Orca in PNW

At least J 50 is in the right area for Chinook. Fished Swiftsure Bank July 23-25 and there were salmon all over the area from surface to the bottom. Tons of bait, krill and humpback whales. If they can inject some meds and feed some live salmon and stay in the area to feed then that is the best scenario. Great to see everyone pitching in to help out. If we can all work together on salmon enhancement that would be great, too.
 
Some of the recommendations from the "Orca Task Force" in WA State. There are others, but I cut/pasted the boating related ones that would either directly or indirectly affect rec boating in the PNW. They are "seeking public comment" but call me a skeptic; they'll do whatever they damned well please.

Some of these are simply another money-grab; e.g. $10 annually for a "Be Whale Wise certification". Some are just more rules, which will allow fines, which is, of course, "revenue".

No mention of controlling the population of pinnipeds in the Salish Sea.

Goal 2: Decrease disturbance of orcas from vessels and noise and increase orcas’ access to prey
Reduce noise from small vessels operating near Southern Resident orcas
Recommendation 17: Establish a statewide “Go-slow” bubble for small vessels and commercial whale watching vessels within half a nautical mile of orcas.
• Enact legislation in 2019 creating a half-mile “go-slow” zone, defined as speeds of 7 knots over ground or less.
• Provide for discretion in enforcement and public outreach and education as needed.
• Encourage coordination between Washington State, federal and Canadian authorities to align regulations.

Recommendation 19: Require an annual “Be Whale Wise” certification for all recreational boaters on the inland marine waters and ensure that all boaters are educated on how to limit boating impacts to orcas.
• Create a $10 marine endorsement called a Be Whale Wise certification which would be required annually for all boats on the inland marine waters.
• Provide education on Be Whale Wise guidelines, voluntary and regulatory measures, and other information at the time that the marine endorsement is purchased, so that every boater has this basic information.
• Direct the resulting revenue to WDFW’s new Marine Enforcement Division and to partners doing outreach and education.
• Work with trade associations and ports and through existing government programs and channels to provide additional education to commercial and recreational boaters.

Recommendation 20: Increase enforcement capacity and fully enforce regulations on small vessels to provide protection to Southern Residents.
• Create a WDFW Marine Enforcement Division with four additional officer positions at WDFW focused on protection and enforcement in Puget Sound.

Reduce noise from the use of echo sounders near orcas
Recommendation 21: Discourage the use of echo sounders and underwater transducers within one kilometer of orcas.
• Establish a “standard of care” for small vessel operators limiting the use of echo sounders and other underwater transducers within a half nautical mile of Southern Resident orcas. Implement as a voluntary measure and provide exceptions for safe navigation.
• Conduct education and outreach.
• Consider phasing in mandatory equipment requirements and regulations.

Recommendation 26: Revise RCW 77.15.740 to increase the buffer to 400 yards behind the orcas.
• The guidelines of the Pacific Whale Watch Association include this voluntary standard.
• By limiting the distance at which vessels can approach from behind (and their speed), the intent is to decrease the occurrence of chase-like situations that are likely to induce energetically costly switches in Southern Resident orcas’ behavior.

Recommendation 28: Establish a whale protection zone to reduce disturbance to foraging orcas.
• Establish a go-slow zone for all vessels on the west side of San Juan Island from Cattle Point to Pile Point, within ¼ mile of shore, with a speed limit of 7 knots over ground.
• Establish a no-go whale protection zone for commercial whale watching vessels, recreational vessels, and commercial kayak groups on the west side of San Juan Island from Pile Point to Mitchell Bay, within ¼ mile of shore. Allow vessels to transect the no-go zone to exit from shore.
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https://www.governor.wa.gov/sites/default/files/Draft_recommendations_OrcaTaskForce_10-24-18.pdf
 
Another grab by the state, encouraged by some residents on the west side of SJI (who think all boats should be banned in that area). The commercial whale watch boats already have guidelines set up years ago by their professional association that keep boats 1/4 from shore in the Pile Point to Mitchell Bay area, 1/2 mile away in the Lime Kiln Lighthouse area. Ditto with the "7 knots within a half mile of Orcas." The company I worked for had a "no depth sounders around the Orcas" policy years ago. The commercial operators are respectful around the Orcas (with the exception of the occasional yahoo from an unnamed country north of the US). Some recreational boaters take their cues from the commercial operators; many don't. It was a daily occurrence seeing recreational boaters run right up on the whales... there are already "whale zone" posters in all the marinas in the area - a $10 charge isn't going to teach stupid people.

