Dear CWR Supporters,
This was a busy year for the Center for Whale Research. We worked tirelessly advocating for immediate action by politicians to reverse the dramatic decline of Chinook salmon stocks.
In addition, we were involved in many other projects, all in the hope of helping our Southern Resident orcas recover and thrive.
2018 was a very difficult year for our Southern Resident orcas. We watched J35 carry her deceased calf for a record 17 days; we watched four-year-old J50 die of malnutrition; we lost L92, a vibrant young male. The deaths brought the SRKW population down to a critical low:
74 whales.
For your support
The Center for Whale Research is dedicated to the study and conservation of the Southern Resident killer whale (orca) population in the Pacific Northwest.
2018
ENCOUNTERS
Orca BLOG
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and join our team that believes
Orcas matter. Together
we can make a
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This 15-second video ran on board Washington State Ferries during January 2018. The video was created to help elevate awareness about the importance of Chinook salmon in the survival of the Southern Resident killer whales (orcas).
The SRKWs require mostly Chinook salmon to survive and reproduce, and humans are preventing these whales from catching an adequate amount of their needed prey.
Canada’s Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) held a workshop to discuss the availability of prey and prey requirements for the Southern Resident killer whales, and evaluation of potential mitigation measures for their conservation. CWR were invited to participate in the workshop and contributed this pdf summary of SRKW Demographics for workshop participants. This comprehensive summary was prepared by Jane Cogan from CWR data over the past forty plus years and was adapted for web presentation by Lisa Moorby, our webmaster. The quick take-home summary is that the SRKW are in very dire straits with fewer than thirty reproductively capable individuals (effective population <30); there is no possibility of increasing the effective population in the next decade; and, they are on track for extinction in the calculable future. Simply put, the whales require food (mostly Chinook salmon) to survive and reproduce, and humans are not managing to allow them enough for a great variety of reasons.
Southern Resident Killer Whale Recovery and Task Force
Next Meeting: October 17-18, 2018
The meeting is open to the public
Time: Wednesday, October 17 (10 am-8 pm) & Thursday, October 18 (9 am-5:30 pm)
Location: Landmark Convention Center, 47 St. Helens Avenue, Tacoma, WA.
In Person Public Comment: Wednesday, October 17 (5 pm-8 pm); sign-in and comment process will be outlined in advance
Written Comment: Include your comments in writing via this survey
Video Broadcast: Check TVW’s website archives for the broadcast of the meeting.
Informational Webinars
On September 27, the Southern Resident Killer Whale Recovery and Task Force hosted the fourth of its informational webinars: Lower Snake River dams panel discussion; recording of the panel discussion
UPDATE
On March 14, 2018, State of Washington Governor Jay Inslee signed Executive Order 18-02: “. . . designating state agencies to take several immediate actions to benefit Southern Residents [killer whales], and establishing a Task Force to develop longer-term action recommendations for orca recovery and future sustainability.”
The Southern Resident Killer Whale Recovery and Task Force include representatives from the state legislature; officials from tribal, federal, local, and other state governments and the Government of Canada; and spokespersons for the non-profit sector and private sectors.
The Task Force was “charged with preparing a comprehensive report and recommendations for recovering Southern Residents, with a full draft due by October 1, 2018, and a final report by November 1, 2018. The report should detail actions that will address all of the major threats to Southern Residents, including prey availability, toxic contaminants, and disturbance from noise and vessel traffic. A second report outlining the progress made, lessons learned, and outstanding needs will be completed by October 1, 2019.”
Draft Report
On September 24, 2018, the Task Force released its draft report of potential recommendations for actions to recover the Southern Resident killer whale (orca) population.
Public Comments about Draft Report
The public is invited to comment on the draft report. The deadline for public comment on the draft report is October 7, 2018 (midnight). Public comments are to be considered by the Task Force.
General Public Comments (not related to Sept. 24 Draft Report)
Individuals or organizations can submit general feedback or comments to the Task Force about the Southern Resident killer whales dire situation. Link
https://www.governor.wa.gov/sites/default/files/SRKWDraftReport_09-24-18.pdf
Center for Whale Research
Social Media
Just in case you missed it ... here is what we are talking about.
"I'm not going to count them to zero, at least not quietly" - Ken Balcomb
The Southern Resident orcas
ARE STARVING
"The whales need our support, and we need to help direct that support in the way that best helps them - advocate for their need for fresh healthy salmon."
- Ken Balcomb, Center for Whale Research
founder and senior scientist
Ken Balcomb wrote the blog Home on the Range / Where the Southern Resident killer whales roam and forage in response to the misconception that the Southern Resident killer whales (SRKW) are “resident” to only the Salish Sea area, where they are seen most frequently by humans.
