Behind all this are the scientific findings on the effect of underwater noise on the whales highly sophisticated natural sonar used to navigate and find food.These new restrictions will take place in early May.
Part of the original whale recovery plan started in 2008 also proposed a half-mile no-go zone along the west side of San Juan Island during the period May 1 through September 30 every year. This has not yet been mandated due to the extensive public response and NOAA's continuing study.
The bottom line is that the orca are endangered, and have been officially since 2005. The Southern Resident population peaked at 97 animals in the 1990s, declined to 79 in 2001, and gradually increased to an estimated 86 today. Noise is not the only threat to the whales. Diminished salmon runs is another. Pollution is yet another. If you want to keep up on the pollution aspect, keep in touch with People for Puget Sound, a premier organization. And if you want to keep up with where the whales are, check out a wonderful site, the Orca Network with up to date sightings and whale news.
Most boaters that I know and have watched are very respectful of giving these mighty animals their space. Sure there are some yahoos, probably the same ones who fly right by you going at full bore, setting you rocking and rolling, and leaving you thinking all sorts of things about their parentage. But in my experience they are, thankfully, few. These new restrictions might mean stronger binoculars and camera lenses, but that's a small cost to pay to protect species, besides you and me, to ply these waters; we do it for our fun, they do it for life.
Another whole group will probably have a lot of trouble with these regulations, at least when they cross the International Boundary and bring their tourist sightseers all clad in their orange survival suits at full speed from Victoria BC into the San Juan Island (Stuart Island's Turn Point and the west side of Spieden Island are favorites). The whale-watching folk there, like Victoria's Prince of Whales which we've seen repeatedly buzz the whales to take pictures, plus other outfits from Vancouver Island, simply harass the whales. Last summer Steveston Seabreeze Adventures, from Vancouver, B.C., received one of five citations from Washington's Department of Fish and Wildlife, reports the Vancouver Sun, for coming too close to the killer whales
According to the Vancouver Sun, while Fisheries and Oceans Canada has not made comment on NOAA's new marine mammal regulations, nor said if any similar initiatives are being considered in Canada, environmental groups in Canada are stepping up.
Peter Hamilton, founder and director of the Vancouver-based Lifeforce Foundation, expressed to the Sun recently, "[Canada] has a moral obligation to at least meet, if not make better laws to protect the endangered orcas, because it's a trans-boundary species."
Current Canadian regulations restrict vessels to 100 meters (approximately 110 yards) from whales.
It is nice to know that at some level that we are paying attention to our marine environment, and caring for those with whom we share this part of the Salish Sea.
