2602, 2015

Only 81 of These Killer Whales Are Left, but Their Chances of Survival Just Got a Big Boost

By srschram|February 26, 2015|Marine Mammals, News, Orca, Protection Zone, SRKWs|

From Take Part media: The federal government wants to greatly expand protections for the Southern Resident orcas off the West Coast. “The Obama administration will nearly quadruple the protected habitat of the Southern Resident killer whale, the world’s most endangered orca. Only 81 Southern Resident killer whales remain, but the United States National Marine Fisheries Service announced this week that it intends to protect as many as 9,000 square miles

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0801, 2015

Do local orcas need a room of their own?

By srschram|January 8, 2015|News, Orca, Protection Zone, Puget Sound|

From Crosscut: “The orca iconography in Puget Sound tourist gift shops borders on sappy, but for those lucky enough to have seen an orca in the flesh, the love of these whales is not so hard to understand. Yet the whale tourism industry may also come with a darker side: Are we literally loving the Southern Resident killer whales to death?” Read the complete article

0912, 2014

Activist group calls for San Juan whale protection zone

By srschram|December 9, 2014|News, Orca, Protection Zone, Puget Sound|

From MyNorthwest.com: Activists are calling for a limited, whale protection zone off San Juan Island to help the declining local population of endangered orcas. The protection zone could include a no-wake speed limit to cut noise and discourage whale watching boats that sometimes pursue orcas. “They need more chance to rest and to socialize in a quieter environment,” said Bruce Stedman, executive director of Orca Relief Citizens Alliance. “But particularly,

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0912, 2014

Puget Sound Orca Found Dead On Vancouver Island

By srschram|December 9, 2014|News, Orca|

The Southern Resident Killer Whales have lost a member vital to their recovery; there now remain only 77 SRKWs. KUOW reported that J32 a (possibly) pregnant young female was found dead on Dec. 4. See http://ow.ly/FrBwX for the details and photographs.

0611, 2014

ORCA Director, Bruce Stedman at The Whale Trail’s Orca Talk

By srschram|November 6, 2014|News, Orca, Orca Relief, Protection Zone, SRKWs, Whales|

From the West Seattle Blog: During that event, Bruce Stedman of Orca Relief talked about his organization’s proposal of a zone in the San Juans where boats would have to keep a greater distance from whales than they do now. He said it’s not the only action that’s needed to help them – but it’s the one that could make a difference the quickest. Pointedly, he noted that the recovery

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