Have you ever been in such a noisy or crowded room that you find yourself yelling to be heard and sometimes giving up on getting food? Imagine what the Southern Resident orcas (SROs) face as they forage for scarce Chinook salmon while being accompanied by boats.
Please join us in urging your state legislators to support House Bill 1580 | Senate Bill 5577, which will turn down the dial on vessel noise and disturbance impacts for the SROs.
Of the three main threats facing the SROs, reducing vessel noise and disturbance impacts is the most immediate action we can take to give them the space and quiet waters they need to communicate and forage. This bill would enact crucial recommendations from the Orca Recovery Task Force, and is a part of the Environmental Priority Coalition’s Orca Emergency Response.
Reducing vessel speeds reduces the noise so SROs can hunt and communicate with each other while they are in the Salish Sea. The mere presence of boats, even quiet ones, can change SROs’ behavior in ways that can make them spend more energy to, for example, avoid boats instead of foraging. The proposed legislation:
- Increases the distance that boats may not approach SROs from 200 yards to 400 yards.
- Establishes a 7 knot “Go Slow Zone” within one-half nautical mile of SROs.
- Establishes a limited-entry commercial whale watching licensing program.
- Temporarily suspends whale watching of SROs via a 650 yard buffer.
Click here to see an infographic that will help you understand vessel distance regulations as they are now, as they will be in 4 years, and as they will be permanently under the current language in House Bill 1580 | Senate Bill 5577.
The orcas need both more space and quieter waters. Please contact the House Rural Development, Agriculture, & Natural Resources Committee Chair Rep. Brian Blake ([email protected] and (360) 786-7870) and 40th District Rep. Debra Lekanoff ([email protected] and (360) 786-7800) and speak up about the importance of moving this bill forward with all of these elements.
Together we can take immediate action to help the endangered Southern Resident orcas!
