FISHERIES AND OCEANS CANADA TO BEGIN RECOVERY PLANNING
FOR PACIFIC KILLER WHALES

Vancouver, BC – Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) is pleased to announce the launch of killer whale recovery planning for the northern and southern resident populations as required by the Species At Risk Act (SARA).The northern resident population was designated as threatened, and the southern resident population designated as endangered in November 2001 by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC).  Both populations are listed in Schedule 1 of SARA. 

A core group of technical experts has been selected by DFO to form the Resident Killer Whale Recovery Team.  Their mandate is to assess the threats to the northern and southern resident killer whale populations and to provide advice to the Minister on effective measures for recovering these populations.  Team members bring expertise from various relevant fields such as killer whale biology, population assessment, genetics and health, in addition to environmental pollution, acoustics, prey resources, ecotourism and management.   The team includes U.S. expertise, recognizing the trans-boundary nature of the southern residents and our common goal of protecting and recovering resident killer whales. 

“We are excited to bring together this extraordinary team of experts that will ensure any new protective measures are practical, effective and sustainable,” said Marilyn Joyce, Marine Mammal Coordinator for Fisheries and Oceans Canada and Chair of the Northern and Southern Resident killer whale Recovery Team.

Early in the process, DFO will provide a formal opportunity through a technical workshop for killer whale researchers, stewardship groups, communities and industry representatives to provide their expertise and perspectives on recovery objectives to the Recovery Team.  The workshop is planned for the spring of 2004 and attendance will be by invitation.  Anyone interested in participating in this process should consult the DFO Species at Risk killer whale website for information on submitting an application to participate.  

Consultations are expected to commence in the fall of 2004, providing an opportunity for members of the public, First Nations communities and other government and non-government organizations to express their ideas and views on killer whale recovery objectives and the approaches under consideration.

For more information on the recovery planning process for resident killer whales, including recovery team memberships and consultation information visit the DFO Species at Risk killer whale website:  www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca   

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Background

Killer whales (Orcinus orca) have become an icon of Canada’s Pacific coast.  Significant research over the last 30 years has provided scientists, the public, and governments with important information about killer whales.  Southern and northern resident killer whale populations declined by approximately 20% and 7% respectively from the mid 1990’s to 2000.  The southern population size is small (78 in 2001) while the northern population consists of about 200 individuals.   To varying degrees, these populations face several known threats including disturbance from vessel traffic and other human activities, reductions of their primary prey and high tissue levels of toxic contaminants

Recovery planning is a two part process.  The first step is development of a recovery strategy that identifies the recovery goals, objectives and broad approaches to respond to known threats to the survival of the species.  Once the recovery strategy is completed, the subsequent stage is the development of an action plan for the implementation of the recovery strategy.  When completed they will be provided as advice to the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans.

The Species at Risk Act (SARA) contains a list of species in what is called Schedule 1, which is the legal list of species to which the law, including general prohibitions, will apply commencing June 1^st, 2004.  Species are put on the list after assessments by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) are considered by the federal government. SARA requires that the competent Minister prepare a recovery strategy within three years of legal listing for endangered species, and within four years for threatened species or extirpated species that were included in Schedule 1 at the time of proclamation.  Newly listed endangered species require a recovery strategy within one year of listing, and threatened or extirpated species must have a recovery strategy within two years. 

For more information on the Species at Risk Act (SARA) and COSEWIC:
http://www.speciesatrisk.gc.ca