Ameliorating Disturbances for Endangered Orcas

"We know from the science that when boats are in close proximity to the whales, they don't forage as much and possibly don't forage as effectively, both because they're disturbed by the presence of the vessels and possibly by the sound of the engines."
"There is great concern right now about this population [of Killer Whales]. There has been a loss of too many whales in the last six months to a year."
Michael Milstein, spokesman, U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

In this July 31, 2015, file photo, an orca whale breaches in view of Mount Baker, some 60 miles distant, in the Salish Sea in the San Juan Islands, Wash.    Elaine Thompson / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

A newly published study validates the regulations instituted in 2011 by the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration as having had a positive result in protecting the southern resident orcas while at the same time not having the foreseen disturbing effect on local whale watching and tourism industries. These killer whales found in the waters off British Columbia and Washington have species-at-risk status in Canada, and endangered species status in the United States.

In July a census indicated that in the three pods making up the population known for their presence in the Salish Sea, including the Straits of Georgia, Juan de Fuca and Puget Sound, a total of 77 whales were accounted for. But according to the Center for Whale Research in Washington state, there was a count of 76 whales in December, considerably reduced from their 2016 number of 83.

The 2011 regulatory changes that were implemented in hopes of saving more of the orcas from the devastating effects of an increasingly crowded, noisy and dangerous ocean were meant to prevent vessels from approaching within 200 yards (182 metres) from whales. And nor are vessels permitted to stray into the path of the whales, or to attempt to intercept them.

In this Sept. 2017, photo made with a drone, a young resident killer whale chases a chinook salmon in the Salish Sea near San Juan Island, Wash. John Durban/NOAA Fisheries/Southwest Fisheries Science Center via AP

The purpose of the study was meant to compare research and data on vessel compliance, on biological impacts and additional related factors in the five years previous and then once the regulations were implemented, to gauge the possible outcomes. The finding was that the number of incidents of vessels interfering in any manner with whales had dramatically decreased, as a result of the regulations.

The regulations were primarily aimed at tourism and recreation vessels associated with the tourism industry in Washington State and British Columbia. Large, commercial vessels are restricted to major shipping lanes, located at a considerable distance from those parts of the ocean where the whales are known to be more frequently found. But they can also be harmfully distracting to the whales.

Before the regulations were enacted, concerns were expressed they would have a deleterious effect on the lucrative and popular tourism industry off the B.C. and Washington State coasts, but the study discovered that tax revenues from the tourism industry had actually been seen to increase significantly, belying those initial concerns.

The study did find, however, that recreational boaters seemed unaware of the regulations, leaving the obvious impression that more needs to be done to ensure public education to protect the orcas should be more broadly focused. Most commercial vessels, on the other hand, appeared to be satisfactorily recognizing and respecting the new rules.

In recognition of the success of the NOAA initiative, Canada's Fisheries Ministry is prepared to bring in similar regulations before spring to ensure that in Canadian waters too, vessels remain at minimum 200 metres distance from southern resident killer whales.


A noise reduction trial was launched earlier this year by the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, cautioning vessels to maintain a slower speed in the Haro Strait between southern Vancouver Island and San  Juan Island, but preliminary study results linked slower speeds with longer periods of time spent in the area, while at the same time reducing noise levels.