There have been boats and Orcas coexisting for decades with no impact to the Orcas. These poor mammals are slowly starving and there is a valid concern for stress imposed by "close encounters" (of the intentional kind). Contrary to some thought, the Southern Resident Killer Whales don't "hang out" on the west side of San Juan Island. If salmon are being pushed towards the Eagle Point area, they will feed and continue to move with their food source... generally north then east, then north again to the Frasier River. They move, on average, 70 to 100 miles per day.

Any imposed restrictions for boaters on the west side of SJI is less about the Orcas and more about misguided thoughts to have boats not "spoiling the view."

Sadly, the SRKW population is also plagued with toxins, which compounds the lack of food supply issue.
 
And then there are the st#*p/@d people who think taking out the Snake River dams will help save the whales. That will work.... until half of California runs out of electricity, but oh well.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon
 
hardee":1fmcfufk said:
And then there are the st#*p/@d people who think taking out the Snake River dams will help save the whales. That will work.... until half of California runs out of electricity, but oh well.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon
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Harvey, that is covered too.

Draft recommendation for discussion on Nov. 6th:
Recommendation 9: Determine whether removal of Lower Snake River Dams would provide benefits to Southern Resident orcas commensurate with the associated costs, and implementation considerations.
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The exact text of the recommendation recommends a “regulation that precludes Southern resident Orca viewing byall boats in Puget Sound for the next three to five years.” It would apply to both recreational and commercial vehicles. After that three to five year window, a report would then be filed to the governor and Legislature to determine the effectiveness of the suspension.
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http://mynorthwest.com/1174762/orca-task-force-recommendations-whale-watching/

“This report is just the first step,” said Ranker. “Our work is not finished, it has just begun.
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Oh, I believe him. He and his ilk won't be satisfied until they can control ALL boating in the Puget Sound.
 
ON the news last night, There is a new baby Orca in the Southern Resident Pod.

Unrelated, but I was crossing the Tacoma Narrows bridge southbound, Monday around noon-ish and I saw a huge splash down on the water. Then I saw a spout, and another one. Hard to tell from the bridge deck height but it looked like Orca although from that height I could not identify any fins. Didn't see flukes or backs.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

1_10_2012_from_Canon_961.highlight.jpg
 
localboy":3rjxx4jl said:
http://mynorthwest.com/1348879/washington-state-orca-bills-2019/

New rules in Puget Sound. Governor InsLIE will sign them...
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Essentially, the rule change will be extending the distance away from Orcas at 300 yards, where it was 200 previously; 400 yards if the Orcas are on the move (and they are almost always on the move). I didn't see any mention of a minimum distance in front of or behind the Orcas, which has been 400 yards. The 7 knot speed limit within a half mile of Orcas is the same as what the members of the Pacific Whale Watch Association had agreed to years ago.

Since I am not working for a whale watch company these days, I have no dog in this fight, but I have been watching these proposed changes with interest. Guests on the boats have had to be educated regarding the previous distances... sometimes there were complaints or questions about "Why can't you get closer since that small boat is WAY closer?" (Where private boats violating the distance rules was a near daily occurrence.) We worked with range finders to determine distance; use radios with other commercial boats to notify regarding whale movement. What looks like the occasional (rare) chaos (when whales are close to Friday Harbor or Roche Harbor) is actually quite organized until someone violates the operating guidelines and cuts between boats or stops between another boat and the whales... and is generally not a commercial operator. I have seen some "cowboy" operators, but that may be a factor of the laws in our neighbor to the north not requiring an actual captain's license for boats with 12 passengers or less.

The commercial operators who belong to the PWWA (almost all of them) want safe, sustainable, and respectful wildlife viewing. Their businesses depend on it.

One part of that linked article states that there are "only 75 Orcas left in the Puget Sound area"... that is only partially true: there are 75 Southern Resident Killer Whales left. Most of the sitings of Orcas in the past couple of months have been Biggs Killer Whales (aka transient Orcas). The transient Orcas are not in dire straits like the SRKW population. Sadly, I think we are on the verge of an extinction of the SRKW (the "salmon eaters) due to diminished food source, and toxicity (of the waters and the whales themselves). The transient Orcas are mammal eaters, and there is no shortage of their food supply (seals, harbor porpoise, sea lions, etc). That article makes no distinction between the Orca types, nor any mention of the Biggs KW.

Whale watching brings thousands of visitors to the PNW; I think these restrictions (personal opinion, based on experience) will have no effect on the SRKW population (they need FOOD!), but will ultimately affect the commercial whale watch operators, when visitors cannot be close enough to see and hear the interaction between these magnificent marine mammals. For many people, this exposure to Orcas is the beginning of their appreciation for the plight of the SRKW and the opportunity to see these animals in their natural environment. (Another opinion coming up) For these animals that travel 70 to 100 miles per day in search of food, there is NO tank that can be built large enough to give them the freedom and stimulation they truly deserve.

