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

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Only 78 Southern Resident Orca Remain: Are We Seeing the Beginning of Their Extinction?

By srschram|September 13, 2014|Orca Relief, Press Releases, Protection Zone|

Recent articles in the Seattle Times and Post Intelligencer have confirmed that the Federally Endangered Southern Resident Orca have now been reduced to only 78 individuals. There is also a newborn (which is not yet included in the formal count), the only one born since 2012. While it is certainly good news that a calf has been born, this population has been in decline for a decade and is now

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NOAA Fisheries Report Includes Chance for Whale Protection Zone

By srschram|August 2, 2014|Climate Change, Orca, Press Releases, Protection Zone, Toxins|

From: NOAA ecolist: 10 Year Orca Whale Report: Today, NOAA Fisheries released a report highlighting the accomplishments of 10 years of dedicated research and conservation of the endangered Southern Resident Orca whale population. With a decade of federal funding and productive partnerships with the killer whale community, we have taken targeted actions, collected substantial new data, and refined scientific techniques to protect this listed species and ensure a strong foundation

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Breeding-age Male Orca in Collapse

By Bruce Stedman|October 22, 2013|Press Releases, Research|

Total Down 26% from 2009 – Lowest Count Since 2003 A new Orca Relief analysis of the Southern Resident Killer Whales (based on data from Center for Whale Research and National Marine Fisheries Service) underlines prior analyses showing that breeding age orca are declining even faster than the population at large. The facts behind this “hidden collapse”: “Our new analysis suggests that the greatest danger to the population is much

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Dangerous Decline in Breeding-age Female Orca Whales Discovered

By Bruce Stedman|September 30, 2013|Press Releases, Research|

A new Orca Relief analysis of the Southern Resident Orca Whales of reproductive age shows an unreported and dangerous decline. “Our new analysis suggests that the greatest danger to the population is much more serious than indicated by total headcount, as the breeding female population, today and tomorrow, plunges at an alarming rate. We are concerned that if additional protective steps are not taken very soon, it could be too

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