Southern Resident Killer Whales

Introduction

Note: This page is still under construction

Southern Resident Killer Whales are a unique population of killer whales within the Pacific Northwest. They are a matriarchal species consisting of three separate pods: J, K and L Pods. Southern Residents prefer to prey on chinook salmon in the Salish Sea, which is one of the most biologically rich marine ecosystems in the world.

We hope this webpage helps to explain the plight of Southern Residents and provide guidance on how best to advocate for their survival. Elizabeth sponsored Bill S-203 to end the captivity of whales and dolphins in Canada in 2019. Her experiences and expertise with Southern Residents in her riding of Saanich–Gulf Islands have motivated her to be a champion for the population’s long-term viability.

NOTE: The Government of Canada recently held a consultation on proposed amendments to the Marine Mammal Regulations that will impact long-term planning for Southern Residents. Please follow this link to read Elizabeth’s comments. The Southern Gulf Islands Whale Sighting Network also submitted comments that can be read here.

Threats to Southern Residents

As a result of years of neglect, overfishing, physical disturbances by anchorages, noise from traffic and competition for their favourite food, the number of Southern Residents has decreased. The species was labelled as endangered under the Species At Risk Act in 2003. Between 2008 and 2014, research conducted by Wasser et al. found that “up to 69% of all detectable Southern Resident pregnancies were unsuccessful”, and calves that do survive birth face immediate difficulties like malnutrition due to the lack of chinook salmon and other foods.

Marine life has been devastated by the presence of anchorages. The air pollution coming from the carriers leads to increased ocean acidification. The dragging of the anchor and the connected chain tears through seabeds and underwater habitats. Ships create intense underwater noise and light, disrupting whale communication and causing these creatures immense stress. Chemical pollution also accumulates in Southern Residents’ tissues and affects fetal development.

The government recently approved the Roberts Bank Terminal 2 Project, which will see the construction of a new marine container terminal in Delta, BC. With current supply chain inefficiencies and a lack of adequate protections for aquatic ecosystems around Vancouver Island, the new terminal will likely lead to the presence of even more freighter anchorages in the area.

Taking Action

Canada has released an overview of its 2022 consultations on proposed SRKW recovery management measures, as well as new management measures for 2024 to protect SRKW populations that can be read here.

Elizabeth will continue to monitor the government’s progress while keeping up the fight for meaningful, substantial long-term protections for this population through actions like:

improving regulations on whale watching vessels and recreational boats;
eliminating open-ocean net-pen salmon farms, and;
decreasing tanker traffic through key foraging areas.

Elizabeth has introduced petitions and spoken on this issue in the House of Commons on many occasions. Below are some examples:

Elizabeth May: When will the government step in to save the SRKW?

Elizabeth presents petition on perilous state of Southern Resident Killer Whale population

How can we better protect the Southern Resident Killer Whales?

Salt Spring Elementary School petitions to protect the southern resident killer whales

Sanctuary and buffer zones

Southern Residents need to be able to live in their habitats without constant disturbances. Interim Sanctuary Zones are precautionary moves to mitigate the crisis faced by the whales. It is not a long-term solution, but a precautionary approach is needed until more scientific evaluation of threats to western Pacific fish stocks and the Southern Resident Killer Whales has been undertaken.

Elizabeth wrote to the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, urging the federal government to enforce the sanctuary zone orders for SRKWs in and around Pender and Saturna Islands. These zones need to be enlarged and made year-round, as recommended by the Saturna Island Marine Research and Education Society (SIMRES).

In the long term, Canada needs a 1000 metre buffer zone in all BC waters, which is achievable right now by way of an emergency interim order. Washington State has done it already. A national marine protected area needs to be established for the Salish Sea, with designated protections for Southern Residents and other species at risk like the sandpiper.

Protection of salmon and key foraging areas

Boaters are making claims that they are unaware of the rules and continue to cross foraging areas. This is evidence of a failed effort to spread information and enforce the law. Under the Canada Shipping Act, boaters may face fines or jail time by breaching any of the three sanctuary zones. However, officials must uphold these rules and hand out any penalties instead of letting people go with written or verbal warnings.

Canada also needs to move to swiftly ban open-ocean net-pen salmon farms. Elizabeth has been clear that while it is positive that the government is moving forward on its pledge to phase out these farms, the announced 5-year transition plan (2024-2029) is unacceptable when the government promised to phase the farms out by 2025. Eliminating these farms will allow wild Chinook and other Pacific fish to thrive, meaning Southern Residents will have more available food.

Freighter anchorages and Roberts Bank Terminal 2

Elizabeth has championed calls from those in Saanich–Gulf Islands who are fed up with the abuse of aquatic ecosystems and coastal communities by freighter anchorages. For years the pristine environment of the Salish Sea has been essentially a free parking lot for freighters.

Elizabeth has consistently staunchly opposed the Roberts Bank Terminal 2 Port Expansion Project. Despite conducting additional studies and project re-designs, there remain significant concerns regarding the threat to local ecosystems and wildlife – particularly the impact on chinook salmon and Southern Residents. Similarly, concerns remain regarding infringement on Indigenous and treaty rights posed by the Roberts Bank project, and the lack of proper engagement and consultation with First Nations.

Freighters lingering in and around the Gulf Islands is caused by inefficiencies in the rail system, specifically delivering grain to port. Adding three berths will not fix the problem. The solution is not to expand the Port of Vancouver, but to increase the efficiency of Canada’s grain delivery by train.

Elizabeth submitted feedback to the federal consultation regarding Roberts Bank Terminal 2 to Minister of Environment and Climate Change Steven Guilbeault and copied the President of the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada to expand on her reasons for strongly opposing this project. You can read the full submission here.

Community Action

There are many community groups and government agencies in both Canada and the United States dedicated to protecting Southern Residents and tracking and documenting hazards and risks like freighter anchorages. Much of the research and information on Southern Residents is only available due to the efforts of advocates. These include:

You can click here to view updated reports tracking Southern Resident sightings created by the Southern Gulf Islands Whale Sighting Network.

On June 5 2024, Elizabeth was overjoyed to host SIMRES, the Canadian Orca Rescue Society and Nature Canada on Parliament Hill for an immersive shared mixed reality (MR) experience event. Guests were able to see through the eyes of Kiki, an eight-year old orca, and learned about what it is like to be under the waves with Southern Residents.