EQUAL RIGHTS FOR ALL TRANSBOUNDARY ORCAS !
EQUAL RIGHTS FOR ALL TRANSBOUNDARY ORCAS !
The Issue
UPDATED SEPTEMBER 6, 2023
OPEN LETTER
EQUAL RIGHTS FOR ALL TRANSBOUNDARY SRKW ORCAS IN US AND CANADA NOW!
Re: US Emergency Orders and Senate Bill must immediately protect All Transboundary Orcas from All Vessel Operators!
1. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) issued an emergency order requiring only whale-watching boats to stay at least one-half nautical mile away from 11 vulnerable killer whales this summer.
The emergency ruling comes after several Southern Resident killer whales (SRKW) were reported to be in "poor condition." Of the 10 whales in the poorest condition, six are from the J pod, three are from the L pod and one is from the K pod. The other whale, J-36, is believed to be in late-stage pregnancy. However, other boaters do not fall under the emergency order, and are only “encouraged” to do the same.
First, how does the public recognize those 11 orcas? And these ones will be with family and others! Everyone must stay away from all SRKWs in the US and Canada!
2. A Bill that passed US Senate in April, 2023 will require all “unlicensed” vessels to stay 1,000 yards or roughly one-half nautical mile, away from Southern Resident orcas. However, it doesn’t take effect until January 2025.
In Dec. 2022, the WDFW report recommended that the Legislature increase the vessel buffer for recreational boaters, commercial whale watching operators, and guided paddle tours around Southern Resident killer whales to 1,000 yards to further support orca recovery.
Will the constant close approaches by research industries be included? Both "licensed" commercial and "unlicensed" "private" vessels must immediately abide by the 1000 yard boundary in the US and Canada!
Both Actions, while a step in the right direction, are presently too little, too late!
Recently, L pod had two babies... Governments must do what saves orcas NOT the ongoing lucrative Research Grants and Whale Watching Industries!
Governments must reduce the amount and types of experiments that orcas are being subjected to. Lifeforce is urging that all researchers stop constantly pursuing and treating orcas like experimental “guinea pigs”! The new L Pod family should be monitored from a land base or a humane, safe distance on the water. Use drones etc..
How many more “research” photos are needed from extremely close distances? Boat traffic interrupts their natural behaviours such as socializing, feeding, and caring for newborns.
During the past few years, I was also shocked to hear that even though the public had opposed the abusive skin biopsies that can cause fear, infections and deaths; every orca in the Southern Community was shot with biopsy darts. And “researchers” wonder why SRKWs left the San Juan Island areas!
Note: UC Davis has Sea Docs and Gorilla Docs Programs. Sea Doc’s admitted goals include having unnecesary medical records for every single, nonconsenting orca. They are constantly on the water with the SRKWs!
Mass vaccinations, such as already performed on healthy sea lions, is not ruled out! The unsuccessful, constant pursuit of the dying J50 and family was inhumane. The failed untested, invasive medical experiments are cause enough not to continue these lucrative government grants.
A Humane Orca Protection Plan
Lifeforce’s New Plan for Orca Protection promotes modern technological advances that will increase information about the travel patterns of the Southern Resident killer whales and other cetaceans.
This can include land based whale watching/monitoring (with high power telescopes and other research equipment); land based drone monitoring; hydrophones and motion sensing cameras on navigation markers and at land bases; the tracking/vocal identifications by the use of vast government, university and other hydrophone networks in the Salish Sea and oceans; satellite monitoring and much, much more.
Commercial vessels must have licensed observers on board to help prevent collisions. Hydrophones (on board and the vast array along the coasts) must be also used by all ships.
Some of our recommendations to governments have been implemented! At the 27th Annual University of British Columbia Marine Mammal Symposium the Lifeforce question to the Canadian Department of Fisheries and Ocean (DFO) was “It is recognized that vessel traffic and noise is one of three major threats to the SRKWs. Will actions be taken to reduce the threats of research vessel traffic and their ongoing close approaches? He responded that even though research is important “we also recognize that you can’t have too much research”. DFO will “work through with researchers to evaluate if we’re duplicating research and if possible combine collaboration” and look at “kind of a licensing board approach” for the “huge amount of funding” that has resulted in “a lot more research on these animals” (both Southern and Northern Resident Orcas).
Government agencies, companies and all others must recognize the threats by ongoing unnecessary research vessels. For decades, orcas have been treated as research tools for lucrative grants and careers. The continuous long close follows and getting on top of frightened orcas must be stopped. Alternatives are available to stop the excessive, barbaric experiments and studying them to death!