Home on the Range / Where the Southern Resident killer whales roam and forage
"It is naive to think that the Southern Resident killer whales – J, K, and L pods – are only “resident” to the inland Salish Sea and that they depend primarily on Fraser River Chinook salmon stocks for their survival. The SRKWs spent 86-95% (varies by pod and matriline) of the total days in 2017 outside of Salish Sea waters ...
One thing is for sure: The survival of the Southern Resident orcas will not wait for more United States and Canadian government meetings and scientific reports. Too much money has already been spent and is still being wasted. The salmon lost in years past should be evidence enough to convince decision makers that specific action needs addressing immediately.
CWR's recent
ACTIONS
CWR's recent actions to help recover Chinook (and orcas) in the region:
During the first months of 2018, the Center for Whale Research has been active in Chinook salmon enhancement advocacy:
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With assistance from Florian Graner, CWR produced a 15-second video that ran for the entire month of January on Washington State Ferries' onboard information monitors. The footage communicated the critical importance of Chinook salmon in the survival of the Southern Resident killer whales.
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CWR participated with DAMSENSE.org in a campaign asking federal and state governments to immediately remove the Lower Snake River dam to hasten the recovery of the Chinook salmon that spawn in the Snake River. The action campaign included a full-page ad in The Seattle Times and petition to be sent to Washington State Governor Jay Inslee, and Senators Patty Murray and Marie Cantwell.
Volunteers Needed
If you live on San Juan Island and would like to be part of our volunteer team, send us an email.
In order for the Orca Survey Outreach & Education Center to be successful, we need YOUR help! The Center for Whale Research is currently recruiting volunteers to help us spread the word regarding the plight of Southern Resident killer whales. We are excited to bring people and orcas face to face in new and innovative ways, including big screen video footage of the whales in the wild as experienced from our research boats and many fun and educational displays. Our trained CWR staff and volunteers will engage with visitors and answer questions regarding our beloved local whales. We will also be recruiting supporters for our membership program.
If you are interested in becoming a volunteer at the Orca Survey Outreach & Education Center, please email us at volunteer@whaleresearch.com! We will then forward you a volunteer application. All ages are welcome!
Thank you for your support!
J50 was found mid-morning September 3, 2018. CWR researchers spent several hours on the water monitoring her and her family.
J50 had not been seen in the recent two days in spite of intense searching. Concern was mounting about her survival. When asked about the situation, CWR's Ken Balcomb said this:
"I recall J15 long ago following miles behind the pod for days before finally disappearing. Maybe J50 is somewhere in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, but I am certain she will not survive, and it is amazing that she has lasted so long in the condition we saw her at the beginning of summer. This is what extinction looks like when survival is threatened for all by food deprivation. The Southern Resident killer whales scarce presence in the Salish Sea is another indication that sufficient food is not available for them here, or along the coast. Natural salmon runs must be restored. Chief Seattle was right: 'All things are connected.'”
The J16s Family
Red = female / Blue = male
Hope for Orcas - Alt. 4 Summit
An evening with orca researcher Ken Balcomb and an urgent call to action.
The Burke Museum (UW-Seattle Campus)
Friday, September 7, 2018
6 p.m. - 10 p.m.
Hosted by Howard Garrett
Our southern resident killer whales (SRKW) are the iconic species of the Pacific Northwest and have been interconnected with local people for thousands of years. But their survival is now in peril. Their main source of food, Chinook salmon, has declined so much that our orcas are literally starving to death.
Join us for an evening with one of the world’s leading experts on the southern resident killer whales and their current situation. Our experts, including renowned researchers Ken Balcomb and Howard Garrett, will dispel myths and discuss our best chance to recover wild Snake River salmon runs & help southern resident killer whales in 2018. Following our speakers, an educational exchange between groups, stakeholders, government agencies and officials will be held to encourage a frank conversation about the pros and cons of the topics discussed.
Ken Balcomb's presentation (above) at the May 17 Hope for Orcas event.
Full Closeure June 1 to Sept. 30: Finfish closure for recreational fishery and salmon closure for commercial fishery in Subareas 18-2, 18-4, 18-5 and 18-9.
Full Closeure June 1 to Sept. 30: Finfish closure for recreational fishery and salmon closure for commercial fishery in Subareas 20-3, 20-4 and a portion of Subarea 20-5 west of Otter Point.
Partial closure June 1 to Sept. 30: Recreational salmon fishing closure in Subareas 29-7, 29-9 & 29-10. June 1 to July 31: Recreational and commercial salmon fishing closure in Subarea 29-6. Aug.1 to Sept. 30: Recreational and commercial chinook non-retention in Subarea 29-6.
Full Closeure June 1 to Sept. 30: Finfish closure for recreational fishery and salmon closure for commercial fishery in Subareas 18-2, 18-4, 18-5 and 18-9.
News Release:
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
June 1, 2018
"Fisheries management measures to protect Southern Resident Killer Whales
The seasonal distribution and movement patterns of Southern Resident killer whales are strongly associated with the availability of their preferred prey, Chinook salmon.
