Truemors
It is about time that the Canadian Government is doing more to protect Killer Whales (Orcas). I just hope they don't go overboard and kill a whole whale watching industry at the same time.
First it is very important to realize that there are two RESIDENT Killer Whale groups in British Columbia Pacific Ocean. One group the so called southern residents are endangered, at this stage there are only about 80 left. Those whales "hang out" in the area around southern Vancouver Island.
It seems like there is a border which they usually don't cross - this line is about at Campbell River on Vancouver Island. This line also "marks" the border for the so called northern resident Orcas which live around the northern tip of Vancouver Island.
The northern residents have a population of about 205 at this stage - that population seems to be fairly stable, although there is a decline of about 7% over the last few years, but all together they are in not bad shape. This could change when the salmon continues to decline as the resident Killer Whales, in the North as well as in the South, are feeding on salmon mainly.
Yes, it does make sense to put this symbol of British Columbia (Orcas) under protection or even better on the endangered animal list - BUT it does NOT make sense to put one law over both populations.
The southern residents are in bad shape - protect as much as possible. Also bring in some new whale watching rules - but do not ruin the industry.
The laws for whale watching on the northern part of Vancouver Island shall not be as hard as for the southern residents. WHY?? Here is why.
Around Victoria you may count hundrets of boats around the whales - very disturbing as they live in a world of sound, with 100 boats around that world does not exist. On the other side, even in the highest season, you may see 7 -10 boats around the whales in the North. Thats why you can not apply the same rules for both communities.
While the whale watching around Victoria is completely different, most of the tours are only on for 2 hours, which creates more whale watching trips every day, the whale watching tours on Northern Vancouver Island last usually 3-5 hours! Less tours, less boats and almost ALL bigger whale watching operators on the northern part following common sense rules while whale watching. They give the whales more then enough room (you only can do that when you give yourself time) and do a great job on the educational side. In fact the whole research about Killer Whales started in the North, partly even by people which operate the whale watching tours today. All whale watchers on Northern Vancouver Island are working close together with researchers, sharing information at almost all times.
My point: Yes, put the whales on the endangered animal list, give them protection - but do not ruin the whale watching industry which is giving so much education out. it is the only way for people from around the world to watch does beautiful sea creatures, they fall in love with them and try to protect them. If they go overboard with rules which will kill the whale watching we only can watch orcas in Sea World and likes in the future - this would be wrong. Whale watchers do WAY MORE to protect the Whales then the Governments EVER will be able to do. One great example is the Whale Museum in Telegraph Cove which is a highlight of many whale watching visitors from around the world.
Canadian government faces suit over killer whales
2 days ago
VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Environmentalists are taking the Canadian government to court, demanding it use the country's Species at Risk Act to protect killer whales off British Columbia.
Ecojustice, on behalf of eight environmental organizations, filed notice Wednesday in Federal Court of a lawsuit to force officials to use the legislation to safeguard the habitat of southern and northern resident killer whales, listed as endangered and threatened, respectively.
The move is in reaction to a notice posted by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans on the Species at Risk Act registry last month contending that orcas, commonly known as killer whales, are already protected by other laws, regulations and guidelines.
The environmentalists want the government to take specific steps to protect killer whales, including making some areas off limits to vessel traffic and closing some salmon fisheries to preserve stocks that the whales eat.
No one from the department was immediately available to comment on the suit.
Lara Tessaro, a lawyer with Ecojustice, formerly the Sierra Legal Defense Fund, called the action unprecedented.
"Resident killer whales are among B.C.'s most iconic and treasured marine species," Tessaro said.
Resident killer whales don't migrate long distances but range over specific areas off the Pacific Coast and Vancouver Island, feeding on local fish. The pods have distinct cultural and genetic identities.
The groups says the southern resident orcas suffered a 20 percent decline between 1993 and 2003 before recovering slightly. They are listed as endangered, with only about 80 whales remaining.
Comments (0)