SpringVelocity
Crew Member
Here is the response from DFO to the SFAB. It wasn't very encouraging.
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2026 Proposed Management Measures for Resident Killer Whales - Response from DFO
- Thread starter SpringVelocity
- Start date
wildmanyeah
Crew Member
At our SFAC meeting, they told us they were under strict instructions to make it clear there would be no additional recreational fisheries, so don’t bother asking.
The letter from DFO states: “The measure options from the consultation period, such as non-retention and spatial or temporal closures, are intended to reduce cumulative pressures during periods of importance to Southern Resident Killer Whales.”
DFO’s message to us was that any “new fisheries” (even though it’s really just reopening old areas) would increase recreational take, and they are looking to reduce it.
It’s clear the only thing that will change anything is political pressure.
Hopefully your SFAC meeting was more positive
The letter from DFO states: “The measure options from the consultation period, such as non-retention and spatial or temporal closures, are intended to reduce cumulative pressures during periods of importance to Southern Resident Killer Whales.”
DFO’s message to us was that any “new fisheries” (even though it’s really just reopening old areas) would increase recreational take, and they are looking to reduce it.
It’s clear the only thing that will change anything is political pressure.
Hopefully your SFAC meeting was more positive
SpringVelocity
Crew Member
Pearl dog
Well-Known Member
It’s challenging to keep all of these coordinated attacks straight sometimes. Am I seeing here now another consultation period specific to the whale angle that proposes massive fishing closures? Didn’t we see this last September? I can’t keep track of all the letters I’ve written 
gazette.gc.ca
Canada Gazette, Part 1, Volume 160, Number 10: Regulations Amending the Marine Mammal Regulations (Southern Resident Killer Whale Approach Distance)
March 7, 2026, Part 1, Volume 160, Number 10, Canada Gazette
Attachments
EstevanPoint
Well-Known Member
This is a ridiculous change to implement... I am not against an avoidance bubble by any means. BUT. How the hell does anyone know if the black fins at 1001m are SRKW or Transients...? Or if you'd even see them at 1000m??
Maybe @adamcu280 can provide some tricks to help with this? But truly. How would anyone even know? Unless it's a super pod rolling through and very obviously SRKWs by the sheer number of them. I just don't understand the variable regulation. Make it 500m for all Ocras, and then regardless of ecotype, they are avoided.
What happens in rough weather, focused forward of your vessel, SRKWs are 700m off your starboard bow, not within your focus...? Are you going to get a fine because you were driving your boat without knowledge of the whale's presence? 1000m is a long way off in rough conditions.
It just looks like another regulation for lip service.
Start pumping out Fraser Spring and Summer 5.2 hatchery fish (not Chilliwack hatchery fish), that's the only way we are going to remotely help these whales.
Maybe @adamcu280 can provide some tricks to help with this? But truly. How would anyone even know? Unless it's a super pod rolling through and very obviously SRKWs by the sheer number of them. I just don't understand the variable regulation. Make it 500m for all Ocras, and then regardless of ecotype, they are avoided.
What happens in rough weather, focused forward of your vessel, SRKWs are 700m off your starboard bow, not within your focus...? Are you going to get a fine because you were driving your boat without knowledge of the whale's presence? 1000m is a long way off in rough conditions.
It just looks like another regulation for lip service.
Start pumping out Fraser Spring and Summer 5.2 hatchery fish (not Chilliwack hatchery fish), that's the only way we are going to remotely help these whales.
At 1000m, unaided eye, in perfect conditions... gonna say it's highly unlikely you, me, or even Jared Towers would get the ecotype ID right every time. The morphometric differences are subtle and there's enough individual variation to make it pretty challenging to the untrained eye. I've spent dozens of hoursThis is a ridiculous change to implement... I am not against an avoidance bubble by any means. BUT. How the hell does anyone know if the black fins at 1001m are SRKW or Transients...? Or if you'd even see them at 1000m??
Maybe @adamcu280 can provide some tricks to help with this? But truly. How would anyone even know? Unless it's a super pod rolling through and very obviously SRKWs by the sheer number of them. I just don't understand the variable regulation. Make it 500m for all Ocras, and then regardless of ecotype, they are avoided.
What happens in rough weather, focused forward of your vessel, SRKWs are 700m off your starboard bow, not within your focus...? Are you going to get a fine because you were driving your boat without knowledge of the whale's presence? 1000m is a long way off in rough conditions.
It just looks like another regulation for lip service.
Start pumping out Fraser Spring and Summer 5.2 hatchery fish (not Chilliwack hatchery fish), that's the only way we are going to remotely help these whales.
looking for and working with killer whales under permit and it's not uncommon to lose sight of them for good even when we've been tracking them for hours and they were "right there!" a minute ago. Back in the earlier days of study (70s - 90s), SRKW generally traveled in their full pods. For instance, if you were cruising around the Salish Sea in the 90s you might run into J pod (~22 animals), K pod (~20 animals), or L pod (~40 animals, but they were the anomaly and usually weren't all together all the time). Sometimes the pods (especially L) split up into matrilines that travel apart from the rest of their pod, or together with members of another pod, but it was a pretty safe bet that if you saw a group of killer whales with 10+ individuals present they were fish eaters.
