Strategy for the Northern and Southern Resident Killer Whales

profisher said:
Searun that message of: not caring who it is and pushing for all operators to avoid whales is fine.......so long as you are prepared to in turn accept those other groups saying; they don't care who it is all operators should stay away from their food.
Click to expand...

We have always said that the 400, avoidance bubble should apply to all small vessel operators to ensure that we eliminate threats of physical and acoustic disturbance and also ensure that whales have room to successfully acquire prey. Well known that whale forage behaviour is impacted by up to 25% when vessels are too close. We also said that this would apply only to SRKW,and that for trained professional operators (whale watchers & researchers) that it was OK to be closer because they can determine the different killer whale species - so a differential approach zone would be OK depending on what DFO science advises. So we are OK with science defining the distance for non-SRKW observation by trained professionals. We also knew that Canada would be asked by WA State to ensure that our regulations aligned with theirs - they have put in place a 400 yard rule - we will be expected to do something similar.

I also know that WA is putting in place a 3 year moratorium on WW for SRKW. I personally do not think this is necessary if we can establish a 400m avoidance zone to protect whales. A mobile sanctuary of sorts - 400m where ever SRKW whales roam is more effective than some static sanctuary that protects nothing when whales are not present.

Better to have some access, than no access like a full sanctuary or area closure similar to what we have seen done in Area 20 for example. I saw some interesting notes this week that the WW are starting to see the benefit of working within an avoidance strategy. No one is trying to divide the groups, all we are doing is attempting to align to science-based measures that help protect whales, while also offering us an alternative to sanctuaries.
 
Better to have some access, than no access like a full sanctuary or area closure for all fin fish, which is exactly what was done in Area 18 .
 
High Time said:
Better to have some access, than no access like a full sanctuary or area closure for all fin fish, which is exactly what was done in Area 18 .
Click to expand...
Yeah, the American proposal looks good up against what we got!
 
Subject: RE: Dixon Entrance stuff

As far as I know these are proposals. Unfortunately once they get it in
their heads they intend to carry it through at some point. Much of this ,
or perhaps all of this has to do with pleasing the National Energy Board
and the Kinder Morgan's proposal for Trans Mountain Pipeline. Understand
one thing though , these Whale Experts ??/ and they out number and out lobby
a few disenfranchised fishers now have been working towards this for many
years . They won't go away ,they are an industry in themselves and raise
millions in capital from both foreign donators as well as our government
through grants etc. The last government offer was 61
Million for studies and what not ? If you watched Dr. Brian Riddell and
Dr. Trites presentation to the Pacific Salmon Foundation ,they are the real
experts , but have proposals for only 3.5 million dollars total. The rest
will be sucked up by the make you believe experts for sure. These make you
believe experts will be coming out of the wood work everywhere. With that
kind of funding these lobbies with be enabled to continue for years to come.
At this point everyone that makes their living from fishing need to drop
their bias and unite . That includes both commercial and sports fishermen as
well as first nations. If this isn't stopped ,the make "you believe expert
" will be empowered even more
 
capt hook said:
Subject: RE: Dixon Entrance stuff

As far as I know these are proposals. Unfortunately once they get it in
their heads they intend to carry it through at some point. Much of this ,
or perhaps all of this has to do with pleasing the National Energy Board
and the Kinder Morgan's proposal for Trans Mountain Pipeline. Understand
one thing though , these Whale Experts ??/ and they out number and out lobby
a few disenfranchised fishers now have been working towards this for many
years . They won't go away ,they are an industry in themselves and raise
millions in capital from both foreign donators as well as our government
through grants etc. The last government offer was 61
Million for studies and what not ? If you watched Dr. Brian Riddell and
Dr. Trites presentation to the Pacific Salmon Foundation ,they are the real
experts , but have proposals for only 3.5 million dollars total. The rest
will be sucked up by the make you believe experts for sure. These make you
believe experts will be coming out of the wood work everywhere. With that
kind of funding these lobbies with be enabled to continue for years to come.
At this point everyone that makes their living from fishing need to drop
their bias and unite . That includes both commercial and sports fishermen as
well as first nations. If this isn't stopped ,the make "you believe expert
" will be empowered even more
Click to expand...

100% correct. We have been working hard to build a broad base of support within various communities. We reached out forming Thriving Orcas, Thriving Communities Coalition with the BC Chamber of Commerce. That effort continues, and we are also working hard to get out social media and 2 websites to back up key messages to build public awareness and understanding. Have reached out to all the main commercial fishing associations as well as FN's and we are engaged in ongoing conversations around how we can do precisely what you suggest. The combined recreational and commercial fishing contributions to BC's economy is around $1.5 Billion/year - these are significant values worth protecting and enhancing. So too are protecting SRKW - we believe you can do both. A thriving fishery alongside thriving whales. Many of these arm chair experts who are calling for closing fisheries as a key solution, actually have no clue as to the harm their messages are inflicting upon small coastal communities - and also the false facts they put out there. The majority of chinook are actually consumed by pinnipeds, not fisheries.
 
Its time for West Coast Separatist Party to get moving again.
Put a TOLL booth in Rogers Pass....
Anyone from Ottawa , turn around .
 
searun said:
We have always said that the 400, avoidance bubble should apply to all small vessel operators to ensure that we eliminate threats .
Click to expand...

