DFO Announces further SRKW Restrictions

[High Time]

​ Southern Resident Killer Whale Bulletin ​ ​ ​ Photo by: Miles Ritter Stay up to date on rules and guidelines//Help protect this iconic species ​ ​ INTERIM ORDER IN EFFECT JUNE 1, 2022​ ​ A reminder that as of June 1, 2022, Transport Canada’s Interim Order for the Protection of the Killer Whale (Orcinus orca) in the Waters of Southern British Columbia, 2022 is in effect including: Give killer whales space - stay 400m away (effective until May 31, 2023): Vessels must stay at least 400m away from all killer whales in southern B.C. coastal waters between Campbell River and Ucluelet, including Barkley and Howe Sound. If killer whales approach any vessel, boaters should place their engine in neutral and wait for the animals to pass. Interim Sanctuary Zones (effective June 1 – November 30, 2022): Interim Sanctuary Zones will again be in effect off of Pender Island and Saturna Island. No boating or fishing will be permitted in these areas, subject to certain exceptions for emergency situations and Indigenous vessels. *NEW* Seasonal Slowdown Areas - Swiftsure Bank (effective June 1 – November 30, 2022): Transport Canada is introducing Seasonal Slowdown Areas around Swiftsure Bank. All vessels must slow down to no more than 10 knots when safe to do so while traveling through the area. This measure was co-developed with Pacheedaht First Nation and considers new scientific information about Southern Resident Killer Whale habitat use and foraging behaviour. ​ Visit the management measures website for maps and further information​ ​ EXPLORE >>​ ​ ​ HOW FAR IS 400M?​ ​ Curious what a killer whale looks like when you are 400m away? The team at Straitwatch developed an amazing educational "distance finder" to answer that question. Check out an image below. This simple guide (it's the size of a business card) helps mariners get a better sense of when they are too close to marine mammals like killer whales or humpback whales. Interested in ordering educational products like posters, brochures and distance finders to distribute at a marina, visitor centre, or in your community? Please reach out to tc.srkw-ers.tc@tc.gc.ca and place your order today. For more information on additional ways to help whales while on the water, please visit bewhalewise.org and seeablowgoslow.org. ​ ​ ​ JUNE IS ORCA ACTION MONTH!​ ​ This year the theme for Orca Action Month is "Stream to Sea" and we are celebrating the Orca-Salmon connection. Join the Virtual Kick-Off event on Sunday, June 5 from 3:00pm - 5:00pm. Can't make the Kick-Off event? No problem! Explore the events calendar to find events and activities for all ages throughout the month. Events are created to inspire action to help protect the endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales and restore the salmon they depend on to survive. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to get involved throughout the month of June! ​ ​ ​ MEET THE SOUTHERN RESIDENT KILLER WHALES​ This week we introduce you to Surprise! (L-86), who surprised researchers in 1991 due to the big age gap between her and her older sister, Nugget (L-55). Meeting Surprise! and her family in the Salish Sea would certainly be a very welcome ‘surprise!’. Please remember to keep your distance from whales. If a whale approaches you, turn your engine to neutral and let the whale pass. To continue learning about the Southern Resident Killer Whales and how to help keep them safe, join Parks Canada Ecosystem Scientists behind the scenes while they research the whales and their surroundings in Gulf Islands National Park Reserve. Photo by: Miles Ritter ​ ​ Report any violations or incidents involving marine mammals (that you observed or were involved in) to Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s 24/7 Observe, Record, Report Line: 1-800-465-4336 DFO.ORR-ONS.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca​ ​ For more information on the 2022 measures and how the Government of Canada is keeping its promise to protect and recover this endangered, iconic whale population, please follow these links:​ ​ 2022 Management Measures​ ​ Watching Marine Wildlife​ ​ ​ CONTACT​ ​ FOLLOW US​

KInd of makes you want to Barf....