On the other hand, back in the earlier days the Bigg's were far less frequently encountered and more often in smaller groups of 3-5 animals.
Plus there's a seasonal component; in the summertime you used to be able to bank on at least some members of the SRKW population doing the "west side shuffle" on San Juan Island in Washington, while there was usually another part of the population doing some version of the ~160km circuit from somewhere around Victoria, up Haro Strait to the Strait of Georgia (via Active Pass or Boundary Pass), and then down Rosario to the E entrance of the Strait of JdF.
In the last 20 years or so the SRKW have been spending much less time in the inside waters in the summertime, preferring the west entrance of the Strait of JdF. They'll still make forays into the islands throughout the year and into Puget Sound (especially in the fall when they're chasing chum runs) but they generally aren't around for weeks or months at a time. SRKW population is in the mid 70s, which is about the same as it was in mid 1970s when studies began. Their population peaked in the mid 1990s at nearly 100. There are a few potential reasons why the population isn't doing well (which I won't get into here) but they don't always travel in their full pods and it's not uncommon to see a single matriline, so maybe a handful or two, at a time. Another potential situation is they're all "in", but they're spread out in singles or pairs over a huge area.
On the other hand (again), Bigg's population has been growing at about 4% a year and are frequently seen on the inside, outside, and everywhere. There are well over 400 of them in the west coast population which ranges from California to SE AK. It's not uncommon to see "T Parties" of 20+ Bigg's cruising around together.
So long story long, group size isn't a great indicator of ecotype.
For the record: I'm just as frustrated at policy wonks on both sides of the border making things way more challenging than they need to be. I'd agree that a blanket "stay this far away from any/every KW" would be much easier for the general public to understand and abide by. But nobody cares what I think.
searun
Well-Known Member
Well if people feel they have something to contribute to the proposed (not yet approved) 1000 m regulation, here is your chance to stay something:
Good morning,
I am pleased to share with you that the proposed amendments to the Marine Mammal Regulations of the Fisheries Act, including a proposed approach distance of 1000 metres for Southern Resident killer whales, have been pre-published inCanada Gazette, Part I. The official publication date is March 7, 2026.
The 30-day public comment period will be open until April 6th, 2026. The Portal to review the proposed regulation and submit your comments can be found here: Canada Gazette, Part 1, Volume 160, Number 10: Regulations Amending the Marine Mammal Regulations (Southern Resident Killer Whale Approach Distance). This is an opportunity to hear from Canadians on the proposed amendments, and the associated Regulatory Impact Analysis Statement, before the amendments become finalized through publication to Canada Gazette, Part II.
The proposed amendments reflect best available scientific information and First Nation and stakeholder feedback from 2023-2025, and are consistent with the proposed approach distance measure announced by the Government of Canada in March 2025.
We look forward to discussing the proposed amendments further at the upcoming Indigenous and Multi-Stakeholder Advisory Group meeting on March 12.
Questions regarding the amendment process or accessing the Portal can continue to be submitted to our amendment inbox: DFO.NCRFMMMRconsultation-consultationRMMGPRCN.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
Thank you for your valued feedback and continued commitment to protecting Southern Resident killer whales.
Neil Davis (he/him | il)
Regional Director, Fisheries Management
Pacific Region
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Good morning,
I am pleased to share with you that the proposed amendments to the Marine Mammal Regulations of the Fisheries Act, including a proposed approach distance of 1000 metres for Southern Resident killer whales, have been pre-published inCanada Gazette, Part I. The official publication date is March 7, 2026.
The 30-day public comment period will be open until April 6th, 2026. The Portal to review the proposed regulation and submit your comments can be found here: Canada Gazette, Part 1, Volume 160, Number 10: Regulations Amending the Marine Mammal Regulations (Southern Resident Killer Whale Approach Distance). This is an opportunity to hear from Canadians on the proposed amendments, and the associated Regulatory Impact Analysis Statement, before the amendments become finalized through publication to Canada Gazette, Part II.
The proposed amendments reflect best available scientific information and First Nation and stakeholder feedback from 2023-2025, and are consistent with the proposed approach distance measure announced by the Government of Canada in March 2025.
We look forward to discussing the proposed amendments further at the upcoming Indigenous and Multi-Stakeholder Advisory Group meeting on March 12.
Questions regarding the amendment process or accessing the Portal can continue to be submitted to our amendment inbox: DFO.NCRFMMMRconsultation-consultationRMMGPRCN.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
Thank you for your valued feedback and continued commitment to protecting Southern Resident killer whales.
Neil Davis (he/him | il)
Regional Director, Fisheries Management
Pacific Region
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
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