor. "NOAA Fisheries also appreciates the Puget Sound Action Team's efforts, which was initiated by Washington State to protect the health of the sound," Lohn added, referring to the state's partnership for Puget Sound that coordinates and puts into action the state's environmental agenda for Puget Sound. NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service is dedicated to protecting and preserving our nation's living marine resources and their habitat through scientific research, management and enforcement. NOAA Fisheries provides effective stewardship of these resources for the benefit of the nation, supporting coastal communities that depend upon them, and helping to provide safe and healthy seafood to consumers and recreational opportunities for the American public. NOAA is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety through the prediction and research of weather and climate-related events and providing environmental stewardship of our nation's coastal and marine resources. Report recommends 'endangered' status for Puget Sound's orca populationposted 03/03/04
The department is accepting public comment through April 1, 2004 on the status report and recommendation that the orcas, also known as killer whales, be included on the state's list. The report may be viewed at WDFW WEB SITE, and comments may be sent to:
The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission, the nine-member citizens' panel that sets policy for WDFW, is expected to take action on the orca-listing proposal at its April 2-3 meeting in Spokane. The state listing process is separate from the federal process, and carries limited state authority that is confined to the malicious harassment or killing of a state-listed endangered species. A state listing would trigger the development of Washington's own recovery plan, which would serve to guide efforts to protect the orcas. The recovery plan would be done in concert with the actions of U.S. and Canadian federal agencies that have management authority for marine mammals. The state designates as "endangered" those species native to Washington that are seriously threatened with extinction throughout all or a significant portion of their range within the state. The status report is the latest product of an ongoing effort by Washington state, federal and Canadian officials to assess the health of the region's resident orca population. Canadian officials have already listed the southern resident orcas as an endangered species. The U.S. government, which designated the southern resident population as a "depleted stock" under the national Marine Mammal Protection Act, is currently reviewing its decision to not list the orcas under the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA). WDFW's status report was funded in part by a $100,000 appropriation from Gov. Gary Locke as part of the governor's larger initiative to strengthen the health of the Puget Sound ecosystem and the fish and wildlife species that depend on it. "The solid scientific work reflected in this report gives us an excellent base on which to assess the health of our resident orca population and determine what the next steps should be to protect one of the most enduring symbols of Puget Sound and the Pacific Northwest," said WDFW Director Jeff Koenings. The Puget Sound resident orca population consists of three social groups, identified as the J, K and L pods. Southern resident orcas primarily feed on salmon and other fish. They are most often seen in Puget Sound from late spring to fall. The southern residents' population has declined by 18 percent since 1995, according to the status report. The L pod, which makes up about half of the southern resident population, has seen both higher mortality and lower birth rates, particularly in the past decade. The status report cites several possible factors that could be responsible for the orcas' decline, including an overall decline in salmon numbers throughout the region, as represented in the federal listing of salmon under the federal ESA, accumulations of long-lived pollutants such as PCBs and DDT, and possible harassment from "whale-watchers" and other marine vessels. "The state's roles and responsibilities would complement, not replace, those of the federal agencies," Koenings added. "We want to operate from a clear understanding of the science so as to not duplicate the federal recovery plan." Transient orcas also inhabit state waters intermittently throughout the year, though they differ from the resident pods in their smaller social groups and preference for marine mammals as a prey base. Two additional orca populations, offshore and northern residents, rarely venture in state waters. Local orcas depleted not endangeredposted 06/26/02 NOAA PRESS RELEASENOAA Fisheries Takes Steps to Protect Killer Whales Agency Determines that ESA Listing Not Presently Warrantedposted 06/26/02 NOAA Fisheries, an agency of the Commerce Department’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), is one of the federal agencies responsible for protecting marine mammals and determining protection under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). "We are taking the decline of these killer whales seriously and we will work to sustain and support this population," said Bob Lohn, head of the NOAA Fisheries northwest regional office. The NOAA Fisheries steps to help protect Puget Sound killer whales include:
Although historically the southern resident population has been small, in recent years scientists have seen it fall from a high of 97 animals in 1996 to approximately 78 last year. At a conference sponsored by NOAA Fisheries in 2001, killer-whale experts attributed the decline to depleted food sources, the effects of pollution and whale watching. In spite of these low numbers, a biological review team assembled by NOAA Fisheries said that even if the 1992-2001 population decline continued that there would be a slightly greater than 10 percent chance that the southern resident population would become extinct in the next 100 years. If the population data starting in 1974 is used to make the same prediction, the scientists said the risk of extinction by 2101 would fall to as little as one percent. In May 2001, the California-based Center for Biological Diversity and 11 other groups petitioned NOAA Fisheries to list Puget Sound killer whales – known by scientists as the southern population of resident killer whales – under the Endangered Species Act. "While these animals are in