 

[Reel Time]

Washington state along with NOAA have the same information posted as dfo that srkw are in trouble because of a lack of food, increased boat traffic and pollution. Their website clearly states this information and actually does a good job of clearly showing the issues facing srkw. Spouting off about conspiracies and ignoring actual science will only further alienate fisherman from the general public leading to even less support for our fishing opportunities. We should acknowledge the issues they face and move forward not try to blindly say they are fine and deny reality. We can fish and they can still eat but that doesn't mean we don't have an impact whether or not these regulations actually help them doesn't change the fact they are not doing "ok". Seaweed plays a vital role in nearly all the fish species along our coast from lings to coho, I have countless spots that were once full of rock fish and seaweed that are now home to possibly a few black bass if your'e lucky and no seaweed. I don't need science to tell me how important seaweed is because I have firsthand experience but the science also points to its importance. Maybe some should read the science and take a walk along some rocks and grab a clue or they could just keep reading and propagating conspiracies on the web about how a bunch of neo-liberal technocrats are actually socialist .

Are you that person that would clear cut a forest to build a development and then drive an electric car and call yourself green? We have zero initiatives from our government to move in a greener direction. Punishing recreational fishers who contribute more to the fishery than they take is absurd. At a time in history when we need the best government ever known, we have hands down a bumbling failure that has ruined Canada for a generation at minimum. This Country is so F'ed it wont recover in my lifetime. Let us keep a hatchery. Screw the whale agenda. The whales want the nets out of the rivers.

 

[agentaqua]

Besides placating the politically-connected and media-savvy ENGOs - I also think the fact that at least initially the SRKW measures mirrored the NOAA measures just South of the border in order to maintain seafood exports into that country:

International Marine Mammal Bycatch Criteria for U.S. Imports

The Import Provisions aim to reduce marine mammal bycatch associated with international commercial fishing operations, requiring foreign fisheries exporting fish and fish products to the United States to have standards comparable in effectiveness.

www.fisheries.noaa.gov

 

[High Time]

June 2
SOUTHERN RESIDENTS (fish-eating ecotype) - Thu, Jun 2 (J Pod) - On June 2, they [J pod] headed back west out the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and all we can do is wait to see when they will make their next appearance, with fingers crossed that it will be sometime in June and that it will be because they are following salmon back in to the Salish Sea. -Monika Wieland Shields, Orca Behavior Institute

So the SRKW's appeared on May27-June1 in the area around Victoria and the San Jaun Islands and now have left back to the west coast. Didn't get within 20 miles of the Southern Gulf Islands, but DFO and our wonderful Liberal government couldn't wait to slap in their ridiculous,draconian blanket closure of Area 18, which is now apparently in place until Oct.31. regardless of when, or if ever they return, later this Summer!
How can a government get away with this kind of mismanagement and destruction of a small local recreational fishery which can't possibly have any effect on anything. I despair....

 

[ship happens]

...

 

[steeler]

Are you that person that would clear cut a forest to build a development and then drive an electric car and call yourself green? We have zero initiatives from our government to move in a greener direction. Punishing recreational fishers who contribute more to the fishery than they take is absurd. At a time in history when we need the best government ever known, we have hands down a bumbling failure that has ruined Canada for a generation at minimum. This Country is so F'ed it wont recover in my lifetime. Let us keep a hatchery. Screw the whale agenda. The whales want the nets out of the rivers.

If you were to actually read my posts you would see that you are saying the exact thing I have said many times on here. SRKW regulations do nothing to help and are simply covering for increasing tanker and freight traffic and we are being scapegoated to appear as if this government is doing something, which they are not. I would love to see nets out of rivers as much as anyone and I hate ev's they will do nothing to stop global warming and I hate clear cuts and development I am not against all hatcheries and I have posted on here years ago about marked select fisheries as a better option then blanket closures. This post you are so offended by simply states that srkw are struggling for the same reasons we aren't seeing the numbers or size we once did and that saying they are fine is incorrect and also that loss of seaweed's along our coast is having a negative impact on many fish species. If you believe either of those points are incorrect I would like to hear why? Otherwise manifest your hatred somewhere else and stop trying to make my posts something they aren't.

 

[onefish]

srkw are struggling

By whose standards are they struggling? Numbers, size, gender composition of the group, average lifespan?
The sky may be falling according to some but seal, sea lion, grey and humpback, porpoise, and transient killer whale populations are all growing. They appear to be finding something to eat in the very same ocean the srkw's reside in.

 

[ship happens]

The whales are starving lol

 

[steeler]

By whose standards are they struggling? Numbers, size, gender composition of the group, average lifespan?
The sky may be falling according to some but seal, sea lion, grey and humpback, porpoise, and transient killer whale populations are all growing. They appear to be finding something to eat in the very same ocean the srkw's reside in.