Researchers and Whale Watch Companies must:
1. Stop the never-ending close approaches and inconsistent, confusing distances that may not even apply for the entire year that includes:
a. In the US, Southern Resident killer whales (SRKW) are listed as Endangered under the Endangered Species Maintain a minimum approach distance of 300 yards from SRKW on either side but 400 yards out of SRKW’s path/in front and behind the whales. It should be the 1000 yards on either side only.
b. In Canada, vessels must stay 400m away and must not position themselves in the path of killer whales only in southern BC coastal waters between Campbell River and just north of Ucluelet until May 31, 2024, (then it is only 200m)
Regulations must protect all orca habitats around the entire Vancouver Island with no exempt area from North of Campbell River to Ucluelet where the orcas also travel. Distance of at least 400 meters not 200 meters must apply to whale watch companies too.The SRKWs must be given 1000 yards or no viewing permitted.
2. Distances from Humpback whales must also be changed from 100 meters to 400 meters!
3. The research industry must conduct behaviour and identity observations on land. Researchers must stay at least 1000 meters away with engines off, if possible, if on the water.
4. Ban taking painful skin biopsies of the babies and others. Orcas and other whales have died from infections!
Respect the orcas as sentient beings not experiments.
5. Stop polluting marine ecosystems with inadequately treated human sewage dumped in the oceans. All sewage treatment must be at the Tertiary Levels.
6. Incredibly, from public recreational boating courses to commercial vessel training, marine wildlife education has not been mandated by government regulations. Government mandated Whale and Wildlife Licensing Courses must be implemented!
7. Commercial vessels must have licensed observers on board to help prevent collisions withmarine wildlife. Hydrophones (on board and the vast array along the coasts that locates whale) must be also used by all ships.
8. Government vessels, such as the Coast Guard and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, must be on standby for emergencies that include threats to orcas, humpbacks and others by public and commercial vessels.
Land and water based drones can also be used when needed to document violations.
9. Where are the Whale Police? Increases in Whale Protection Units are urgently needed! More stations are needed around Vancouver Island and Washington to be able to cover the vast areas!
10. Many barbaric, unnecessary experiments continue! Orca Homes are polluted! It Must End Now!
Please read these petitions:
Orcas Must Not Be Mistreated Like the Suffering Laboratory Animals!
https://www.change.org/p/wilbur-ross-thesec-doc-gov-orcas-must-not-be-mistreated-like-lab-animals
Let’s Raise a Stink to Save Orcas!
https://www.change.org/p/let-s-raise-a-stink-to-save-orcas
10. A Respect for All Wildlife must be part of the new government policies to protect orcas, humpbacks and all other wildlife with whom we share this planet. They are sentient living beings who must not continue be exploited for human financial profits!
2,329
The Issue
UPDATED SEPTEMBER 6, 2023
OPEN LETTER
EQUAL RIGHTS FOR ALL TRANSBOUNDARY SRKW ORCAS IN US AND CANADA NOW!
Re: US Emergency Orders and Senate Bill must immediately protect All Transboundary Orcas from All Vessel Operators!
1. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) issued an emergency order requiring only whale-watching boats to stay at least one-half nautical mile away from 11 vulnerable killer whales this summer.
The emergency ruling comes after several Southern Resident killer whales (SRKW) were reported to be in "poor condition." Of the 10 whales in the poorest condition, six are from the J pod, three are from the L pod and one is from the K pod. The other whale, J-36, is believed to be in late-stage pregnancy. However, other boaters do not fall under the emergency order, and are only “encouraged” to do the same.
First, how does the public recognize those 11 orcas? And these ones will be with family and others! Everyone must stay away from all SRKWs in the US and Canada!
2. A Bill that passed US Senate in April, 2023 will require all “unlicensed” vessels to stay 1,000 yards or roughly one-half nautical mile, away from Southern Resident orcas. However, it doesn’t take effect until January 2025.
In Dec. 2022, the WDFW report recommended that the Legislature increase the vessel buffer for recreational boaters, commercial whale watching operators, and guided paddle tours around Southern Resident killer whales to 1,000 yards to further support orca recovery.
Will the constant close approaches by research industries be included? Both "licensed" commercial and "unlicensed" "private" vessels must immediately abide by the 1000 yard boundary in the US and Canada!
Both Actions, while a step in the right direction, are presently too little, too late!
Recently, L pod had two babies... Governments must do what saves orcas NOT the ongoing lucrative Research Grants and Whale Watching Industries!
Governments must reduce the amount and types of experiments that orcas are being subjected to. Lifeforce is urging that all researchers stop constantly pursuing and treating orcas like experimental “guinea pigs”! The new L Pod family should be monitored from a land base or a humane, safe distance on the water. Use drones etc..
How many more “research” photos are needed from extremely close distances? Boat traffic interrupts their natural behaviours such as socializing, feeding, and caring for newborns.
During the past few years, I was also shocked to hear that even though the public had opposed the abusive skin biopsies that can cause fear, infections and deaths; every orca in the Southern Community was shot with biopsy darts. And “researchers” wonder why SRKWs left the San Juan Island areas!
