2806, 2016

NOAA Killer Whale patrols begin in San Juan Islands

By srschram|June 28, 2016|News, Orca, Puget Sound, Salish Sea|

NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement (OLE) will soon begin seasonal summer patrols in Haro Strait around Washington’s San Juan Islands.  Officers will be enforcing special Federal regulations designed to protect endangered Southern Resident killer whales by keeping boat traffic at a safe distance from the whales. This is the sixth year implementing NOAA Fisheries’ regulations that require whale watching vessels and most other vessels to remain at least 200 yards

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2203, 2016

Orca Relief congratulates the Humane Society on its achievement: SeaWorld to End All Orca Breeding

By srschram|March 22, 2016|News, Orca, Whales|

From a Humane Nation: In a sign that the humane economy is an unyielding force, exerting its influence on companies in all sectors of commerce, SeaWorld announced in cooperation with The HSUS today that it will end all breeding of its orcas and it won’t obtain additional orcas from other sources—policies sought by animal advocates for many decades. 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

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2709, 2015

Quiet(er) Marine Protected Areas Needed for Marine Mammals — Soon

By srschram|September 27, 2015|News, Orca, Protection Zone, Salish Sea|

The endangered Southern Resident Orca need more quiet to aid their recovery, and they are not alone.  A new study shows the urgency to protect endangered Southern Resident Orca and other marine mammals from disruptive noise pollution, by identifying and establishing key protection zones where the whales live, socialize, and hunt.  The study shows how to include noise pollution in protection planning for all marine mammals, focusing primarily on areas

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2507, 2015

Stranded killer whale rescued on B.C.’s North Coast

By srschram|July 25, 2015|News, Orca|

From the Vancouver Sun: “When a young orca whale stranded on some jagged rocks on B.C.’s North Coast cried out in pain, Janie Wray felt sorrow run through her whole body. Wray, a member of the environmental research group Whale Point, was among a team of residents and environmental workers who worked desperately for almost nine hours Wednesday to keep the female calf cool and wet before the tide was

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