trouble, there is not sufficient justification to list the Puget Sound population under the ESA," explained Lohn. When they are considered as a part of the larger group of North Pacific killer whales, there is no risk of extinction for the population according to the NOAA Fisheries biological review team's report. The general killer whale population in the North Pacific is regarded as healthy. The Endangered Species Act allows the government to list individual species or subspecies, but also "distinct population segments" as well. A joint policy, signed in 1996 by NOAA Fisheries and the US Fish and Wildlife Service, another federal agency with wide-spread responsibility under the ESA, declares such sub-groups must not only be separate or "discretev” from the overall population, they must be "significant" as well. NOAA Fisheries convened a team of scientists and killer-whale biologists to examine the killer whale’s status and make a recommendation about listing. It determined that the Southern Resident killer whales constitute neither a "species," "subspecies" nor "distinct population segments" as defined by the ESA. Current scientific classification, the scientists said, categorizes all killer whales as a single global species with no recognized subspecies. Lohn noted, however, that the validity of a single-species classification for killer whales has been questioned by some taxonomists – scientists who study the principles of scientific classification – and is currently under review by scientists world wide. "Any changes in the species’ classification may warrant a reassessment of our ESA findings," he added. The familiar black-and-white killer whales, and all marine mammals in the United States, are protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act – a law that among other things forbids killing or harming marine mammals. NOAA Fisheries is dedicated to protecting and preserving our nation’s living marine resources through scientific research, management, enforcement, and the conservation of marine mammals and other protected marine species and their habitat. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Orcas are one step closer to endangered species listingposted 08/08/01
The NOAA fisheries was asked to consider an ESA listing by the Center for Biological Diversity in May, 2001. Local groups -- The Whale Museum, Orca Conservancy and the Friends of the San Juans were co-petitioners. "We take very seriously the recent declines in killer whale populations and are determined to find out what's causing it," said Donna Darm, the acting head of NOAA fisheries Northwest regional office in Seattle. "Accepting this petition to conduct the review is an important first step in determining an appropriate course of action." The three pods which make up the resident whale population in Puget Sound have dropped from a population high of 99 in 1995 to 78 this year. Mark Anderson, executive director of Orca Relief Citizens' Alliance noting the loss of breeding whales said, "It's great news, but we shouldn't take comfort in it. It can take up to five years (to go through the ESA listing process). I don't think we have five years." |
Orcas Population
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| 1976 | 71 |
| 1977 | 79 |
| 1978 | 79 |
| 1979 | 81 |
| 1980 | 83 |
| 1981 | 81 |
| 1982 | 78 |
| 1983 | 76 |
| 1984 | 74 |
| 1985 | 77 |
| 1986 | 81 |
| 1987 | 84 |
| 1988 | 85 |
| 1989 | 85 |
| 1990 | 89 |
| 1991 | 92 |
| 1992 | 92 |
| 1993 | 97 |
| 1994 | 96 |
| 1995 | 99 |
| 1996 | 97 |
| 1997 | 92 |
| 1998 | 89 |
| 1999 | 85 |
| 2000 | 82 |
| 2001 | 78 |
These questions and answers are from the NMFS Web site.
posted 05/02/01
Three local groups joined the Arizona-based
Center for Biological Diversity in issuing a "May Day" for local killer whales yesterday. A petition, formally requesting the Southern Resident killer whale population be listed as an endangered species under the federal Endangered Species Act, was filed with the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS).
The Whale Museum,
Orca Conservancy and the Friends of the San Juans were co-petitioners. As an alternative, the petition asks for the whales to be listed as an endangered species.
Over-fishing, pollution, whale-watching vessels and the small population size are cited as concerns in the 108-page petition. The petition is available on the CBD's Web site. The non-profit organization is dedicated to protecting endangered species and wild places of western North America and the Pacific.
The petition states:
This petition seeks to list the Southern Resident killer whale, Orcinus orca, as an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act. The Southern Resident killer whale has experienced alarming population instability over the past 30 years, indicating that the population is unsteady and oscillating toward extinction. Currently the population is experiencing a population decline that is incomparable to any previous population fluctuation in the Southern Residents’ known history, and it is now considered the most endangered killer whale population in the world.
The Southern Residents’ extinction trajectory has been caused by several anthropogenic factors. During the late 1960s and early 1970s, approximately 34 Southern Residents were captured and removed for display in aquaria; perhaps a dozen more Southern Residents were killed in the process of capture (Olesiuk et al., 1990). These captures altered the sex and age ratio of the Southern Residents, creating a reproductive gap that led to population declines in the 1980s. Concentrations of organochlorines in Southern Residents have recently been determined to be greater than levels at which harmful effects have been documented in other marine species.
The contamination may be affecting the survivability of the population. Chinook salmon stocks—the Southern Residents’ main food source—have been declining throughout the Pacific Northwest due to over-harvesting and destruction of salmon habitat. The reduction of this food source may be reducing the carrying capacity of the Southern Residents’ historical range, and may be enhancing the effects of bioaccumulated toxic chemicals. Disturbances caused by whale- watching and shipping vessels are also a likely factor in the Southern Resident killer whale’s decline. Vessel traffic can affect individual whale behavior and lead to fatal collisions with ships.
More information is available on the Center for Biological Diversity Web site.
SAN JUAN ISLANDER © 2008