Washington state, NOAA, DFO many other reputable sources standard's. Alaskan pinks are doing well too I guess that means chinook populations should be growing too they are in the same ocean.

 

[ship happens]

Those pinks are ranched. Has absolutely nothing to do with the Chinook population nor the whales. Why is this thread getting so stail?

 

[steeler]

The whales are starving lol

They must be eating something or they would be dead struggling and starving aren't the same thing.

 

[ship happens]

They must be eating something or they would be dead struggling and starving aren't the same thing.

Pretty sure I've said this before.

If I can go out on any given day and catch several Chinook, and I'm not a better fisherman then a goddamn Orca, (and this is all speculation based on ENGOs ideologies that these whales only eat spring salmon lololol) then how can they be starving. They are the best fisherman in the ocean. They will survive. Let them figure it out. They are wild beasts. They will learn, live and do what they do. They are survivors.

I'm about to retire on this thread. Getting really annoying

 

[mac_davy]

In case anyone is interested, this is a small group of killer whales feeding on a great white, although I'm sure our SKW preferer a healthy big chinook, but i assure they will not go hungry ever, they are the APEX ocean predator for a reason, should their food source become scarce, they are intelligent and adaptable enough to feed on many things, including great whites. Our SKW eat other marine animals when needed, The starving whale is a myth pushed by NGO's.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/watch...ing-shark-week-footage?via=FB_Page&source=TDB

 

[Aquaholic]

In case anyone is interested, this is a small group of killer whales feeding on a great white, although I'm sure our SKW preferer a healthy big chinook, but i assure they will not go hungry ever, they are the APEX ocean predator for a reason, should their food source become scarce, they are intelligent and adaptable enough to feed on many things, including great whites. Our SKW eat other marine animals when needed, The starving whale is a myth pushed by NGO's.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/watch...ing-shark-week-footage?via=FB_Page&source=TDB

Apparently they love liver and onions.

 

[mac_davy]

Apparently they love liver and onions.

I just cant stand how the ENGOs and Activists try and portray them as weak and helpless, and they convince an un educated public that the whales will die shortly if not for radical interventions, these animals are just below humans in intelligence and dominate their environment, they quickly adapt and are clearly not starving.

 

[Aquaholic]

I just cant stand how the ENGOs and Activists try and portray them as weak and helpless, and they convince an un educated public that the whales will die shortly if not for radical interventions, these animals are just below humans in intelligence and dominate their environment, they quickly adapt and are clearly not starving.

They are at the pinnacle of the marine food chain, no natural predators. Surely this must get mentioned in the discussions? They are killing and eating great white sharks for goodness sakes.

 

[ship happens]

They are at the pinnacle of the marine food chain, no natural predators. Surely this must get mentioned in the discussions? They are killing and eating great white sharks for goodness sakes.

I've been saying this for years, and no chance that anyone on this coast could outfish and orca. Not a chance.

 

[tincan]

Without naming names I think there a several people contributing to this thread that would really benefit from hearing this presentation / discussion (from a few years ago) with one of the top salmon minds in BC (Dr. Brian Riddell) and one of the top marine mammal minds in BC (Dr. Andrew Trites. They cover a lot on the SRKW issues that will hopefully clarify a few things for those posting here.

 

[Blue Hewes]

Without naming names I think there a several people contributing to this thread that would really benefit from hearing this presentation / discussion (from a few years ago) with one of the top salmon minds in BC (Dr. Brian Riddell) and one of the top marine mammal minds in BC (Dr. Andrew Trites. They cover a lot on the SRKW issues that will hopefully clarify a few things for those posting here.

Wow thanks for posting this. Very informative. I will be sharing this with others for sure.

 

[Reel Time]

The "Biology Degree"... After looking at the regulations, openings, closures, slot limits, no limits, hatchery here, wild there, minimum size this and over here that, killer whale closures that look like puzzle pieces....makes me really think that psychedelics have taken over the Natural Science populace. This sort of mapping and regulatory decision making looks schizophrenic.

Hopefully the kids today getting Biology degrees have cleaned up their act. I see less kids using drugs which is a good sign. Maybe in 10 years we will see a less scatter brain approach to Wildlife management.

2 cents.