Wild populations of Chinook salmon have declined dramatically in recent years. This lack of prey has been a critical factor in the decline of Southern Resident killer whales. To address this, the Government of Canada is imposing fishery management measures to reduce the total harvest for Chinook salmon by 25-35 percent. These measures include closures that will help increase the availability of this critical food source for Southern Resident killer whales.
The closures will take place in three key foraging (feeding) areas: Strait of Juan de Fuca, Gulf Islands and the mouth of the Fraser River.
These measures will be implemented for the 2018 salmon fishing season, with monitoring to assess the effectiveness of the closures."
A leading orca expert said if something drastic isn't done soon, we could lose J-pod forever.
Published: 10:38 PM PDT August 3, 2018
Updated: 5:38 PM PDT August 3, 2018
This story ran August 3 on King5 News (Seattle).
The larger environmental question reflected in the J35 story is that both the USA and Canada MUST redouble efforts to restore wild salmon (particularly Chinook) throughout Washington State and British Columbia for a food supply for the SRKW in this region. Whales in this Endangered population are dependent upon Chinook salmon for their primary food source. Unfortunately, Chinook salmon are also Endangered.
We have long demonstrated that these fish-eating whales are getting skinnier and skinnier, and the death rate is increasing. This baby whale (and 100% of the pregnancies in the past three years) failed to be viable because the mothers do not have sufficient food. Period. We’ve got at most 5 more rears of reproductive life in this population to make it happen but if we don’t do it in those 5 years it isn’t going to happen. - Ken Balcomb
Environmental Journalist, Alison Morrow, shared these words from Ken Balcomb on her Facebook page on August 7, 2018.
Dear Kevin and Fellow Task Force Members,
I have also been working on this issue for far too long, and frankly I had given up any possibility of recovering sufficient salmon populations in the eastern North Pacific watersheds to feed the SRKW year-round. The recovery of wild populations of Chinook salmon in the Salish Sea is simply not going to happen in a time-frame of survival value to the SRKW, even if we immediately addressed and worked on solving the many problems in this ecosystem. We should do that immediately, of course, just to pass on to future generations some semblance of the magnificence that brought us all to the Pacific Northwest. The human population and its appetites are growing too fast in the region to keep up with the clean-up. My analysis of the potential food resources for the SRKW led me to the Snake/Columbia salmon stocks as the only saving possibility within US and State of Washington jurisdiction. And that led me to the report appended to this email - I urge all Task Force members and cognizant government officials to at least review it. We can have honest discussions and questions about the content, and at least have it on the table, as the Governor requested.
Kevin, I have been available to you for questions about what I have learned of the SRKW in the past 42 years, but you never asked. The basic biology and ecology of these amazing animals is fascinating, and their habits belie your hypothesis that a vessel regulatory approach will “save these incredible creatures.” Humans obviously should have good manners in the presence of these iconic and enormous animals, but manners do not feed them. They will travel to wherever the food is most available, and by their absence they are illustrating that the food is not sufficiently available in San Juan County anymore. Nor in the Salish Sea. We all remember the heyday of fishing and the weeks-on-end of superpods, but those days are over throughout their foraging range. I think that by pushing and accompanying their dead and dying skinny babies around the islands and past the cities they are telling us a very powerful message - Recover the Salmon!! They cannot energetically afford to swim around San Juan County anymore, just for our appreciation. If you would pay attention, you might notice that the Bigg’s Transient whales are flourishing and omnipresent in the area now, because they have an abundant food supply. They are more toxic and more watched than the SRKW! The humpback whales are also on the increase.
I think we should all have respectful and productive discussions from the various points of view, and I look forward to the coming meeting; but, it bothers me that the process is so slow and managed and anthropocentric. Do we really have to have consensus in lieu of leadership to save the salmon and the SRKW?
RECENT RESEARCH
Inbreeding in an endangered killer whale population
M. J. Ford, K. M. Parsons, E. J.Ward,
J. A. Hempelmann, C. K. Emmons, M. Bradley Hanson, K. C. Balcomb & L. K. Park
Abstract
There are genetic risks associated with small population sizes, including loss of genetic diversity and inbreeding depression. The southern resident killer whale Orcinus orca population is a group of ~80 whales listed as ‘endangered’ under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. Recovery efforts are focused on increasing prey and reducing impacts from environmental disturbance, but the population’s small size and insularity suggest that inbreeding depression could also be important. We analyzed genotypes at 68–94 nuclear loci from 105 individuals to refine a population pedigree to evaluate inbreeding and the relationship between multi-locus heterozy-gosity and fitness. Our results expand upon an earlier study and shed new light on both inbreeding within this population and the mating patterns of killer whales. We found that only two adult males sired 52% of the sampled progeny born since 1990.