These are intelligent, social, familial mammals. They have a language. They are insightful. They experience joy and grief.

It was a pleasure to take people to see the Orcas, and to work for a company that practiced respectful wildlife viewing; a company with biologist/naturalists onboard each of our boats to explain behavior, point out local interest/history features, and answer questions. There is some amazing wildlife viewing in the Salish Sea, but it is the hope to see Orcas that brings most people. I get that. I hope these new regulations don't change how visitors feel about this opportunity.

Respectfully submitted,
Jim
 
CC Rider":o8yctomb said:
There were 3 Orcas in Vancouver Harbor recently....
https://www.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=569486
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Those were transients hunting sea lions. Beautiful carnivores.

The significance of the L pod sighting is that J,K & L pods make up the southern resident population. None of the pods is remembered as being as far south as CA before. It’s assumed they are getting really short of salmon locally.
 
Wish our whales would start feeding on seals. Way too many out there and that would help the salmon population. My brother counted over 100 seals in front of his place feeding on the herring that were spawning in the tide flats.

Sure, I will go there. We need to get our natives to stop netting the rivers. When the fish are in the Nooksack, there is no way for them to make it past Ferndale. It is like a zipper of nets for the first 5 miles. Not to mention many more up stream to catch the lucky ones that actually got past.

We need to ALL be part of the solution. My license fees go to help our hatchery's and fish enhancement. Every year our opportunity shrinks and I am very close to not fishing in Washington state anymore. I am pretty sure, that is what the state wants. I sure hope the 80 dollars I spend on my license covers the 10 fish I catch a year.

Get the nets out, eat some seals and in 4 years there will be salmon everywhere for all the mammals.
 
crazy4salmon":12vpboo3 said:
Wish our whales would start feeding on seals. Way too many out there and that would help the salmon population. My brother counted over 100 seals in front of his place feeding on the herring that were spawning in the tide flats.
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The pinniped population if out of control...nature is imbalanced. Every expert I've ever read or listened to says they need to be culled. It will never happen. Boaters & fishermen will continue to be vilified. Expect more regs, less freedom and more taxes. It's "how they roll" in the PNW. :roll:
 
localboy":10jzfo1b said:
I'm no attorney, but I'm confident a municipal/county government has zero control over, what is in essence, a sea. I'm never shocked at what people in the PNW are capable of...all in the name of "I don't like your liberties, so I'm gonna take it from you".

https://mynorthwest.com/1445465/san-juan-county-whale-watching-initiative/?show=comments#comments
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if this were to pass, it would effectively eliminate the whale watch industry in San Juan County, keeping the boats 650 yards (approx 1/3 of a mile away) will drive away the tourists who come to see whales. That is thousands of visitors and a huge chunk of the economy of the area... people come to see the whales - those people stay in hotels and eat in restaurants; rent mopeds, bicycles, and cars; buy groceries; shop in all the shops and galleries. Jobs will whither.

There is a small, but well-funded (and connected), group that would like to see all boats go away from the west side of San Juan Island. That is where this push is coming from.

The whales and boats have co-existed for decades. You don't have to be a scientist to understand that the issue with the Southern Resident Killer Whales is the decimation of their food source (salmon). You are not going to "re-train them" to eat marine mammals, their salmon diet is in their DNA.

People are looking for a "bad guy" in this, (and the whale watch boats are certainly NOT the bad guys)... it is easier to see the whale watch boats and jump to that ridiculous conclusion because you can't "see" how the salmon population has been decimated.

I haven't driven a whale watch boat for two years now, so I don't have a dog in this fight. I love the Pacific Northwest, the character of the San Juan Islands and their residents (the people who live there), and all the spectacular wildlife there.

The SRKW whales have not been in the area for almost 2 months, staying out in the Pacific looking for food. I read that they have been spotted off the BC coast, so I hope that means they will come back into the Salish Sea... of course, that depends on their food source. In the meantime, I understand that the whale watch operators have seen more transient Killer Whales (the mammal eaters) than in the past.

My experience has been: people come to the San Juans hoping to see Orcas, believing that the SRKW "hang out" in the area. No doubt that word "Resident" in their name leads people to think that is where the Orcas "live." But, those same people are delighted to see transient KWs, although they are generally a bit less surface active than the Residents. The transient Orcas are doing fine - their food source (marine mammals: seals, sea lions, harbor porpoise, Minke whales) is plentiful.

More than you wanted to know? If you like to boat, sight-see, fish, cruise in the San Juans, the potential threat to your boating enjoyment there is real. When working there, it was an every-day occurrence to see boats (almost always recreational boats) get too close to the whales; rarely was that a commercial operator. NOAA and WDFW are funded and the potential for an accidental "close encounter" with this proposed distance change is much greater.

It's the food. (sigh)
 
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