Searun
So what is going to be done about the Ferry routs which travel the SRKW feeding areas (way more frequently) and well within the 400 bubble. If nothing I find this implementation idiotic and another "Do what I say and not what I do" . I have no financial or employment or other interest in or with the Whale Watching boats . I just want to see implementation that MAKES SENSE .
Maybe I have missed it but has the DFO or other introduced or implemented a reduction or rescheduling of ferry routes to accommodate the 400 bubble ?
S-V
 
Very good question. I can't speak for what will eventually come from the WG that Transport Canada is leading on this very issue you raised regarding Ferries and other large commercial vessel traffic transiting forage areas - but the 400m Avoidance Zone bubble was never intended as a solution for large over 60 GT vessels. Clearly vessels of that size are not as manoeuvrable as smaller vessels, thus require a practical solution(s) tailored for them...speaking of "making sense."

So to be clear, there are 5 Technical Working Groups - each dealing with specific issues. I think that is a reasonable approach, for precisely the reasons you mention. Hopefully this helps folks understand the process moving forward.

Here's a summary to help illustrate:

Technical Working Groups

The following TWGs will be established, based on key threats, announced measures, and potential future measures. All TWGs will consider Canada-U.S. collaboration in support of their proposals, with an immediate focus on the Washington State Task Force process, given the shared critical habitat of SRKW; however, TWGs should not limit their proposals to those made by the Task Force.

ISSUE

1. Prey availability and accessibility

  •  Review measures implemented in 2018 (e.g., whether fisheries reductions were achieved) and identify potential measures for 2019 season

  •  Contribute to identifying measures to rebuild wild Chinook stocks, prioritizing those of greatest importance to SRKW, in line with the objectives of Canada’s Wild Salmon Policy
Lead - Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) – Andrew Thomson, Whale (SRKW) Chinook Regional Director, Fisheries Committee Management

Southern Resident Killer

2. Identification and development of proposed SRKW sanctuaries

 Advance feasibility work on one or more SRKW sanctuaries,

Lead - DFO – Brigid Payne, A/Regional Director, Oceans and Salmonid Enhancement


ISSUE

including consideration of potential boundaries and permitted or restricted activities, within sub-areas of critical habitat



Vessel Noise TWG 1:

3. Commercial vessel noise measures (slowdown / lateral displacement)

  •  Review effectiveness of 2018 measures and identify potential measures for 2019 season, including but not limited to an extension of the slowdown to include Boundary Pass

  •  Identify the infrastructure e.g. monitoring and compliance promotion needed to support measures
Lead - Transport Canada (TC) – Yvette Myers, Executive Director, Oceans Protection Plan (Alternate – Michelle Sanders, Director, Clean Water Policy)

Group, with the ECHO Vessel Operators Committee (VOC)

ECHO Advisory Working

Vessel Noise TWG 2:
4. General vessel noise measures

  •  Identify noise reduction targets, and options for quiet-vessel design and other actions for noise reduction, including for Underwater Noise Management Plans (e.g. commercial vessels and ferries)

  •  Identify additional measures to reduce noise impacts of commercial whale watching vessels and recreational vessels
Lead - TC – Megan Nichols, Director General, Environmental Policy (Alternate – Michelle Sanders, Director, Clean Water Policy)


5. Contaminants

  •  Develop a framework to assess the effectiveness of existing controls on contaminants that affect the SRKW.

  •  Identify key contaminants of emerging concern.

  •  Identify and evaluate the contribution of point and non- point sources to contaminant loadings to the SRKW, their habitat and their prey.

  •  Develop recommendations for additional measures to address contaminants affecting the
Environment and Climate

Lead - Change Canada (ECCC) – Gwen Goodier, Director General, Industrial Sectors, Chemicals and Waste Directorate


The agenda for the first meeting of each TWG would include:
o Identification of options to include technical Indigenous Traditional Knowledge (ITK) expertise for each TWG
o Discussion of the Washington State Task Force Report and relevant recommendations for each TWG
o Development of a workplan for immediate actions (Jan-March 2019)
o Identification of long-term work items (Starting April 2019)
 
Two more southern resident killer whales predicted to die by summer

https://theprovince.com/news/local-...mmer/wcm/867afb89-cd21-4ff7-bf10-22fad1f90607

The Seattle Times reports Center for Whale Research founding director Ken Balcomb said photos taken of a southern resident orca known as J17 on New Year’s Eve showed the 42-year-old female has so-called peanut head — a misshapen head and neck caused by starvation. In addition, a 27-year-old male known as K25 is failing, also from lack of sufficient food. He lost his mother, K13, in 2017 and isn’t successfully foraging on his own.
 
wildmanyeah said:
Two more southern resident killer whales predicted to die by summer

https://theprovince.com/news/local-...mmer/wcm/867afb89-cd21-4ff7-bf10-22fad1f90607

The Seattle Times reports Center for Whale Research founding director Ken Balcomb said photos taken of a southern resident orca known as J17 on New Year’s Eve showed the 42-year-old female has so-called peanut head — a misshapen head and neck caused by starvation. In addition, a 27-year-old male known as K25 is failing, also from lack of sufficient food. He lost his mother, K13, in 2017 and isn’t successfully foraging on his own.
Click to expand...

Its already January time for a new starvation campaign.

Interesting that seems very close in video just saying. Got to stop loving them to death, and let them be.

https://www.whaleresearch.com/111
 
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Yeah seems like the letter writing and emails to ministers, mla’s and news stations have done zero to help this cause. All I ever hear and see on news etc is this same old ******** story being beaten to death. Something needs to change to get the real science etc onto the news and out into the public’s eye because it’s almost to late already imo
 
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