October 11, 2017 News Release Re: 4 Vital Ways to Save Orcas and Their Ocean Homes!   So another meeting and discussions to protect orcas is being held this time in Vancouver on Oct. 11 and 12. It is well known that the three main threats to orcas are lack of food, pollution, and boat traffic. In addition, the aquarium captures in the 60s and 70s wiped out a generation of young females and males that takes decades to recover.    Why has it taken so long for governments to take effective actions? Since the early 90s, the Vancouver based ecology/animal rights organization has been fighting for changes that should include: 1. Fish moratoriums to save marine life that form a delicate web of life; 2. Stopping field experiments such as "dart" tracking and skin biopsies in polluted waters that can lead to infections and death (Orca L95 died in March 2016 and others are missing). 3.  Increasing boat distances and educating commercial and pleasure boaters; 4. Ending all cetacean captivity and captive experiments through a worldwide ban.   J Pod and the lone L87 were in the waters from Comox to Campbell River, BC on October 3, 4 and 8. It was great to see them spending a lot of time foraging because their food sources are so depleted. (Foraging photo attached)   J pod is part of the endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales. The J, K, and L family pods number only 76. They live in both BC and US waters. In WA we have lobbied for greater boat distances of up to 400 meters. We are urging the Canadian Government to increase the meager 100 meters to help protect them. Orcas need equal legal protection in both Canada and the US. https://www.change.org/p/dominic-leblanc-minister-of-fisheries-oceans-and-canadian-coast-guard-dominic-leblanc-parl-gc-ca-equal-laws-to-protect-west-coast-endangered orcas?recruiter=2841661&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=share_petition&utm_term=share_email_responsive&utm_content=nafta_share_post_title_en_3%3AFB_share_copy_4  (Commercial and Pleasure Boat photos attached)   Stop Barbaric Orca Satellite Tags and Skin Biopsies! Lifeforce, is asking the US Secretary of Commerce to intervene and to stop all orca experiments that involve satellite “tagging” and skin biopsies. As stated, both of these barbaric methods can cause infections and deaths. For the sake of all orcas there should be another level of protection. Our petition > Stop Barbaric Orca Satellite Tags and Skin Biopsies >https://www.change.org/p/thesec-doc-gov-stop-barbaric-orca-satellite-tags-and-skin-biopsies