1608, 2018

Environmentalists sue federal government in Seattle to protect endangered orcas

By Janet Thomas|August 16, 2018|News, Orca Relief, Protection Zone, SRKWs, Whales|

From the Seattle Times: An environmental conservation group has sued the federal government, alleging it failed to meet its obligation to protect the habitat of endangered southern-resident killer whales on the West Coast. The lawsuit was filed Thursday by the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) [and Orca Relief] to hold the government accountable for allegedly violating the Endangered Species Act by not acting on a 2014 petition filed by CBD

Read More

0808, 2018

ORCA and Center for Biological Diversity to Sue NMFS

By Janet Thomas|August 8, 2018|News, Orca Relief, Protection Zone, SRKWs|

On behalf of the Center for Biological Diversity and Orca Relief Citizens’ Alliance, we are writing to notify you that the Secretary and the National Marine Fisheries Service (collectively, “the Service”) are violating the Administrative Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C. §§ 500 et seq., for their failure to respond to our petition to designate a Southern Resident killer whale protection zone. Time is of the essence is protecting the endangered Southern

Read More

0411, 2016

Press Release: ‘Whale Protection Zone’ Sought in San Juans to Save Critically Endangered Puget Sound Orcas Zone Would Protect Against Noise, Disturbances from Boats

By srschram|November 4, 2016|Orca, Orca Relief, Press Releases, Protection Zone, SRKWs|

For Immediate Release, November 4, 2016 Contacts: Scott West, Orca Relief Citizens’ Alliance, (425) 299-8727, scottwest@orcarelief.org Miyoko Sakashita, Center for Biological Diversity, (510) 844-7108, miyoko@biologicaldiversity.org ‘Whale Protection Zone’ Sought in San Juans to Save Critically Endangered Puget Sound Orcas Zone Would Protect Against Noise, Disturbances from Boats SEATTLE— Conservation groups petitioned the Obama administration today to create a 10-square-mile “whale protection zone” near San Juan Island to protect endangered orcas

Read More

1012, 2015

National Marine Fisheries Service Should Require “No Wake” Speeds and Create a Whale Protection Zone

By srschram|December 10, 2015|Orca, Protection Zone, Salish Sea, SRKWs, Whales|

A new study demonstrates that the faster boats speed near endangered Southern Resident killer whales, the louder it is for them – the more noise there is in the water, the harder it is for the Orca to hunt, communicate and rest.  A “No Wake” speed restriction for boats within 400 yards of any whale, combined with Orca Relief’s proposed Whale Protection Zone will go a long way to reducing

Read More

1803, 2015

2015 Killer Whale Research Survey: Presentation by Brad Hanson, Northwest Fisheries Science Center

By srschram|March 18, 2015|Marine Mammals, Orca, Orca Relief, Research, SRKWs|

When: Thursday March 26, 7 – 8:30 pm. (Doors open at 6:15) Where: C&P Coffee Company, 5612 California Ave SW Cost: $5 suggested donation; kids free Advance tickets: brownpapertickets.com Presented by The Whale Trail Researchers recently spent 21 days aboard the NOAA ship Bell M. Shimada, tracking endangered Southern Resident killer whales (SRKWs) off the coasts of Washington and Oregon. Good weather and ocean conditions allowed researchers exceptional access to

Read More