Lummi Nation Wants to Feed Orcas! But Fishing and Research Boat Moratoriums Will Save Orcas!

The Lummi Nation is still seeking US government permission to feed orcas! This plan does not save orcas. It would cause more boat traffic harassment and was a failure in 2018 when trying to feed ailing J50 who died. It would habituate orcas to harmful human feeding. All must heed the warnings “Do Not Feed the Wildlife!”

Human Habituation

In 2018 a major concern was identified as habituation of the orcas by human feeding of J50 and family. The people putting the salmon through a tube were clearly visible to the orcas! This haphazard plan was unlike the very different situation in 2002 with a lone orca “Springer” who did not know how the salmon was put into the sea pen. Such habituation could lead to later approaches to fishing boats then possibly getting seal bombed or shot at.

No Drugs in Their Food! No Experiments with Drugged Fish!

The 2018 plans included experimental “medication” in salmon. Researchers should have learnt the lesson from the dying J50 who probably never even ate any of the test salmon. Researchers and Lummi Nation should never try to deliver drugs by putting them into salmon that would be eaten by healthy orcas, pinnipeds, and other wildlife. There are too many risks of unknown, life threatening side effects to the orcas, non targeted species and ecosystems. Adverse reactions to antibiotics and vaccines can threaten their health!

Inhumane Experimental Antibiotic and Vaccine Industry

Methods used by the SeaDoc Society’s  “sister program”, Gorilla Doctors, include “extreme veterinary intervention”. SeaDoc claims that this could be done with orcas. These vaccination experiments to prevent disease transmissions from the tourists getting way too close to gorillas (<10m) may now be restricted due to new US government bans on testing vaccines in captive nonhuman primates. They suffer and can die painfully when infected with lethal diseases to test vaccines and antibiotics. It is finally recognized that these types of experiments are unethical and unnecessary.

High Risk Boat Traffic Threats

One of the three major recognized threats to orca survival is the boat traffic and noise. During the 2018 “feeding trails” alone the Research Boat Traffic was right in front of the J50 family with another boat following while a helicopter filmed it. And they only had a few salmon.  This was excessive, inhumane boat following for the devastated J Pod Family that had suffered enough from previous losses.

Orcas are also pursued for Breath Samples. More Unhealthy Stress!

There is also the very stressful taking of breath samples! A collection dish is attached to a long pole while they are chased and approached extremely close to get the samples.

These Frightened Endangered Orcas have been studied for over 25 years!

The Research Industry continues collecting invasive “medical records” for every single Orca! It Has Not Saved Them! It Likely Harmed Them!

To Save Orcas Implement Fishing Moratoriums and Stop All Harmful Boat Traffic Including Excessive Research Vessels!

Over 5000 people have signed this very other important Petition to protect endangered orcas!  https://www.change.org/p/wilbur-ross-thesec-doc-gov-orcas-must-not-be-mistreated-like-lab-animals