Note: UC Davis has Sea Docs and Gorilla Docs Programs. Sea Doc’s admitted goals include having unnecesary medical records for every single, nonconsenting orca. They are constantly on the water with the SRKWs!
Mass vaccinations, such as already performed on healthy sea lions, is not ruled out! The unsuccessful, constant pursuit of the dying J50 and family was inhumane. The failed untested, invasive medical experiments are cause enough not to continue these lucrative government grants.
A Humane Orca Protection Plan
Lifeforce’s New Plan for Orca Protection promotes modern technological advances that will increase information about the travel patterns of the Southern Resident killer whales and other cetaceans.
This can include land based whale watching/monitoring (with high power telescopes and other research equipment); land based drone monitoring; hydrophones and motion sensing cameras on navigation markers and at land bases; the tracking/vocal identifications by the use of vast government, university and other hydrophone networks in the Salish Sea and oceans; satellite monitoring and much, much more.
Commercial vessels must have licensed observers on board to help prevent collisions. Hydrophones (on board and the vast array along the coasts) must be also used by all ships.
Some of our recommendations to governments have been implemented! At the 27th Annual University of British Columbia Marine Mammal Symposium the Lifeforce question to the Canadian Department of Fisheries and Ocean (DFO) was “It is recognized that vessel traffic and noise is one of three major threats to the SRKWs. Will actions be taken to reduce the threats of research vessel traffic and their ongoing close approaches? He responded that even though research is important “we also recognize that you can’t have too much research”. DFO will “work through with researchers to evaluate if we’re duplicating research and if possible combine collaboration” and look at “kind of a licensing board approach” for the “huge amount of funding” that has resulted in “a lot more research on these animals” (both Southern and Northern Resident Orcas).
Government agencies, companies and all others must recognize the threats by ongoing unnecessary research vessels. For decades, orcas have been treated as research tools for lucrative grants and careers. The continuous long close follows and getting on top of frightened orcas must be stopped. Alternatives are available to stop the excessive, barbaric experiments and studying them to death!
Researchers and Whale Watch Companies must:
1. Stop the never-ending close approaches and inconsistent, confusing distances that may not even apply for the entire year that includes:
a. In the US, Southern Resident killer whales (SRKW) are listed as Endangered under the Endangered Species Maintain a minimum approach distance of 300 yards from SRKW on either side but 400 yards out of SRKW’s path/in front and behind the whales. It should be the 1000 yards on either side only.
b. In Canada, vessels must stay 400m away and must not position themselves in the path of killer whales only in southern BC coastal waters between Campbell River and just north of Ucluelet until May 31, 2024, (then it is only 200m)
Regulations must protect all orca habitats around the entire Vancouver Island with no exempt area from North of Campbell River to Ucluelet where the orcas also travel. Distance of at least 400 meters not 200 meters must apply to whale watch companies too.The SRKWs must be given 1000 yards or no viewing permitted.
2. Distances from Humpback whales must also be changed from 100 meters to 400 meters!
3. The research industry must conduct behaviour and identity observations on land. Researchers must stay at least 1000 meters away with engines off, if possible, if on the water.
4. Ban taking painful skin biopsies of the babies and others. Orcas and other whales have died from infections!
Respect the orcas as sentient beings not experiments.
5. Stop polluting marine ecosystems with inadequately treated human sewage dumped in the oceans. All sewage treatment must be at the Tertiary Levels.
6. Incredibly, from public recreational boating courses to commercial vessel training, marine wildlife education has not been mandated by government regulations. Government mandated Whale and Wildlife Licensing Courses must be implemented!
7. Commercial vessels must have licensed observers on board to help prevent collisions withmarine wildlife. Hydrophones (on board and the vast array along the coasts that locates whale) must be also used by all ships.
8. Government vessels, such as the Coast Guard and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, must be on standby for emergencies that include threats to orcas, humpbacks and others by public and commercial vessels.
Land and water based drones can also be used when needed to document violations.
9. Where are the Whale Police? Increases in Whale Protection Units are urgently needed! More stations are needed around Vancouver Island and Washington to be able to cover the vast areas!
10. Many barbaric, unnecessary experiments continue! Orca Homes are polluted! It Must End Now!
Please read these petitions:
Orcas Must Not Be Mistreated Like the Suffering Laboratory Animals!
https://www.change.org/p/wilbur-ross-thesec-doc-gov-orcas-must-not-be-mistreated-like-lab-animals
Let’s Raise a Stink to Save Orcas!
https://www.change.org/p/let-s-raise-a-stink-to-save-orcas
10. A Respect for All Wildlife must be part of the new government policies to protect orcas, humpbacks and all other wildlife with whom we share this planet. They are sentient living beings who must not continue be exploited for human financial profits!
2,329
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Petition created on July 3, 2023